top doctors

Top Doctors 2008

Research assistance by Sara Johnson, Nicole Arata and Matthew Henry The medical profession is in a constant state of flux.That’s tough for patients, because keeping up on the latest issues, ailments and cures can be a matter of life and death. It is with that in mind that every four years we publish our Top Doctors issue. But this year, we added something new: We sat down with five area practitioners to get a frank, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to be a doctor – and how that affects you as a patient. To hear doctors describe the…

A+ Doctors

Kevin Svoboda didn’t know it, but his insistence on driving 90 miles to have Wauwatosa psychiatrist Dr. James Winston treat his anxiety was a life-or-death decision. During his normal appointment, Svoboda mentioned a slight tingling in his head and left arm. A licensed physical therapist, the 29-year-old Svoboda had dismissed it as something that would “go away on its own.” Winston, who has treated Svoboda for five years, suspected otherwise. Without waiting for Svoboda’s health plan’s approval, he ordered an immediate MRI. The scan revealed a brain tumor. Winston, who accompanied Svoboda to the test, broke the news. “He told…