This year, four physicians from the University of South Alabama Physicians Group and USA Mitchell Cancer Institute appear in the America’s Top Doctors directory issued by U.S. News and World Report. They are the only doctors in our region to receive this honor.
Drs. Michael Finan, Johnson Haynes, Arnold Luterman, and William Richards were each listed among the top physician specialists in the United States. To be included in the America’s Top Doctors directory, physicians rank in the top one percent of primary and specialty care for their expertise.
Dr. Michael Finan is associate director for clinical affairs and professor and chief of the gynecologic and oncology division at the Mitchell Cancer Institute and is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the USA College of Medicine. He specializes in the management of cancers of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and the lower genital tract. He is also the first gynecologist in Mobile to perform robotic surgery. Prior to joining USA, Dr. Finan served as the residency program director of gynecologic oncology and chair of the cancer committee at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans.
Dr. Johnson Haynes Jr. is professor of internal medicine and director of the USA Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. Dr. Haynes also serves as assistant dean for diversity and cultural competence at the USA College of Medicine. His interests are in the research and treatment of sickle cell disease. Dr. Haynes is a graduate of the USA College of Medicine and conducted his residency training at the USA Medical Center. Dr. Haynes completed his clinical fellowship in pulmonary medicine at USA, as well as fellowship in pulmonary vascular research at the University of Colorado in Denver.
Dr. Arnold Luterman recently retired as the Ripp-Meisler professor of surgery at the USA College of Medicine and medical director of the USA Burn Center. He is a nationally known burn care expert and is noted for his leading-edge burn and wound treatment and research. He helped establish the USA Burn Center in 1981 and has played a vital role in the care of burn victims in our region for more than 30 years.
Dr. William Richards serves as professor and chair of surgery at the USA College of Medicine. He directs the laparoscopic and bariatric surgery programs at USA and is also a member surgeon with the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute. Dr. Richard’s clinical interests focus on surgical treatment of achalasia, paraesophageal hernias, Barrett’s esophagus, adrenal tumors, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Type 2 diabetes and motility disorders of the gastrointestinal tract using minimally invasive surgical procedures. He has performed thousands of laparoscopic procedures since 1989 and is internationally recognized for his research and surgical expertise in these disorders.
In addition, 24 USA physicians were named regional Top Doctors this year. Regional Top Doctors rank in the top 10 percent of primary and specialty care physicians within a given area.
U.S. News Top Doctors was created in collaboration with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. It draws from their database of America’s Top Doctors, all recommended for their clinical skills by other doctors and individually vetted by a physician-led research team. Consumers can search for a Top Doctor by location, hospital affiliation, and a full range of specialties and subspecialties.
