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.

Durban

Dr. Grant Phillips, surgeon, Westville Hospital Medical Centre, 031-2651086. A reader tells us, "this man is special. You are not just a patient, you are more like a partner. He does not let you out of his rooms until he is 100% satisfied that you understand a situation and can cope with it. Half my battle was won from the moment I entered his rooms. He wouldn’t even see my husband until he was confident that I was completely in the picture. These facts were just as important to me as the fact that he is a first class surgeon."

Durban

Dr. Dale Hacking, oncologist, Durban Oncology Centre, 031-2618221. Writes this reader, "First, he tells no lies. Second, you are a person learning new facts not a patient being told what to do and when, just the why’s. Third, he is such a positive personality that you can only benefit from being around him even when he has something to say that you don’t want to hear."

Johannesburg

Dr. Gurtunca, Pediatric Endocrinologist, Donald Gordom Medical Centre, 17 Eton Road Parktown, Johannesburg, 2711-3566518, "Dr. Gurtunca is an extremely approachable. My daughter is only eight and has congenital hypothyroidism and we travel from Zimbabwe to see her. We are most impressed." (Added 4/04)

Pretoria

Dr Johan Cillie, Gynecologist Femina Clinic, Pretoria (012) 324 4400. A reader shares, "He helped me with so many problems, miscarriages, etc., and he always is very understanding and trying to help giving good and proper medication. He does not look at only blood tests to make a decision."

Pretoria

Dr Sterna Franzsen Gynecologist, Pretoria East Hospital. Phone number (012) 9984221, (012) 9984222. A reader tells us, "Dr Franzsen is very open minded and will answer any questions on thyroid related problems without being condescending at all. She is very pro the patient finding out about their condition by reading books and researching on the Internet. She will spend time discussing anything related to research that the patient has done. She does not force her opinion on the patient and is very knowledgeable on improving health via nutrition. I really recommend her."

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.