help me pick an "all-american" name!

[7165red]

If you feel you would like to change your name how about Collins.I love that last name. Most first names go well with it.

 

[pyrxtc]

stick with your name. Both my family and Gyno are foreign and their names didn't bother me one bit.

 

[Imzadi]

i'm from long island and would like to continue living here and practice here.

If you're from Long Island and intend to stay around there, and you really do like your name, then this discussion is over.

Really. It won't be the problem you think it will be. You can change your name if you still want, of course. But, it's not a big deal there. You aren't living in Neanderthal/bigot country. Even if your own town is small.

As much as L.I. likes to keep it's own identity, separate from metro NYC, you live near one of the most ethnically diverse (and ethnically tolerant) areas in the world. There are many, many people who commute in to work from L.I, and mingle amongst the great racial melting pot along the L.I.E. and on the trains, buses, at shopping malls, restaurants & beaches, etc.

You may be living in a small town that seems more predominately 'white,' but as a general whole, the whole southern, Tri-state: NY, NJ, CT area are very progressively racially diverse and racially tolerant, (even with the racially intolerant pockets that there are.) You can still live there, then travel to work in a bigger city, as many L.I.ers & NJersians do.

I think if you start looking around for successful, ethnic names, whether in the medical industry or other fields, you will also find them around where you plan to work & live. Right now, you are focusing on American names, and of course, finding them.

Also, if you know the names of certain hospitals you might want to work at, Google them and their different departments. It will probably list the doctors on staff.


When I was originally looking for an endocrinologist, versus the holistic MDs or osteopaths I am now researching, I Googled the various hospitals here and the different referrals I was given. The only things I looked at were their education, length of time & position at the hospitals, and protocols for diagnosis & treatment. I've been getting the latter from the people who are referring these people, who have been personally treated by them.

I was seriously considering an Indian endo at St. Luke's, which is within walking distance from me. He's the head of endocrinology there. His picture & name on the hospital website clearly shows he's ethnic. I did not disqualify him for his ethnicity.

Instead, I will probably go with the referral I got for the holistic MD at Columbia-Presbyterian, even though she her position is lower. St Luke's is 50th in NYS for endocrinology, whereas Columbia-Presbyterian is 1st in NYS. The holistic MD's protocol for diagnosis & other treatments she practices, like acupuncture, using natural supplements over just writing a prescription, focusing on the foods which affect the thyroid & adrenals, and being a female doctor - which is what I'd prefer, all play a part in her moving into my (current) top position. (Still have to do some research on her and another candidate.)

I am willing to ride the subway to see her, (which is hard for someone with extreme exhaustion & brain fog problems, ) than simply walk to St Luke's, as, for me, she fits more of all my picky qualifications.

So, traveling doesn't really factor in for me. I also considered an endo in Paramus, NJ who was highly, highly recommended by 3 people. I know someone who takes the train out to Stamford, CT to see their endo. There is a L.I. endo who many travel from Manhattan to see. Recommendations go far in larger, metro areas. This is a competitive region as there are just as many quacks as good drs. - all with American or ethnic names.

 

[LuLuO]

all that said, how do you pick a new dentist/doctor if not by name? i check where they attended medical/dental school and did their residency, but i know not everyone does that.

I google them and look for reviews and any background information I can find like schools and former places of employment. Hospital affiliation is also very important to me in most instances. Recently, when I had to find a heart surgeon I looked at the hospital I wanted to be at first and then looked at the surgeons they had on staff. Some of them had videos on youtube as well as bios on the hospital website as well as patient reviews on various websites.

 

[EMom]

I believe this is a serious issue in the OP's life and I believe she's giving it a lot of thought and deep, personal reflection and consideration. She's asked several people (who she knows and trusts) what they think. She's smart to go with their advice because they are likely foreigners who've worked with enough Americans to know that most Americans can be stupid, racist, ignorant fools.

You need to get a new set of friends.

 

[1001 Ghosts]

This wont change the OP's opinion one bit (nor most people's, for that matter), but my daughter has had a fairly serious ongoing medical issue for a couple of years that five specialists with easily pronounceable names failed to correctly diagnose.

The story has a happy ending. Specialist #6 nailed it, and now my daughter has recovered to about 98% of where she was before the problems started. I'd be happy to enthusiastically recommend this specialist to you even though I can't pronounce their name properly despite several attempts to thank them in person.

It's not your name that defines you. It's the work you do and how you perform that defines you. It's a shame that there's still so much ignorance out there that people still cling to utter foolishness.

Good luck to the OP, and most importantly, just be the best damned doctor you can be. That's what really matters.

 

[crashbb]

I may have missed it, but has any one addressed the issue that patients may find it weird that the name on your degree is different from the name you give out? Most doctors that I know have their degree(s) posted somewhere.

Or that I wouldn't be able to look up your name with the medical board (here, it would be the Royal College, not sure what it is for you)?

If you do have the "also known as" option with the medical board, I'd find it very weird that you changed both your first and last name. Last name, I'd assume marriage, so I wouldn't find that weird, but first name? I'd start wondering what you were hiding.

 

[2goofycampers]

I say keep your own last name. A medical practice is built up by word of mouth. If you're good people will tell others and they will come no matter what your name is.

 

[FredinFL]

after talking to several people, including health professionals, i think it will be best to change my name. this won't be until i graduate professional school (medical or dental.. a bit undecided lately), but it seems like the general consensus is that most people don't want to go to "foreign" doctors. i'm actually in that group, and it shocked me when i realized that i definitely have a foreign sounding name. i do love my name, but i have to be realistic.

anyway, i found the US census bureau's list of the 1000 most common last names in the states and i need help pairing it with emily (it's close to my real name, so i think it's a good choice). i'll make a poll, but please comment what you think if you have any advice.

so, first name is emily. last names:
waters
bates
walker
williams
carter
clark
cooke
scott
roberts
parker

etc. there are a ton, but these are some of my favorites in terms of how "classic all-american" they sound. if you like another last name better, please share!

I think that you should keep your "real" name, be a quality health care professional and word will spread and people will flock to you. Foreign sounding name or not. A great doctor is a great doctor. Don't spend your life making something of yourself and then sell out for the sake of a quick buck. Be a great doctor and the patients will find you.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I picked Carter because I thought it sounded best with doctor as you'll often be called Doctor Carter (or other given last name). I was going between Carter, Walker and Parker, all 3 of which are currently in the lead.

I say, don't listen to people who will tell you not to change your name... do whatever you want!... for any reason you want! You're not asking people if you should change your name, you're asking what to change it to. Sometimes people forget that on the Dis, unfortunately. It's one thing when it'll affect someone else, but it won't, so it doesn't matter.

Emily is a cute name by the way.

 

[brat]

I did not vote, because...your name such be one you love be it your birth name or not.What ever you pick some will like and others will not.Now one of our family Drs is Indian and his name is long. Everyone calls him by the first 3 letters of his name, when we first got a referal to him the referal just had those 3 letters as his name.It drove me nuts trying to find his number to call his office to get an appointment.I ended up calling the hospital Dr that gave the referal to get the Drs whole name.

All but one of our families Drs have names you would not find amoungest our founding fathers lists of whos who they knew.Have you googled your last name for Drs out there with it?Then google the names you like.

As a dyslexic I can mess up any name.

Some of the funny names of Drs I have been treated over the years.
Butcher, Wrong,Molar and Frankinstein.

Another way to find a name that works for you might be to look at the meaning of your last name or first name for that matter and find new names with the same meaning.

 

[Kat77]

Go with a name that starts with a letter from the beginning of the alphabet instead of the end. Why do you think so many companies are named AA Plumbing or AAA Electric or ABC Pest Control? If someone is doing a search for a dentist, etc., they will usually start researching/calling in order from A to Z and not the other way around.

I don't know if this makes sense, but Emily is a soft, gentle name to my ears. I would pair it with a last any of the last names that start with a "C" because that has a more powerful sound and they balance one another. I think something from the phonetics class I took waaaaaay back is the basis for this.

Emily Carter
Emily Clark
Emily Cooke (although Cook seems more common in the US)

There is just a balance there of "soft" followed by "hard." Of those three, I prefer Emily Clark.

Good luck.

ITA. Exactly what I wanted to suggest. Carter is great. It puts you at the top of the C's in an alphabetical listing.

You could go with Baker. Doc Baker would get picked just for the fun of it.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I voted Walker just because it seemed to have the best ring to it...then the poll results showed that was in the lead.

 

[Carly_Roach]

all that said, how do you pick a new dentist/doctor if not by name? i check where they attended medical/dental school and did their residency, but i know not everyone does that.

I go by referral of friends, relatives, and co-workers who frequent that doctor. Word-of-Mouth. Barring that, I go by referral of my insurance company and how soon someone can take me in when I need it. If, after that first or second visit, I'm unhappy with that doctor then I change doctors. It's a free country and I take responsibility for my experience. I won't stay with a doctor who I'm unhappy with regardless of where he/she studied and what his/her name is.

This also goes for what some post on message boards. They post how they'd LIKE to be perceived, or how they wish they really were, instead of what they, themselves, actually DO. It's that quote, "Do what I say, not as I do." Here in the DIS we have a perfect world.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Are most of the Americans you know "stupid, racist, ignorant fools"? That's very sad. Maybe you could move somewhere else in the US. That's not the case everywhere.

All I have to do is watch the news. There's a reason why at least 1/3 of the US has barred things like gay marriage from their state constitutions or why so many Americans still believe BO's not a natural born citizen even though his BC has been presented.

Talk all you like about what people say. Talk is cheap. What they DO is obvious and their actions indicate stupid, racist and ignorant.

You need to get a new set of friends.

I'm pretty happy with the friends I have.

I say, don't listen to people who will tell you not to change your name... do whatever you want!... for any reason you want! You're not asking people if you should change your name, you're asking what to change it to. Sometimes people forget that on the Dis, unfortunately.

Yep. As I've said before, when it comes to asking advice about life-changing decisions - talk to the people you know in real life; the ones who will actually care about the outcome of your decision because they love you and care about you.

If you want to know what onion sauce would go good with tonight's dinner, ask the internet.

If you want to build a shaky case for a stupid decision that everyone around in you in real life is advising you against, but you still want to do it anyway, ask the DIS. To tell you the truth, I'm kinda waiting for the guy/girl who went ahead with something like a sex-change operation and is now very unhappy to come on here and blast everyone for advising her/him to do it.

 

[bumbershoot]

I just can't vote. I don't think you should do this.

Sadly, I do understand just what you are saying. Our family doctor is Indian and he is always commenting that nobody wants him for a doctor and half the people who come in as a new patient and are given an appt with him ask for someone else for their next appt.

If they go to that first appointment with him, and ask for someone else for the second, it most likely means they have a problem with HIM, not with his name. People are allowed to change doctors, and he should be looking at what he's doing or not doing, rather than just assuming it's b/c of his ancestry.

Practitioners can seem very different to different people...to one person they are the most caring wonderful people, while to others they are demonic. My best friend and I see the same dentist, we loooove him. He's conservative about doing anything, he likes to wait and see. I suggested him to hubby...hubby hates him. Thinks he's a scam artist. Can't figure out why he's so kind to my friend and I and acts so sweet with us, when he can't see it at all.

I felt immense sadness when I read your post ...

I would urge you to focus on your medical and relationship skills, your last name should not define your professional skills.

Same here. Especially when I realized you're changing you FIRST name as well.

And I agree, focus on your skills.

I'm not trying to be picky, but I find it strange that your whole post is about names - it includes a list of last names and a first name mentioned at least twice - and you failed to capitalize the first letter of any of them. It just looks odd to me to see names, either first or last, with a first letter in lowercase.

The only things she did capitalize were the initials of the country. She seems to have the no-capitals style, which plenty of people do. So it shouldn't be a surprise that the names in the poll were lower-case as well.

Yes I'm a lil country and live in the boondocks (and this'll probably start it's own thread or life on it's own) but I know of no man that has ever taken his wifes surname. Do you? And honestly I *think* Hollywood is the only place I know of where a woman will just keep her own name throughout the marriage. Yup all of the men around here are Neanderthals who expect it.

Once my MIL has passed on, hubby plans to change his last name to mine. He has NO respect for his father (or grandfather or great grandfather, all of whom weren't nice people), and doesn't wish to have that name anymore. But his mom would have a HUGE problem with it, and he doesn't want to do that to her.

Which is weird, because in her culture of origin women do not, traditionally, change their last names. None of her sisters changed their names upon marriage, and her brother's wife didn't either.

And I haven't changed my last name in almost 8 years of marriage, and definitely wouldn't do so to change it to hubby's! Not that my dad is any great dude, but the others in my paternal family are pretty cool, and I like the name.

People on message boards have no stake in the outcome of the actions they advise others to take. They're just killing time. With no knowledge of the details of anyone's real life, they'd dispensing "words of wisdom" based on suppositions of their own experience rather than the OP's experience.

I don't understand it when people who spend time on message boards giving opinions denigrate the advice and opinions of people on message boards.

Do you REALLY think that the advice given face to face is that much better? If I'd relied solely on friends, I wouldn't have followed my heart and taken hubby back, I wouldn't have had anyone to work out my feelings about everything with (friends wanting me to just dump him and move on and not wanting to hear about anything I was going through), because they have WAY stronger opinions than strangers do. Later when I was going through some nasty stuff, stuff I did talk about with hubby quite a bit, people online got me through b/c the opinions of real life "friends" were incredibly insensitive and uncaring.

Why bother with message boards if you don't actually think people CARE or try to HELP others on them? I know I don't have the best rep here, but what I say I say because I care deeply about the situation and I'm trying to help.

Personally I would feel like I was disrespecting my ancestors and everything they built the name into just because it wasn't "white" enough for me.

OP verified it later, but even when you posted this there was nothing to indicate she wasn't white. There are plenty of "obvious" names that are still caucasian.

There are a good many senior citizens in our country who aren't "bigots" or "haters". Many don't hear well to begin with, throw in an accent that's unfamiliar to them and it's a mess. So...when they hear they're to have a visit with a doctor having a name they can't pronounce or is "unusual" to them, many simply freak and refuse. Often times it's that simple...just fearful of not being able to understand what is being said to them.

For what's it's worth, all my doctors are foreign and I'd never switch to see someone with an "American" sounding name, but I've had roommates from Thailand, China and Brazil so I catch what people are saying rather quickly. I do remember what it was like the first few days of having a Chinese roommate and it WAS difficult to catch everything she said. A senior citizen has but a few moments to understand and what they're hearing is *vitally important* so I sympathize.Yes, a "foreign" sounding name can be intimidating to some, especially seniors.

Thank you thank you for saying that. My MIL herself is Korean, and has never become fluent in English. Therefore it's important that she sees people who either speak English well OR can speak Korean.

She had a hospital stay where this became very important. The doctor on call for all but the last day of her stay was of the same background as the doctor on her last day. Both were female, both were basically competent. But one could speak English clearly and slowly, and did not take it as an insult if any of us needed her to repeat something, while the other was the opposite.

The doctor caring for her for most of her stay was incomprehensible. That was even for me, and I"m usually good with accents. She spoke ridiculously fast, which she probably did to keep moving, BUT if asked to repeat she would nearly have a tantrum (each time) and then wouldn't slow down until the third time you begged her to. So she spent twice, even three times as long with a patient, because of this time-saving thing she was doing.

On the last day, the doctor taking over was nearly 7 hours late to see, and discharge, MIL, because (and she stated this) she had spent the day calming down the patients who had been dealing with the other one. She indicated that this was nothing new, when she worked after the first one. The first one was just that brusque, rude, and absolutely un-understandable.

MIL couldn't understand her at all, and she couldn't understand MIL. The second doctor could EASILY understand MIL, I got to stop translating what she was saying on that last day (DS, who was 4 or 5 at the time, and I got to spend many hours each day with her to make sure everyone understood everyone else).

Because of this experience, because she's SCARED of it happening again, MIL is frightened of seeing doctors of that background. The first doctor was NOT fluent in English, at least not that anyone listening to her could tell, and IMO if you're going to work with the public and speak to them, and speak about literal life or death things with them, you *have to be fluent*.

Sometimes, IMO, it's OK to try to protect yourself by looking at names.

We try to find Korean doctors for her, it's just easier on everyone. She can go by herself and she'll understand what they tell her.

She also does have one big prejudice, and won't see doctors of one certain background (not the same as the background not-mentioned above). But that was because of occupation of her home country when she was a child, and the death of her father after spending a year in a concentration camp (the term isn't just used for the Holocaust). I think we should allow those whose countries were occupied to be angry with those from the occupying country.


I still don't think people should change their names, though.

my parents are straight from eastern europe. my mom is an executive at a pharmaceutical company, and she has mentioned several times that clients or other executives will think less of her because she has an accent and because she's a woman in a male-dominated field (but that's another issue), despite her top education and skills. i asked her what she thought and she wasn't thrilled with the idea, but she understands my reasoning.

all that said, how do you pick a new dentist/doctor if not by name? i check where they attended medical/dental school and did their residency, but i know not everyone does that.

It doesn't seem that your mom is having problems *because of her name* though. Accents can be hard for people. There are plenty of people in this world who just cannot understand accents. I didn't realize that I was actually *good* at it until I moved somewhere else (I grew up in a bit of a melting pot, though nothing like NYC is) and found LOTS of people who couldn't understand even the lightest accent at all. (even though those people had mystifyingly strong accents themselves LOL) And your mom also has the male-dominated industry thing going against her.

Our successful doctor-choosings have been by referrals from people that we trust. That share the same beliefs as us, the same backgrounds in what we want from healthcare people. When I've gone by "oh I like that name, they sound like nice people", or just by the list of people covered by insurance, we have had SERIOUS problems. Referrals from trusted people are 100% the best, for us.

I may have missed it, but has any one addressed the issue that patients may find it weird that the name on your degree is different from the name you give out? Most doctors that I know have their degree(s) posted somewhere.

Or that I wouldn't be able to look up your name with the medical board (here, it would be the Royal College, not sure what it is for you)?

If you do have the "also known as" option with the medical board, I'd find it very weird that you changed both your first and last name. Last name, I'd assume marriage, so I wouldn't find that weird, but first name? I'd start wondering what you were hiding.

Until your post I didn't realize she was changing her first name as well.

As far as I know you can have your diplomas changed if you wish...at least I think you can.

I picked Carter because I thought it sounded best with doctor as you'll often be called Doctor Carter (or other given last name).

I think I watched too much ER in the '90s to really trust a Dr Carter... (OK he became a better doctor but at the beginning, yikes!)

 

[fairestoneofall]

I'm not trying to be picky, but I find it strange that your whole post is about names - it includes a list of last names and a first name mentioned at least twice - and you failed to capitalize the first letter of any of them. It just looks odd to me to see names, either first or last, with a first letter in lowercase.

That being said, I think you should keep your name. Changing it would be catering to xenophobes and bigots.

i don't capitalize things. i've done it for over 20 years. i have a degree in publishing, which included editing and writing courses. granted, i used proper capitalization for any papers i turned in for school. but i just have always, when writing as "me" and not for a grade, chosen not to capitalize. it's not meant to be disrespectful. it's just me. it seems, based on the OP's posts, that she is the same way.

that being said, i think it's sad you feel you have to change your name. i will say that emily is a great name!

 

[bicker]

Changing it would be catering to xenophobes and bigots.

I missed this comment earlier. It's a good point, but it raises a lot of interesting questions ("interesting" being a word, in this context, that means, "I don't know the answers to them"): Should people assess the social and economic environment they face and deliberately and systematically ignore all unfair and unjust barriers and impediments? The answer will vary. Essentially, doing so means being punished twice for what is not even a crime - once due to the original injustice, and a second time in the form of the negative ramifications of assuming that everyone will be treated with fairness all the time. Those oppressed (for lack of a better word) are going to bear a good deal of burden no matter what; I think it is unfair to expect them either just "sit back and take it" or to pay the double price.

In a way, the OP's tactic isn't "catering" to bigots, but rather placing bigots in a dilemma, able to choose between opening their mind a little, or paying a price (in the form of some inconvenience) for their close-mindedness.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I just liked the way Emily Parker sounded!
Good Luck deciding, thats a BIG step IMHO,

Personally, I would not change my name to accommodate a profession in the future....A Dr is respected for what they do and how they treat their patients.
I have a personal physician that is foreign. An amazing, talented, caring, professional that I TRUST with my life.....cant say that for some others I have had
So, study Hard, Be proactive and keep up with medical changes and protocols, Be Positive and Respectful, Communicate by speaking and equally Important LISTENing and you will Be a SUCCESS with whatever name you have.
Best of Luck to you as you navigate a medical career, its a long hard road ahead but it comes with Amazing Personal Satisfaction, or so I hear!

 

[collegejunkie]

i appreciate the input! if most people don't mind having a foreign doctor/dentist, then i will reconsider whether it's worth it. i'll ask more doctors and dentists, because it was weird that most of them did tell me to change it.

thanks again

 

[can84]

i'm pleasantly surprised at most answers. i DO like my name and its meaning. the dis is probably more representative of the US as a whole than the group of people i asked, as they are all from my area.

i'll try to answer the questions i remember popping up:
i was born in the states and i don't have an accent. we look "white", though my eyebrows and nose might be a bit different.
my parents are straight from eastern europe. my mom is an executive at a pharmaceutical company, and she has mentioned several times that clients or other executives will think less of her because she has an accent and because she's a woman in a male-dominated field (but that's another issue), despite her top education and skills. i asked her what she thought and she wasn't thrilled with the idea, but she understands my reasoning.
i'm from long island and would like to continue living here and practice here. most of the doctors/dentists that i know of around here do have american names, but i don't know if they just happen to have bigger signs or people just flock to them above others. i'm not sure about hospitals, as i haven't had to really go to any (knock on wood). i do know that my own dentist changed his name (and he is actually from the same country as my parents)
i thought about the timing of a name change. i'm going to be a senior in college next year, so if i want to have all of my certifications/degrees in my new name, then i would have to do this soon

all that said, how do you pick a new dentist/doctor if not by name? i check where they attended medical/dental school and did their residency, but i know not everyone does that.

I'm from Long Island. Among my closest friends are one born and raised in Russia, one in the Dominican Republic, and one from Hong Kong. All live here. Before she retired, my gyno was from the Philippines; not sure where my current one is from. My eye doctor is from Eastern Europe, the neurologist I went to was from India, and my GP is from Italy. When choosing, first thing I check is if they are in my insurance network; otherwise it's from their education, residency, and referrals from others. Their name is never a factor in my decision. As everyone else said, if someone is going to rule you out because of your name, then it's probably someone you wouldn't want as a patient anyway.

If you're from Long Island and intend to stay around there, and you really do like your name, then this discussion is over.

Really. It won't be the problem you think it will be. You can change your name if you still want, of course. But, it's not a big deal there. You aren't living in Neanderthal/bigot country. Even if your own town is small.

As much as L.I. likes to keep it's own identity, separate from metro NYC, you live near one of the most ethnically diverse (and ethnically tolerant) areas in the world. There are many, many people who commute in to work from L.I, and mingle amongst the great racial melting pot along the L.I.E. and on the trains, buses, at shopping malls, restaurants & beaches, etc.

You may be living in a small town that seems more predominately 'white,' but as a general whole, the whole southern, Tri-state: NY, NJ, CT area are very progressively racially diverse and racially tolerant, (even with the racially intolerant pockets that there are.) You can still live there, then travel to work in a bigger city, as many L.I.ers & NJersians do.

I think if you start looking around for successful, ethnic names, whether in the medical industry or other fields, you will also find them around where you plan to work & live. Right now, you are focusing on American names, and of course, finding them.

Also, if you know the names of certain hospitals you might want to work at, Google them and their different departments. It will probably list the doctors on staff.


When I was originally looking for an endocrinologist, versus the holistic MDs or osteopaths I am now researching, I Googled the various hospitals here and the different referrals I was given. The only things I looked at were their education, length of time & position at the hospitals, and protocols for diagnosis & treatment. I've been getting the latter from the people who are referring these people, who have been personally treated by them.

I was seriously considering an Indian endo at St. Luke's, which is within walking distance from me. He's the head of endocrinology there. His picture & name on the hospital website clearly shows he's ethnic. I did not disqualify him for his ethnicity.

Instead, I will probably go with the referral I got for the holistic MD at Columbia-Presbyterian, even though she her position is lower. St Luke's is 50th in NYS for endocrinology, whereas Columbia-Presbyterian is 1st in NYS. The holistic MD's protocol for diagnosis & other treatments she practices, like acupuncture, using natural supplements over just writing a prescription, focusing on the foods which affect the thyroid & adrenals, and being a female doctor - which is what I'd prefer, all play a part in her moving into my (current) top position. (Still have to do some research on her and another candidate.)

I am willing to ride the subway to see her, (which is hard for someone with extreme exhaustion & brain fog problems, ) than simply walk to St Luke's, as, for me, she fits more of all my picky qualifications.

So, traveling doesn't really factor in for me. I also considered an endo in Paramus, NJ who was highly, highly recommended by 3 people. I know someone who takes the train out to Stamford, CT to see their endo. There is a L.I. endo who many travel from Manhattan to see. Recommendations go far in larger, metro areas. This is a competitive region as there are just as many quacks as good drs. - all with American or ethnic names.

What Imzadi said