PRINTUnhealthy fear
John Hook
December 18, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
As a toddler, I was terrified of my family physician and his dark, bushy beard. I’ve since gotten over that aversion, but for many people, fear of doctors remains. We can’t help wonder, can we trust our doctors with our lives? How do we know we are choosing the right doctors? Fear is understandable.
With this in mind, we spent days in a windowless room brainstorming ways to answer these questions. Most people tackle the task by considering suggestions from friends, co-workers and family, so we set out to serve as your informer. We asked 826 local doctors to name the physicians they trust the most — the ones they’d send their loved ones to. This is the first time a Columbia magazine has explored doctors so extensively. Based on the responses and another professionally generated list, we offer you 184 top doctors in 42 specialties. Read more about our methodology.
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Names on a list, though, mean little without the bigger picture. They’re all part of our city’s long medical history, which we share. They represent those who strive to keep our hearts healthy, a daunting job when you consider that heart disease is the leading cause of death in Columbia. They represent the people who save 2-year-olds from unimaginable pain and who put their safety at risk to ensure ours.
Although we couldn’t share the story behind all 184 names, the 15 profiles show that our physicians are dedicated to their patients, their families and even Tiger athletics. As I’ve learned from these 15 physicians, doctors shouldn’t cause anxiety. And with some good advice, our fears over choosing a doctor can be eased.
Four months spent with Columbia’s doctors have led us to this, our biggest issue ever. Our doctors would recommend we rest now, so Vox is taking a break until January 22. Until then, stay warm; stay healthy.
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