Everybody wants the best doctor.

Luckily, the Sacramento area is home to plenty of them. With four highly respected medical organizations located in our region: Kaiser Permanente, Catholic Healthcare West (Mercy and Methodist), Sutter Health and UC Davis and at the center of cutting-edge health care advances, we're in the enviable position of having a wide array of choices when it comes to physicians.

Faced with the formidable task of naming a manageable number of the area's top doctors, Sacramento magazine was able to secure rights from Best Doctors, Inc., a national database of physicians, to publish its list of 139 Sacramento-area physicians for 2005.

Why Best Doctors? Because Best Doctors surveyed approximately 30,000 physicians nationally and asked the following question: If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, and you could not treat them yourself, to whom would you refer them?

When the referrals came pouring in, Best Doctors performed exhaustive evaluations of each medical professional named. Every doctor surveyed has the opportunity to comment confidentially on other physicians listed in his or her specialty, and to make additional nominations. The result is a voting and nominee pool that is constantly sifted, refined and improved whose very broadness and depth help reduce biases and cronyism. Doctors who may be nominated because of their involvement in an informal referral loop are subjected to the unbiased votes of scores of doctors who are not in that loop. Also, because all voting is confidential, voters are not subject to the institutional, professional or community pressures that often influence individual referrals. Finally, Best Doctors, Inc., is independent. Doctors are not asked for and are not allowed to pay any fees for inclusion as a Best Doctor.

Following are the Sacramento-area physicians who made the Best Doctors list.

*This list is excerpted from The Best Doctors in America database, which includes approximately 33,000 doctors in more than 40 medical specialties. The Best Doctors in America database is compiled and maintained by Best Doctors, Inc. For more information, visit bestdoctors.com or contact Best Doctors by telephone (888-362-8677) or by e-mail (info@bestdoctors.com). Best Doctors, Inc., has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list, but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any disability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors of omissions herein, whether such errors of omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

Allergy and Immunology

M. Eric Gershwin
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
451 E. Health Sciences Drive, Suite 6510
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 752-2884

Anesthesiology

Diana Lewis Coleman
Sutter General Hospital
Department of Anesthesiology
2801 L St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 733-3050

Cathleen R. Lammers
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Anesthesiology
4150 V St., Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-5031

Cardiovascular Disease

William J. Bommer
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center
4860 Y St., Suite 2820
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3761

M. Daniel Flamm Jr.
Northern California Cardiology Associates
5301 F St., Suite 117
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 733-1788

Lawrence Laslett
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
4860 Y St., Suite 2800
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3133

Edmond Lee
Northern California Cardiology Associates
5301 F St., Suite 117
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 733-1788

Reginald I. Low
Regional Cardiology Associates Medical Group
3941 J St., Suite 260
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 736-2323

Harvey Matlof
Northern California Cardiology Associates
5301 F St., Suite 117
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 733-1788

Steven D. Rose
South Sacramento Medical Center
Department of Cardiology
Medical Building Three, First Floor
6600 Bruceville Road
Sacramento, CA 95823
(916) 688-4000

Saul Schaefer
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
4860 Y St., Suite 2800
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-8321

Byron Vandenberg
Northern California Cardiology Associates
1004 Fowler Way, Suite 4
Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 626-9488

Gary Woodward
Internal Medicine
815 Court St., Suite 7
Jackson, CA 95642
Phone: (209) 223-3837

Dermatology

Michael J. Fazio
Skin Cancer Surgery Center
2805 J St., Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 492-1828

Thomas Giustina
South Sacramento Medical Center
Department of Dermatology
Medical Building Two, First Floor
6600 Bruceville Road
Sacramento, CA 95823
(916) 688-2045

Ann F. Haas
Sutter Medical Group
Department of Dermatology
1020 29th St., Suite 570
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 733-3792

Suzanne L. Kilmer
Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Northern California
3835 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 456-0400

Jan A. Okimoto
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
Department of Dermatology
10725 International Drive
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 631-3010

Margaret Parsons
Dermatology Consultants of Sacramento
5340 Elvas Ave., Suite 600
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 739-1505

Emil A. Tanghetti
Center for Dermatology and Laser Surgery
5601 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 454-5922

Emergency Medicine

Timothy Albertson
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
2825 J St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 734-0779

Family Medicine

Carol Havens
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
Department of Chemical Dependency Services
2829 Watt Ave., Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95821
(916) 482-1132

Thomas S. Nesbitt
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Family Medicine
Sherman Way Building
2315 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-5675

Gastroenterology

Joseph W. Leung
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Gastroenterology
1508 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 2100
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 734-4575

Hand Surgery

John Agee
77 Scripps Drive, Suite 101
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 920-8051

Robert M. Szabo
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Orthopaedics
4860 Y St., Suite 3800
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3678

Infectious Disease

Richard B. Pollard
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Division of Infectious Diseases
4860 Y St., Suite 0101
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-2737

Richard L. Sweet
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
UC Davis WomenÕs Center for Health
2521 Stockton Blvd., Suite 4200
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-6363

Internal Medicine (General)

Neil M. Flynn
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Division of Infectious Diseases
4860 Y St., Suite 0101
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-2737

Mark C. Henderson
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Internal Medicine
4150 V St., Suite 3100
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-2812

Howard Homler
6660 Coyle Ave.
Carmichael, CA 95608
(916) 962-2035

Michael Wilkes
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Division of Adolescent Medicine
2521 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-1213

Medical Oncology and Hematology

Angela Davies
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
UC Davis Cancer Center
4501 X St., Suite 3016
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-5959

David R. Gandara
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
UC Davis Cancer Center
4501 X St., Suite 3016
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-5959

Nephrology

Thomas A. Depner
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Division of Nephrology
4150 V St., Suite 3500
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3774

Neurological Surgery

James E. Boggan
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Neurosurgery
4860 Y St., Suite 3740
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-4300

J. Paul Muizelaar
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Neurosurgery
4860 Y St., Suite 3740
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3685

Franklin C. Wagner Jr.
Spine and Neurosurgery Associates
Two Medical Plaza Drive, Suite 255
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 773-8700

Neurology

Mark A. Agius
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Neurology
4860 Y St., Suite 0100
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3588

Paul Akins
Neurological Consultants Medical Group
500 University Ave., Suite 110
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 641-8205

John L. Keltner
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Ophthalmology
Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center
4860 Y St., Suite 2400
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-6073

Ricardo Maselli
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Neurology
4860 Y St., Suite 0100
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3588

David P. Richman
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Neurology
4860 Y St., Suite 0100
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3588

Piero Verro
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Neurology
4860 Y St., Suite 0100
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3588

Vicki L. Wheelock
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Neurology
4860 Y St., Suite 0100
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-3588

Nuclear Medicine

Sally J. DeNardo
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Nuclear Medicine
1508 Alhambra Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 734-3787

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Stephen P. Boyers
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
2521 Stockton Blvd., Suite 4200
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-6106

Victor K. Chan
5301 F St., Suite 318
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 733-1720

William M. Gilbert
Sutter Memorial Hospital
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
5151 F St., Two South
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 769-8507

Stephen G. Hiuga
2277 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite 355
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 927-3178

Orel Knight
5301 F St., Suite 318
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 733-1740

Gary Leiserowitz
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Ellison Building, Suite 2500
4860 Y St.
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-6941

James Maher
Sutter Medical Group
Three Medical Plaza Drive, Suite 260
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 773-7977

Elizabeth M. McClure
Sutter Medical Group
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
1201 Alhambra Blvd., Suite 320
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 455-2229

Lynn McLean
Sacramento Maternal Fetal Medicine
5301 F St., Suite 110
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 733-1900

Anne T. Rodriguez
UC Davis Medical Center
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
4860 Y St., Suite 2500
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-6930

Jeffrey Skilling
Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
1650 Response Road
Sacramento, CA 95815
(916) 614-4120

Lloyd H. Smith
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
4860 Y St., Suite 2500
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-6946

Carlos E. Soto-Albors
Northern California Fertility Medical Center
1130 Conroy Lane, Suite 100
Roseville, CA 95661
(916) 773-2229

Richard L. Sweet
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
UC Davis WomenÕs Center for Health
2521 Stockton Blvd., Suite 4200
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-6363

Dena Towner
University of California, Davis, Medical Center
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
4860 Y St., Suite 2500
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 734-6948


*For the rest of this article, pick up a copy of Sacramento Magazine's December issue.