Family Doctor

The good doctor is in town — a few towns, really. This year’s favorite family doctors are: In San Francisco, Dr. Lisa Sterman; in the East Bay, Dr. William Strauss; and in the South Bay/Peninsula, Dr. Gary Aron.

Sterman has developed a following of around 2,000 patients in only three and a half years. She works with mainly older families, and believes spending a “good five minutes looking and listening to patients” is far more important than “spending time with a computer.”

Strauss practices geriatric and internal medicine in Moraga, and has been in the profession for 30 years.

Aron has been in his profession for 32 years. Practicing internal medicine in Redwood City, he is a graduate of the Creighton University School of Medicine in Nebraska.

In second place are Dr. Marci Gottlieb in the East Bay and Dr. Gary Zweig in the South Bay/Peninsula.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

Dr. Lisa Sterman

(415) 863-3366

East Bay

Dr. William Strauss

Moraga

(925) 376-5161

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Gary Aron

Redwood City

(650) 298-8774

SECOND PLACE

East Bay

Dr. Marci Gottlieb

Oakland

(510) 465-6700

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Gary Zweig

Palo Alto

(650) 324-1250

Pediatrician

If you have kids, it’s not even a question that you’ll need a good pediatrician — and that’s where these four come in. Readers voted these established pediatricians as their favorites in their area: Dr. Ami Goodman in San Francisco, Dr. Arnold Blustein in the East Bay and Dr. Douglas Kaye in the South Bay/Peninsula.

Goodman began his practice in 1985, and has been doing pediatrics ever since. Goodman, who now works for Kaiser, not only knows some Hebrew, but is also fluent in Spanish. He works as part of the clinical faculty at U.C. San Francisco.

Blustein has been practicing in San Leandro for 29 years. The doctor finds himself “looking at how the entire family relates to itself [and] to each other” to better understand patient care. While some of his patients are Jewish, he emphasized that he sees a wide variety of people from different geographic areas and from different socio-economic backgrounds.

Kaye, who has been at his Sunnyvale practice for 15 years, really is attuned to both children and parent concerns. Because many of the patients he saw as children are now going off to college, Kaye feels like a “proud father sending them off into the real world.” He admits to having a large Jewish, particularly Israeli, base of patients, and is returning to Israel this summer to take his kids there for the first time.

Second-place winners are Dr. Mary Piel in San Francisco, Dr. Myles Abbott in the East Bay and Dr. Kenneth Rosenbaum in the South Bay.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

Dr. Ami Goodman

Kaiser Permanente

(415) 833-2200

East Bay

Dr. Arnold Blustein

San Leandro

(510) 352-2425

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Douglas Kaye

Camino Medical Group

Sunnyvale

(408) 730-4251

SECOND PLACE

San Francisco

Dr. Mary Piel

(415) 668-0888

East Bay

Dr. Myles Abbott

Berkeley

(510) 841-6451

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Ken Rosenbaum

San Mateo

(650) 343-4200

Cosmetic Surgeon

Bay Area residents in search of a little nip/tuck, take heed: The gorgeous have spoken. This year’s favorites in the category of cosmetic surgeon excel in both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, though the latter dominates the practice of each.

Dr. Roland Minami of Greenbrae, the winner for Marin/Sonoma, calls plastic surgery “the only creative and artistic field” in medicine. Whatever the procedure, he says the goal is to “enhance natural beauty. We don’t try to change [a patient] into a different person. We want to create something that doesn’t look like it was done.”

Dr. Bryant Toth credits his win to his staff. Having an operating room in his San Francisco office means he has the advantage of working with the same team every day. But bedside manner helps, too. “It’s important to treat every patient uniquely,” he says. “We tailor the procedures to what the patient wants, but we try to make sure expectations don’t exceed what we can do.”

For 24 years, East Bay winner Dr. Elliott Lavey has called Danville home. Lavey says new technology in recent years — from lasers to liposuction — has been a boon for the field. “It’s important to understand my patients’ goals,” he adds, “and to design procedures uniquely suited to each individual.” He’s also a proud member of the Jewish community, and once did a residency at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

Dr. Bryant Toth

(415) 923-3008

East Bay

Dr. Elliott Lavey

Danville

(925) 820-3633

www.elliottlaveymd.com

Marin/Sonoma

Dr. Roland Minami

Greenbrae

(415) 461-1240

www.drminami.com

Dentist

If you need a tooth pulled and want to make sure it’s done right, give these Readers’ Choice winners a call: Dr. David Rothman in San Francisco, Dr. Eric Citron in the East Bay, and Dr. Ron Hamako in the South Bay/Peninsula.

Rothman is a longtime favorite of readers in the San Francisco area, and since he began working alongside Dr. Lionel Traubman (who retired in 2000) has received rave reviews from all around. Rothman also is an officer of the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry.

Citron, in the East Bay since 1990, prides himself on using a “traditional style” of dental practice, and has many patients come to him from the Jewish community.

Hamako, who won for the South Bay, practices general dentistry in the Palo Alto area.

Second-place winners are Dr. Richard Rozen of San Francisco and Dr. Arthur Amos of the East Bay.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

Dr. David Rothman

(415) 333-6811

East Bay

Dr. Eric Citron

Berkeley

(510) 849-1660

www.ericcitron.dds.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Ron Hamako

Palo Alto

(650) 321-3959

SECOND PLACE

San Francisco

Dr. Richard Rozen

(415) 334-1737

East Bay

Dr. Arthur Amos

Orinda

(925) 254-4877

Health Club

If you’re looking to fulfill that New Year’s resolution and get in shape, these Bay Area health clubs are sure to help in your success. Readers highly approve of these four health clubs: the San Francisco Bay Club in San Francisco, Renaissance ClubSport in the East Bay, the Peninsula JCC’s Byer Athletic Center in the South Bay/Peninsula, and Osher Marin JCC’s Koret Center for Health & Fitness in Marin/Sonoma.

Among other offerings, the San Francisco Bay Club features swimming, a mind and body center and many fitness machines. But it’s not just about the members — “A big part of our mission statement is corporate philanthropy,” says Communications and Marketing Director Christine Blake. The club is the main donor for the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” campaign, and holds fundraisers and silent auctions throughout the year.

Over in Walnut Creek is Renaissance ClubSport, a combined fitness center and resort that offers an array of activities. From basketball to golf to teen training programs, Renaissance provides programs for all ages. One unique program is the weekly Friday event “Dive-In Movie Night,” inviting members to a free poolside barbeque and movie. “The social component is … a big part of our culture and how we keep our members happy, ” said Sales and Marketing Director Kevin Cabral.

The Peninsula JCC’s Byer Athletic Center is only three years old, and already a Bay Area parenting magazine presented its swim school the family favorite award two years in a row. It has a plethora of programs available for children and adults, like Stay Fit for Life for adults over 55. “You’re not just here to work out,” says Athletic Center Director Dan Burns, reiterating the center’s motto.

Osher Marin JCC’s Koret Center for Health & Fitness just experienced a renovation, reopening its doors in January. Additions include a large fitness area with up-to-date equipment, along with several studios, pools and gyms. Its “Sunday Family Funday” is one of the most popular events, with activities from art projects to swimming.

Second-place winners are the JCC of San Francisco’s Koret Center for Health, Fitness & Sport, Oakwood Athletic Club in the East Bay, Pacific Athletic Club in the South Bay/Peninsula, and Bay Club Marin in Marin/Sonoma.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

The San Francisco

Bay Club

(415) 433-2200

www.sfbayclub.com

East Bay

Renaissance ClubSport

Walnut Creek

(877) 274-9900

www.clubsports.com/renaissance

South Bay/Peninsula

Byer Athletic Center

Peninsula Jewish Community Center

Foster City

(650) 378-2703

www.pjcc.org

Marin/Sonoma

Koret Center for

Health & Fitness

Osher Marin Jewish Community Center

San Rafael

(415) 444-8000

www.marinjcc.org

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

Koret Center for

Health, Fitness & Sport

Jewish Community Center of San Francisco

(415) 292-1200

www.jccsf.org

East Bay

Oakwood Athletic Club

Lafayette

(925) 283-4000

www.oakwoodathleticclub.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Pacific Athletic Club

Redwood City

(650) 593-9100

www.pacclub.com

Marin/Sonoma

Bay Club Marin

Corte Madera

(415) 945-3000

www.bayclubmarin.com

Hospital

J. readers’ favorite hospitals may not have McDreamy or McSteamy on staff, but seriously, wouldn’t you rather be treated by doctors at one of these great Bay Area institutions than by a bunch of overpaid Hollywood actors? We thought so.

Kudos to S.F.’s California Pacific Medical Center for winning the category three years in a row. That says a lot about patient care at this four-campus community-owned hospital, which traces its history back 155 years. CEO Martin Brotman says CPMC gives patients “the best in both the science and art of medicine.” Among CPMC’s latest achievements: a new pediatric clinic in Bayview and multiple partnerships with other community agencies promoting wellness.

Taking first in Marin/Sonoma was Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center. Area Manager Judy Coffey is proud that Kaiser was named “Best Place to Work” two years running in the North Bay Business Journal. A new cardiac lab and ongoing community health education are highlights, but mostly, says Coffey, “We’re all about service. You want to make sure things are very patient-centered. That’s our business: making sure you’re healthy.”

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame took the crown in the South Bay/Peninsula. How’d they do it? Says Mills CEO Bob Merwin, “We spent a great deal of time enhancing our service levels as well as the quality of care.” That should get even better upon completion of Mills-Peninsula’s $528 million, 428,000-square-foot facility, due to open in 2010. “We take care of a third of all the residents of San Mateo County,” adds Merwin.

Over in the East Bay, John Muir Medical Center was voted favorite hospital. Make that “hospitals,” given its Walnut Creek and Concord campuses. Known for their Behavioral Health Center and the John Muir Physician Network (800 primary care and specialty physicians), John Muir offers many areas of specialty, including high- and low-risk obstetrics, orthopedics, neurosciences, cardiac care and cancer care.

In second place are Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in the East Bay, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center in the city and Stanford Hospital & Clinics in the South Bay/Peninsula.

FIRST PLACE

San Francisco

California Pacific

Medical Center

(415) 600-6000

www.cmpc.org

East Bay

John Muir

Medical Center

Various locations

(925) 939-3000

www.johnmuirhealth.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Mills-Peninsula

Medical Center

Burlingame

(650) 696-5304

www.mills-peninsula.org

Marin/Sonoma

Kaiser Permanente

San Rafael Medical

Center

(707) 571-4000

www.kaiserpermanente.org

SECOND PLACE

San Francisco

Kaiser Permanente

San Francisco

Medical Center

(415) 833-2000

www.kaiserpermanente.org

East Bay

Alta Bates Summit

Medical Center

Berkeley

(510) 204-4444

www.altabates.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Stanford Hospital

& Clinics

Stanford

(650) 723-4000

www.stanfordhospital.com