Three Driscoll physicians included on Top Doctors list
Press Release February 19, 2013
CORPUS CHRISTI – Three Driscoll Children’s Hospital physicians have been included on U.S. News & World Report’s list of Top Doctors. Stephen Almond, MD, Samhar Al-Akash, MD and Jaime Fergie, MD were nominated by fellow physicians to be on the list, which is designed to be a reliable resource for patients and referring physicians.
“First, we want to help consumers find the doctors who can best address their needs,” the U.S. News website states. “Second, we want to enlist doctors across the country in sharing their awareness of who among their peers are the most worthy of referral.”
Physicians on the Top Doctors list are identified by name, location, hospital affiliation and specialty. Specialties span more than 2,000 diseases, medical issues and procedures.
“I think inclusion on the list is a big positive for Driscoll Children’s Hospital as well as myself,” said Dr. Almond, a pediatric surgeon who, with Dr. Al-Akash and others, helped launch Driscoll’s kidney transplant program in 2007. More than 60 kidney transplants have since been performed at Driscoll.
“It’s a reflection of the hospital’s administration and governing board because they had the foresight to start the transplant program.”
U.S. News determines which physicians qualify as Top Doctors in collaboration with New York City-based Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Physicians are chosen based on nominations from other doctors and reviews by Castle Connolly’s physician-led research team. Any physician may nominate one or more peers, but doctors can’t nominate themselves. Physicians can’t pay U.S. News or Castle Connolly to be selected as Top Doctors. Hospitals or group practices also can’t pay to have their doctors selected.
“It’s an honor to be included on this list,” said Dr. Fergie, Driscoll’s director of Infectious Diseases. “I’m grateful to my colleagues who nominated me. At the same time I’m humbled. This encourages me to continue serving the children of South Texas.”
Driscoll Children’s Hospital: A friend of the family for 60 years …
“Improve the health of adults and you give them back their health…
Improve the health of children and you give them their life.”
Driscoll Children’s Hospital was dedicated on February 22, 1953 with 25 beds. It’s now a 189-bed pediatric tertiary care center with pediatric specialists representing 32 medical and 13 surgical specialties and offering care throughout South Texas, including Corpus Christi, the Rio Grande Valley, Victoria and Laredo. Visit www.driscollchildrens.org throughout 2013 to learn about Driscoll’s 60th anniversary celebrations.