If it's November, then it must be time to release the results of our annual Top Doctors survey, a list that's closely watched by both our readers and by the medical community.
There are several new specialties this year (we broke the 100-mark!), as well as the addition of a practice area—organized into subspecialties—that's been absent from the list for many years: cosmetic surgery.
Cosmetic procedures have become so commonplace and accepted in the past couple of decades that it's become more important than ever for consumers to have a resource to help them choose an expert practitioner. And that's what our survey provides as chosen by more than 6,000 physicians in the region.
Indulge me an I-told-you-so here, but as I predicted earlier in this space, the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix on Labor Day was a big success, affirmed more recently by the announcement by organizers that the race will return for Labor Day of 2012.
A thorough review of the event's economic impact is expected soon, but there was no doubt that the city saw huge benefits in hotel bookings and Inner Harbor restaurant business on what is normally a quiet weekend. The IndyCar drivers were excited about the race, too—the track, the crowds, and the city's support.
Tweaks to the event for next year, already being planned, should improve the track and lessen disruption to traffic and pedestrians, but regardless, it's a great new tradition for Baltimore that promises to build many times over on its initial success. And I hope Charm City remains the race's home far beyond the five-year agreement organizers have with IndyCar.
But don't take it from me: Take it from people like our very own Michael Phelps, who tweeted after the race, "Top 5 coolest things I've ever done!!!! Amazinnggg!!!!!" And he's done some pretty cool things.
