Doctors Receive Patients’ Choice Award

The recognition of the Patients' Choice Award reflects the difference that a particular physician has made in the lives of their patients. The honor is bestowed to physicians who have received near perfect scores as voted by their patients. Of the nation's 830,000 active physicians, only 5% were accorded this honor by their patients in 2011.

All seven physicians at Diablo Valley Oncology, recently received this prestigious award. They are physicians Matthew Sirott, Robert Robles, Jewel Johl, Tiffany Svahn, Gigi Chen, Esther Catalya, and Sachin Kamath. These medical oncologists, hematologists and radiation oncologist were rated by their patients on various components of care such as ease of appointment, promptness, courteous staff, diagnosis accuracy, amount of time they spent with the patient, their bedside manner and follow-up care. They received the highest scores, a perfect four star rating by their patients. In fact, the practice has more doctors recognized than any other oncology practice in the area.

Dr. Svahn, the group’s breast cancer specialist, has received the award four years in a row. One comment from a patient’s review states: “Dr. Svahn represents everything that is good about the medical profession. She is brilliant, very well trained, thorough in her exams and the questions she asks, but most important, she is a very caring human being. She made me feel as if we were partners in getting me well. I highly recommend her!”

Another patient wrote: “Dr. Catalya really listened to me - she created a plan to go after my cancer. I am now cancer free - one year later. I cannot thank her enough.”

To view the complete Patients’ Choice “MD report card” profile of each physician, go to: www.patientschoice.org

Diablo Valley Oncology is located at the California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill. The cancer center is the largest freestanding, non-hospital based facility in Contra Costa County. The center brings together medical oncology, hematology, radiation, chemotherapy, diagnostic imaging, clinical trials, and supportive care services – all in one convenient location. Satellite offices in Rossmoor, San Ramon, and Brentwood.