fw feedback (cont.) nothing more than a popularity contest I am sure that I am not alone in taking offense to what is nothing more than a popularity contest not unlike voting for high school cheerleaders. This issue, like the ones published by D and Texas Monthly, perpetuate a popular misconception that the practitioners listed, be they physicians or dentists, possess superior clinical skills over their “lesser” colleagues. This list is contaminated by lopsided cronyism that typically spotlights those practitioners who have the biggest marketing budget and loyal network of fellow doctors. If you want “top” docs, ask their patients! I know, too, that magazines don’t have the integrity to print a bold disclaimer that inclusion in the issue does not necessarily constitute an endorsement and that it is nothing more than one, big, glossy advertisement. It’s sad, really. I have known a number of great clinicians whose names will never grace your pages, because they work “in the trenches” and their caring and skill goes unnoticed by the media. But, they have touched many lives in so many positive ways that no magazine or TV ad can match. So, I won’t vote for anyone nor do I expect anyone to vote for me. I know who my top docs are and so do their patients. Sincerely, Mark Studer, DDS. Top Docs Approximately 3,000 area physicians were mailed a 2008 survey from Fort Worth, Texas magazine and asked to name the best doctors in Tarrant County. Through an online voting process, medical professionals cast their votes for the top surgeons, doctors and physicians. EgdXZhh/ HVbeaZ WVaadi cdi^[n^c\ i]Z bZY^XVa Xdbbjcîn d[ i]Z kdi^c\ egdXZhh VcY i]Z WVaadi LZW hîZ VYYgZhh lZgZ bVâZY id i]Z bZbWZgh d[ i]Z IVggVci 8djcin BZY^XVa HdX^Zin VcY i]Z IZmVh DhiZdeVi]^X BZY^XVa 6hhdX^Vi^dc# Kdi^c\ idd` eaVXZ dca^cZ# I]Z ZaZXigdc^X kdiZh lZgZ XdbeâZY Wn V iZX]c^XVa hjeedgi XdbeVcn VcY gZijgcZY id ;dgi Ldgi]! IZmVh bV\Vo^cZ# 8gZYZci^Vah lZgZ kZg^[^ZY i]gdj\] VXXZhh id ejWa^X gZXdgYh# While Fort Worth, Texas magazine provided the fields of specialty, the physicians identified the professionals they regard as being leaders EjgedhZ/ Id egdk^YZ jhZ[ja ^c[dgbVi^dc Vh V hjeeaZbZci [dg ^ceji [gdb di]Zg hdjgXZh# >[ ndj ]VkZ V \ddY gZaVi^dch]ê lî] V YdXidg! Yd cdi aZi i]^h XVjhZ Vc jccZXZhhVgn X]Vc\Z# E]nh^X^Vch [gdb i]Z bZY^XVa Xdbbjcîn hZaZXiZY i]ZhZ YdXidgh# =dlZkZg! bVcn ]^\]an gZ\VgYZY egd[Zhh^dcVah Yd cdi VeeZVg dc i]^h a^hi# LZ ]deZ ndj lâa [^cY i]ZhZ gZhjaih jhZ[ja l]Zc ndj [^cY ndjghZa[ ^c cZZY d[ V e]nh^X^Vc# I]ZhZ VgZ hdbZ d[ i]Z WZhi# EaZVhZ _d^c jh ^c Xdc\gVijaVi^c\ i]Z e]nh^X^Vch X]dhZc [dg i]^h ]dcdg# in their industry. 2008 Docs Here are their choices. Top $## J J J ! 9 J G K ! 6 B @ Top Docs 10 www.fwtx.com april 2008 2007 9 B E G J B E G ; G 8 K 4 F $## 7n ^cXajY^c\ V YdXidg dc i]Z a^hi! ;dgi Ldgi]! IZmVh bV\Vo^cZ ^c cd lVn gZXdbbZcYh dg ZcYdghZh ]^h dg ]Zg hZgk^XZh# 6AA:GBBJCDADDADDAD68$I=DG68>8 HJG<:GN =# HiZe]Zc =jY\Zch ?Z[[ A^c 8Vgadh A# BVX^Vh BVcjX]Zg CVoVg^Vc G^X]VgY B# K^\cZhh Dr. Studer, Your e-mail regarding our Top Dentist list was forwarded to me by my associate publisher, Diane Stow. I do appreciate your feedback. Let me begin by saying that we do not believe doctors who work in the trenches are “lesser colleagues.” In fact, we have been encouraging doctors and readers alike to submit the names of the doctors whose generosity and care goes unnoticed. One of the primary purposes of Fort Worth, Texas magazine is to highlight the individuals in Tarrant and surrounding counties who are going above and beyond to better the community and its inhabitants. Therefore, we would greatly appreciate it if you could submit the names of the doctors who are performing the aforementioned. I would also like to address a particular sentence in your e-mail: “I know, too, that magazines don’t have the integrity to print a bold disclaimer that inclusion in the issue does not necessarily constitute an endorsement and that it is nothing more than one, big, glossy advertisement.” In the introduction to our April 2008 Top Doc List (pg.102), you will find a prominent sentence that states: “By including a doctor on the list, Fort Worth, Texas magazine in no way recommends or endorses his or her services.” In response to the “one, big, glossy advertisement” comment, we provide a bold statement at the top of the Profile section, which is different from the Top Doc List, that reads “SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION.” That can be found on pg. 111. We pride ourselves in performing unbiased and honest publishing with the utmost journalistic integrity. I do hope that you will help us recognize the doctors who fly under the radar as a result of utter selflessness. I do appreciate your feedback and welcome you to contact me directly via e-mail or phone if you have further concerns or comments. Thank you again, Amy Hallford Managing Editor, Fort Worth, Texas magazine Lâa^Vb :# LVaaVXZ 86G9>DADCDAD