ABOUT THE THYROID TOP DOCTORS DIRECTORY

The following listing includes recommended doctors and practitioners for your thyroid care.

Please note that being listed here in the Thyroid Top Doctors Directory doesn't necessarily mean a doctor is the right one for you. The doctor may be an empathetic and warm physician, but not open to working with drugs like Armour or T3 drugs. Or the doctor may be quite costly and not on insurance programs. Always call the doctor's office ahead of time to find out more about the doctor's philosophy, approach, costs, and other important factors before going in for your first appointment.

Please let us know if you have feedback about doctors listed here, or would like to recommend your doctor.

Grand Island

Dr. Mark Bolton, Radiology Oncology, 2620 Faidley Ave., Grand Island, Nebraska, 308/398-5450. A reader writes: "Dr. Bolton is very knowledgeable in Thyroid Cancer, He is willing to take the time and explain everything to you. He goes out of his way to make you feel comfortable." (Added: June 2004)

Hartington

"I have enjoyed your complete research of Thyroid disease. I would appreciate it if you would add my name to your top doc's list as I have almost exclusively used Armour thyroid for the last 4 years and will commonly diagnose thyroid disease based on Broda Barnes basal body temperature methods. Thanks, Dr. Steve Vlach MD, P.O. Box 714, 405 W. Darlene St., Hartington, NE 68739, E-mail: SEV711@aol.com."

Hastings

Dr. James Widhelm Chiropractor/Body Restoration Technique 2727 W. 2nd, Suite 32 Landmark Center Hastings, NE 68901 800-873-4378/402-463-6701 widhelm@tcgcs.com Dr. Widhelm writes: "I treat thyroid problems with the "Body Restoration Technique" developed by Dr. Eric Berg. I recently was trained by Dr. Berg to use the "Body Restoration" Technique to treat a variety of Endocrine disrupters. I have been a Chiropractor for over 20 years and am always trying to find more ways to help my patients naturally." (Added 11/02)

Lincoln

Dr. Lisa Peterson, General Practitioner, 4740 A St., Suite 200, Lincoln, NE 68510, 402-484-5656. "Doctor Peterson Listens to what her patients are telling her about how their bodies are responding. She will work with patients to achieve optimum results." (added 1/04)

Another reader recommends Dr. Lisa Peterson:
"I just saw Dr. Peterson for the first time. She was very thorough in her examination. She listened to me and consulted with me about my condition. How refreshing! I recommend her without hesitation!" (Added 10/05)

Lincoln

Dr. David M. Schnieder of Holmes Lake Family Health Centre, 6900 Van Dorn St # 24 , Lincoln, NE 68506-2882 402-489-3200. A reader writes: "Dr. Schneider is an excellent listener with a commonsense approach to medicine. He is very down-to-earth (not intimidating due to a large ego), and easy to talk with. He has a genuine concern for his patients and is very thoroughly informed about many medical conditions (I believe more so than the average general practitioner)."

Lincoln

Dr. David Smith, Neurology, Neurology Associates PC, 2631 S 70 ST, Lincoln NE 68506, 402-483-7226. "I have Hashimoto's Encephalopathy. Dr. Smith has spent many, many hours researching the best treatments for me. He is one of the few physicians who has told me I have an organic illness, it is not because I am "crazy". With his help I am having less seizures and a somewhat better life than I did before. He is also referring me to the Mayo Clinic to see if the is additional help available for my illness. The only Doctor I have seen that offered Mayo as an option. He also lets me "tweak" my medications, he also understood when I gave it all up for almost a year (all the medicines and tests) because I just could not handle it emotionally anymore. If it weren't for Dr. Smith I would have been sent to a nursing home or a Psychiatric care facility."

Another reader writes:
"Prescribes Armour for thyroid disease." (Added 6/02).

Lincoln

Dr. David M. Schnieder, Thyroid, 6900 Van Dorn St.. #24, Lincoln, NE 68506, 402-489-3200, "Prescribes Armour for thyroid disease." (Added 6/02).

Lincoln

Dr. Jalal Nafach, Endocrinology, 2355 Superior Street, Suite 101, Lincoln, NE 68521, (402) 437-0660/437-0661. http://www.ecn.yourmd.com. A reader writes: "Dt. Nafach treated me for a thyroid tumor and hypercalcemia (the result of an overactive parathyroid that as it turned out happened to be buried in the thyroid tumor). He is very knowledgeable and does an excellent job explaining both his diagnosis and treatment options. I recommend Dr. Nafach without reservation." (Added: June 2004)

Omaha

Dr. Anderson, Creighton Endocrinology. Creighton Medical Center, Omaha NE , 402 280 4321 A reader writes: "After years of poor care with other physicians -- Dr. Anderson was a life saver. He was very attentive and understanding and willing to evaluate my condition using more that the standard range of lab values. He looked at the overall picture and addressed my concerns. He also understood that my ideal range may not be as broad as the "normal" values. He tweaks my dosages and tests me regularly. I am much healthier -- physically and emotionally under -- his care."

Another reader writes:
A reader writes: "Dr. Anderson is an empathetic and caring physician, but when I saw him several years
ago, he would not prescribe Armour thyroid." (Added: June 2004)

NOTE: A reader writes that this doctor is still practicing according to the old .5 to 5.0 lab values, and not the new .3 to 3.0 levels. (June 2005)

Omaha

James W. Gigantelli, M.D. Thyroid Eye Disease - Grave's Ophthalmology - Thyroid-associated orbitopathy - Grave's orbitopathy University of Nebraska Eye Specialties Main Clinic: 3925 Dewey Avenue Omaha, NE 68198-5540 Appts: (402)559-2020 www.unmc.edu/eye/pages/information/aboutunmc.html A reader writes: "Mine is one of those rare cases of Thyroid Eye Disease/Opthamalopathy and I can't say enough about this fantastic doctors personality (along with his assistant Ken) personality, care and concern regarding the continued problems with my eyes. It is just absolutely amazing what he has done to help correct my vision problems as they continue to occur. He's more than a two-thumbs up doctor. Dr. G (as he likes to be called) and Ken are "five star" kind of guy's and don't know where I'd be if they hadn't come into my life! I highly recommend that anyone in the Omaha area, having thyroid related eye problems to make it a point to be in his caring hands." (Added 11/02)

Another reader recommends Dr. Gigantelli:
"Dr. Gigantelli has changed my life!! He is the best and anyone with TED (Thyroid Eye Disease) should meet him! He's awesome!! A very busy man but he is the best!!" (added 1/04)

Omaha

Dr. Jeffrey Passer, Internal/Integrated Medicine, 4239 Farnan Street Ste 800, Omaha, Ne 68131 , 402 552-2900, www.omahamedicine.com A reader informs us, "Over the past 3 years I have seen several doctors (including one that is on the top docs list) for what I suspected was a thyroid problem, but my tests were "normal." With my symptoms getting worse, I E-mailed top doc Dr. Steve Vlach from Hartington, NE to see if he could recommend someone in Omaha for me. He referred me to Dr. Jeffrey Passer who gave me back my life. After doing all the tests, even though they were in the normal range, he prescribed Armour Thyroid for me because of all my symptoms. I have lost 20 pounds and have energy again and highly recommend both of these doctors for being instrumental in returning me to the living."

Another reader recommends Dr. Passer:
"Awesome!! Open minded doctor who is willing to listen to his patients!!! I Highly recommend Dr. Passer!! Great Man!" (Added 11/02)

A patient writes:
"I have secondary hypo which is more difficult to get a diagnosis. Dr. Passer gave me the necessary testing to diagnose me and started me on Armour. Armour and Dr. Passer gave me back my life. He is open minded and willing to work with his patients. We titrate my meds according to the Free's which enables me to be adequately medicated." (Added: Dec. 04)

Another fan of Dr. Passer:
"I travel 2.5 hours to see Dr. Passer. He listens to what I say and asks me to keep in touch with reports on how I’m doing. I would be quite desperate had I not found his name here at the top doc site." (Added 10/05)

Another patient:
"This man is a saint. He listens. This man spends time with his patients. He is well trained in thyroid problems . This is the man to see for thyroid imbalance, thyroid replacement therapy. This doctor doesn't deny the problems of hypothyroidism. He understands this condition and will work with you to restore and maintain your thyroid balance. This doctor is top 10." (Added 1/06)

Omaha

Scott Fasse MD, Family Medicine, 7415 Dodge Suite 4, Omaha, NE 68114, 402-884-7218 Fax 884-7589. A reader writes: "Dr. Fasse is great. He has worked with me for years to help me get better. I have Fibromyalgia as well as Hypothyroidism. He has been willing to try any type of thyroid medicine I have asked for. When I asked about Armour Thyroid he said that he did not know much about it and wanted to research it first so I was glad that I came armed with info from this website as well as Armour Thyroid's site. He looked at it and saw what strength was comparable to what I was taking at the time and said it was worth a try. I have now ended up on Cytomel which looks to be the right one for me. I am so glad that I have a Doctor that actually listens to me and not just the numbers or the drug reps. Dr. Fasse knows that not all patients are the same and that is one of the reasons that there are different drugs that all treat the same disease. He is more expensive than other doctors but that is because they only generally only schedule 2-3 patients an hour." (Added 1/06)

A reader writes:
"Dr. Passer takes the time to actually listen to everything you have to say. He asks the perfect questions and makes you feel so at ease you actually remember all the information you know that he needs to hear. Unlike so many times other times with other doctors when you feel like you're trying to fit everything in before the doc is out the door. I've know something was not quite right for years and I was sooooo tired of hearing your depressed because you're fat, you're fat because you're depressed, your knees ache because you're fat, you're skins dry because of the season....so on and so forth. Dr. Passer is a GREAT guy. Funny too. He also did a complete workup on me and found a hormonal imbalance that not one other doctor had done in the past. If I lived 2.5 hours away, I'd still drive back to see him, too." (Added Apr 06)

A reader writes:
"Dr. Passer treats on symptoms and he really understands the Thyroid blood tests. I would recommend him to everyone with Thyroid issues. He makes his patients feel comfortable and he is very understanding! I would be totally lost without him!" (Added Apr 06)

Why is a Particular Doctor No Longer Listed?

Doctors who were previously listed here are removed for a number of reasons.

1. The doctor has requested that his/her listings be removed because: he/she does not agree with this site’s philosophy or patient-orientation; the practice is too busy and can’t accept new patients; the doctor does not feel comfortable handling complicated thyroid problems; the doctor did not agree with what was said in the patient recommendations; or the doctor said “take me off the list” and offered no explanation.
2. The doctor has moved, retired, or died.
3. The doctor has lost his/her license, or given up his/her license, and is no longer practicing medicine.
4. Patients have provided negative input about the doctor that is of sufficient concern that, in the opinion of the editor, the doctor should no longer be on the Top Thyroid Doctors List.

Thyroid Top Doctors would face legal concerns if we published specific information about why patients had negative opinions about doctors, or if we shared a doctor’s occasional ranting ”take me off” email, or if we publicized doctors with licensing problems. So please, if you see that a doctor has been taken off the list and want to know why, talk to the doctor directly. If you write to us to ask why a doctor was taken off the list, we’re sorry, but we won’t be able to answer you or share that information.

LATEST UPDATE:

IMPORTANT NOTE: Mary Shomon, the patients who have recommended these physicians and practitioners, or physicians and practitioners who have recommended/listed themselves make no guarantees or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or validity of the information provided here. Mary Shomon, patients writing in to recommend their doctors, and the doctors/practitioners themselves assume no responsibility for any services provided by listed physicians or practitioners. It is your responsibility to investigate any physician with whom you plan to have a consultation, and you consult with physicians listed here expressly at your own risk.

Copyright © 2006, Mary J. Shomon. PO Box 565, Kensington, MD 20895. All rights reserved.