Family doctor

Doctors are often the butt of comedians’ jokes — one famous Mel Brooks routine features a psychiatrist, Dcr. Haldanish. He’s such a sham he’s not even a doctor, he’s a doc-errr, Dcr. But j. readers’ favorite family doctors take medicine so seriously, they’re all worthy of your trust.

Dr. James Davis, an internist and rheumatologist, has established a reputation as a mensch both in the medical and Jewish communities. “I was really inspired by working with my father for 15 years, Julian Davis, who taught me that it’s a great privilege to be a doctor,” Davis says. “There’s great joy in helping people through their difficult times and sharing in the goodness of their good times. I’ve been very blessed to do this.”

Oakland Native Dr. Stephen Whitgob has been practicing in Berkeley since 1975. “I spend a lot of time with my patients — I really enjoy these people,” Whitgob says. “This is a family practice, we treat people of all ages.” He’s also got a sense of humor: “I was the cemetery committee chair at the temple. I could say I was the only one who could give cradle-to-grave service.”

Dr. Richard Bobis has been providing care to Los Gatos and the South Bay for over 20 yeas. He has established a reputation among j. readers as one of the most reliable family doctors in the community. And in Santa Rosa, Dr. Herb Brosbe has dutifully served the North Bay, making rounds and house calls.

Coming in second place was Dr. Barry Oberstein of San Mateo.

First Place

San Francisco

Dr. James A. Davis

(415) 674-5200

East Bay

Dr. Stephen Whitgob

Berkeley

(510) 525-7877

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Richard Bobis

Los Gatos

(408) 358-1841

North Bay

Dr. Herb Brosbe

Santa Rosa

(707) 542-1611

 

Second Place

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Barry Oberstein

San Mateo

(650) 340-9981

 

Pediatrician

Pediatricians are provided the opportunity to ensure the health of children from infancy to adulthood. J. readers selected these standout pediatricians who have diligently served the Bay Area’s youth.

Dr. Amnon Goodman, based out of Kaiser Permanente, has served San Francisco since 1986, developing strong relationships with his patients and their families. “Becoming part of the family and being privileged to see children grow from infancy to the college years is the most rewarding part,” Goodman says. “Being able to be in service at important times in people’s lives is most gratifying for me.”

Dr. Arnold Blustein has 30 years of experience in pediatrics to draw upon. “I think we have a very happy practice, and our patients can recognize that,” he says. Blustein is based in San Leandro, and takes patients from all over the Bay Area. His experience, accessibility and expertise have helped thousands. “I love what I do — I love being a pediatrician,” Blustein says.

Dr. Douglas Kaye has served the South Bay for 17 years out of his Sunnyvale practice. “I love watching the kids grow up and mature,” Kaye says. “I feel as if I have an impact on their growth and development and health, and I feel that’s a rewarding thing.” And as a Palo Alto native, Kaye has deep ties to the South Bay community.

Dr. Rachel Bauer has practiced for seven years in Mill Valley, but before that she was receiving her medical education in Tel Aviv at the Sackler School of Medicine. “I created the practice with a distinct attention to detail, and pride myself in being thorough,” Bauer says. “I absolutely love what I do, I truly love it. It doesn’t feel like a job to me.”

Coming in second place were Dr. William Solomon in San Francisco, Dr. Katya Gerwein in Berkeley and Dr. Laurie Rubenstein in Redwood City.

First Place

San Francisco

Dr. Amnon Goodman

(415) 833-2000

East Bay

Dr. Arnold Blustein

San Leandro

(510) 352-2425

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Douglas Kaye

Sunnyvale

(408) 730-4266

North Bay

Dr. Rachel Bauer

Mill Valley

(415) 383-3500

 

Second Place

San Francisco

Dr. William Solomon

(415) 565-6810

East Bay

Dr. Katya Gerwein

Berkeley

(510) 452-5231

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Laurie Rubenstein

Redwood City

(415) 369-4078

 

Dentist

It’s best not to have a dentist that bites. Take a cue from j. readers and check these six dentists, who were elected first place winners for getting — and keeping — a pearly white smile.

Dr. Glenn Hemanes has been in practice in Hayward for 41 years, and has learned that creating a comfortable space is important to keep patients calm during a delicate procedure. “My wife is the office manager — we’re both photographers, so the office is filled with artwork,” Hemanes says. Photographs of the Southwest and Sierras add to a serene office setting.  

“I love to collect things, and that shows! It is crucial to me that patients and their parents get to know me even before they lay eyes on me,” says Dr. Martin Rayman of his San Rafael waiting room, which he’s had for almost 30 years. When patients get past the waiting room and into the office, they experience the fruits of Rayman’s philosophy: “Every dentist will tell you that their philosophy is to deliver the best patient care they possibly can. What makes a difference is how that philosophy is put into practice on a day-to-day basis.”

Dr. Tanya Manyak in San Mateo was the South Bay’s choice. “We provide certain little touches. We give everyone a nice warm towel at the end of their procedure to freshen up with,” Manyak says. “We go the extra step — we try and treat each patient as if they’re a member of our family.” 

A former New Yorker now living in San Francisco, Dr. David Rothman brings his sensibilities as an academic to his dentistry. “Our goal is prevention, and the goal is to educate the families and caregivers early on,” Rothman says. “I can improve the health of a child and make a long term change in the right direction.”

Dr. Jack Sherman has been practicing in the Richmond District of San Francisco for three years  “It’s a real nice neighborhood,” he says. “It’s very San Francisco.” Sherman’s focus is on creating a personalized care plan for each patient: “I try and tailor treatment plans to people’s needs and what they can afford.” His favorite part of the job is being able to alleviate a patient’s pain. “It’s rare that a dentist can be a hero,” Sherman says. 

East Bay favorite Dr. Eric Citron’s Berkeley office “harkens back to the days of the traditional family dentist,” he says. Even though his office uses modern technology, it is still a warm and inviting space. Ultimately, what puts these dentists above the rest is individual attention: “I enjoy the relationships I have with my patients,” Citron says. “That’s really No. 1.”

Drilling their way to second place were Dr. Stephen Mikulic in Foster City and Dr. Joe Armel in Corte Madera.

First Place

San Francisco

Dr. David Rothman

(415) 333-6811

Dr. Jack Sherman

(415) 668-0680

www.jackshermandds.com

East Bay

Dr. Glenn Hemanes

Hayward

(510) 886-5400

Dr. Eric Citron

Berkeley

(510) 849-1660

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Tanya Manyak

San Mateo

(650) 342-9941

www.drtanyamanyak.com

North Bay

Dr. Martin Rayman

San Rafael

(415) 459-1444

www.obenbigdds.com/dr_martin_rayman.html

Second Place

South Bay/Peninsula

Dr. Stephen Mikulic

Foster City

(650) 286-9999

North Bay

Dr. Joe Armel

Corte Madera

(415) 927-4000

wwww.finesmiles.com

 

Hospital

Without our health, what do we really have? J. readers know this as well as anyone, and have raised their glasses to these hospitals.

Stanford Hospital & Clinics is located right by one of the world’s foremost research institutions. It comes as no surprise, then, that the hospital made U.S. News and World Report’s honor roll, which honors the top half of the top 1 percent, for the ninth consecutive year. “Stanford Hospital provides a level of care and expertise that is internationally recognized that people in our local community feel fortunate to have right at their doorstep,” says public affairs director Shelley Hebert. “The physicians are Stanford medical school faculty, primarily, and are at the forefront of their fields.”

UCSF Medical Center has recently celebrated their 100th year — and with this longevity comes quality. The medical center boasts one of the best comprehensive cancer centers in California, along with one of the most active kidney and liver transplant programs and a top ranked research neurology program. “It’s a combination of high quality clinical care and very active research,” says chief strategic planning officer Jay Harris. “That’s what makes UCSF the cutting-edge place in California.”

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center boasts a rich history and legacy of care, starting 100 years back with an ambitious nurse of the same name. “What you find here are excellent services with a lot of experience that you don’t normally find at a community hospital,” says spokeswoman Carolyn Kemp. The Berkeley hospital was one of the first hospitals with an AIDS program and boasts a level three newborn intensive care unit.

Made up of the four oldest hospitals in San Francisco, California Pacific Medical Center is going young, recently adding a pediatric emergency room to compliment its three other ERs. “When kids go to the ER it’s always scary,” says spokesman Kevin McCormack. “It’s not a great environment for a kid.” The new pediatric ER features a colorfully-painted waiting room, toys, and everything else to take the “terror out of emergency room,” McCormack says.

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Rafael was this year’s award winner in the North Bay — and they’re thrilled. “I’m excited to see that others have again discovered the secret of this wonderful little community hospital,” says chief operating officer Jill Magri. “We are all about providing the very best care for our patients and members and doing the best we can to serve our North Bay community.”

In second place were Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City and John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

First Place

San Francisco

UCSF Medical Center

(888) 689-8273

www.ucsfhealth.org

California Pacific Medical Center

(415) 600-6000

www.cpmc.org

East Bay

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center

Berkeley

(510) 204-4444

www.altabatessummit.org

South Bay/Peninsula

Stanford Hospital & Clinics

(650) 723-4000

www.stanfordhospital.org

North Bay

Kaiser Permanente Medical Center–San Rafael

(415) 444-2000

www.kaisersanrafael.org

Second Place

East Bay

John Muir Medical Center

Walnut Creek

(925) 939-3000

www.johnmuirhealth.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Sequoia Hospital

Redwood City

(650) 369-5811

www.sequoiahospital.org

 

Health club/day spa

It’s best to pick a health club where the mirror isn’t the most used item in the gym. J. readers have picked these health clubs and day spas as the finest in the Bay Area.

The JCC of San Francisco boasts a clean, state of the art health facility, in addition to the usual perks of a JCC. “We offer the broadest range (of classes) imaginable,” says marketing director Nathaniel Bergson-Michelson. “We have a terrific yoga program, a terrific Pilates program. We have a very wide variety of free group exercise classes as well as personal training options.” The facility is full of light, and the staff are just as bright and friendly — so it’s no wonder that 4,500 people go through the doors of the JCCSF each day.

The Peninsula JCC in Foster City has over 10,000 satisfied members. “When you walk into our lobby you walk into an art gallery,” says marketing manager Sharon Giordano. “There’s such an uplifting feel.” Along with top-of-the-line health machines, art displays, indoor and outdoor pools and quality programming, the Peninsula JCC offers a more relaxed environment than a traditional health club. “We don’t want to be the type of clubs where people are strictly into their physical looks. Everybody is welcome here,” Giordano says.

San Rafael’s Osher Marin JCC is a hub for Jewish life in Marin, as well as having an outstanding fitness center. Some call it the hidden jewel of Marin. “We’re kind of nestled within the hills here,” says marketing and communications director Iris Lax. “You feel like you’re a million miles away from reality.” The JCC encourages a healthy lifestyle for people of all ages, and the campus offers Marin a true community center.

In the Berkeley hills, the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa is a luxurious facility to unwind and get healthy. “The Claremont offers 60 classes a week,” says spokeswoman Keelin Czellecz. “Pilates to yoga, Latin dance class to bocce ball class.” The Claremont has been operating since 1915 and features old world architecture that is like an English countryside estate.

Coming in second were Kabuki Springs & Spa in San Francisco, Oakland Hills Tennis Club and Pacific Athletic Club in Redwood City.

First Place

San Francisco

JCC of San Francisco

(415) 292-1200

www.jccsf.org

East Bay

Claremont Hotel Club & Spa

Berkeley

(510) 843-3000

www.claremontresort.com/spa

South Bay/Peninsula

Peninsula JCC

Foster City

(650) 212-PJCC

www.pjcc.org

North Bay

Osher Marin JCC

San Rafael

(415) 444-8000

www.marinjcc.org

Second Place

San Francisco

Kabuki Springs & Spa

(415) 922-6000

www.kabukisprings.com

East Bay

Oakland Hills Tennis Club

Oakland

(510) 531-3300

www.oaklandhills.com

South Bay/Peninsula

Pacific Athletic Club

Redwood City

(650) 593-4900

www.pacclub.com