Pittsburgh, April 24, 2009 -- L. Dade Lunsford, MD, and Ian Pollack, MD, have been named among this area’s top doctors in their field in a national survey published locally in Pittsburgh Magazine. It's the eighth straight year for Dr. Lunsford's inclusion on the list, a distinction shared by only four other UPMC physicians.

The survey was conducted by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., a healthcare research and information company founded in 1991 with the stated goal of helping consumers find America's top doctors and top hospitals.

The company employs a physician-led research team following a rigorous screening process to compile their list. They identify highly skilled, exceptional doctors by evaluating their medical education, training and hospital appointments. Additionally, thousands of health professionals in the region are contact and asked to name the doctors to whom they would entrust a family member when faced with a specific medical problem

More than 100 UPMC-employed and affiliated doctors were named to the 2009 list. UPMC doctors appear in all 48 specialties, and 78 percent of the doctors on the list are from UPMC.

“These physicians exemplify the best of medicine,” said Elizabeth Concordia, executive vice president of UPMC and president of the Hospital and Community Services Division. “They consistently provide the highest level of effective, compassionate care to their patients and are leaders in their respective fields. We are very proud of their accomplishments and congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.”

The article will be published in the May issue of the magazine. Pittsburgh Magazine is published by WQED Multimedia.