More than 100 UC San Diego Health physicians have been named “Top Docs” in the 2025 San Diego Magazine “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” peer survey. Photo credit: Annie Pierce, UC San Diego Health
Each year, local doctors have the opportunity to choose one colleague in their specialty and one outside their area of practice as among the best in the region in San Diego Magazine's annual "Physicians of Exceptional Excellence" survey. This year, UC San Diego Health physicians continued to top the charts with well over 100 doctors receiving the honor from their peers.
Patients in the region also benefit with access to top physicians in 50 specialties chosen for voting by San Diego Magazine in conjunction with the San Diego County Medical Society.
"To be recognized by fellow physicians as 'Top Docs' is one of the highest honors in medicine," said Patty Maysent, CEO of UC San Diego Health. "This distinction reflects not only our doctors' clinical excellence, but also their commitment to improving patients' lives through groundbreaking research, innovation, and compassionate care. It's a powerful affirmation of the trust and respect they've earned from their peers and the communities they serve."
Ranging from cardiovascular disease, neurological surgery, emergency medicine and geriatrics to sports medicine, radiation oncology, family medicine and infectious disease, the selected physicians represent the wide range of excellent care options delivered to the community by UC San Diego Health.
“This distinction reflects not only our doctors’ clinical excellence, but also their commitment to improving patients’ lives through groundbreaking research, innovation, and compassionate care.”
— Patty Maysent, CEO, UC San Diego Health
"The selection of so many physicians from our team as 'Top Docs' demonstrates the profound esteem and exceptional standing they have earned among their peers and the communities we serve," said Christopher Kane, MD, CEO, UC San Diego Health Physician Group. "This distinction guarantees that, for anything from routine check-ups to complex procedures, our patients can rest assured that their doctors are highly trained, up to speed on the latest science and among the best in their fields."
In addition to the Top Docs honors, UC San Diego Health recently ranked No. 1 in San Diego in the 2025-2026 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" survey. The region's only academic medical center ranked nationally in 9 specialties and high-performing in 20 common procedures and conditions, which cover a full spectrum of care from heart procedures and stroke care to cancer and orthopedic surgeries.
UC San Diego Health was also recently recognized as a top performer in the 2025 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Ranking by Vizient, Inc. for its excellence in delivering high-quality patient care.
The full list of "Top Docs" can be found in the October issue of San Diego Magazine.
Learn more about our "Top Docs" and how to make an appointment at UC San Diego Health.
About UC San Diego Health
UC San Diego Health, the region's only academic health system, is dedicated to delivering outstanding patient care through commitment to community, groundbreaking research and inspired teaching. Our specialty care for serious and complex conditions is consistently ranked among the nation's best by U.S. News & World Report and other organizations. The 1,101-bed academic health system includes Hillcrest Medical Center, Jacobs Medical Center, East Campus Medical Center, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, Moores Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Koman Family Outpatient Pavilion, McGrath Outpatient Pavilion, and Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute, as well as primary care and same day services at clinics throughout Southern California. For more information, please visit health.ucsd.edu, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn and YouTube, and find the latest news at health.ucsd.edu/news.
