FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 8, 2006

A national survey of physicians and medical leadership of leading hospitals has recognized 18 physicians from UT Medical Group, Inc. as Top Doctors™ in their fields. Forty percent of the doctors on the 2006 Top Doctors™ list for the Memphis area are on the medical staff of UTMG.

The survey was conducted by a physician-led team from the independent research firm, Castle Connolly Medical Limited, which publishes a number of regional and national guides to help consumers locate leading doctors in their communities. Castle Connolly is also the leading partner for top doctors’ features in national magazines such as Good Housekeeping, Redbook, and many regional magazines throughout the United States. Physicians do not pay to be included in the guides or in any of the magazine articles.

Using mail and telephone surveys as well as electronic ballots, the firm asked respondents to identify highly skilled, exceptional doctors. Careful screening of doctors’ educational and professional experience was performed before final selection was made among those physicians most highly regarded by their peers.

The following UT Medical Group physicians, listed by specialty, are included in the Top Doctors™ 2006 list:

• Dr. Karl T. Weber, cardiovascular disease
• Dr. Beverly Williams-Cleaves, endocrinology
• Dr. Caroline T. Riely, gastroenterology (retired)
• Dr. Robert Morrison, internal medicine
• Dr. Kathryn Ryder, internal medicine
• Dr. Veronica Mallett, obstetrics and gynecology
• Dr. Owen P. Phillips, obstetrics and gynecology
• Dr. Barrett G. Haik, ophthalmology
• Dr. Matthew Wilson, ophthalmology
• Dr. P. Joan Chesney, infectious disease
• Dr. Robert J. Wyatt, pediatric nephrology
• Dr. John R. Hill, pediatrics
• Dr. Stephen A. "Andy" Spooner, pediatrics
• Dr. Robert D. Wallace, plastic surgery
• Dr. Stanley B. Kaplan, rheumatology
• Dr. Guy R. Voeller, surgery
• Dr. Christian Gilbert, thoracic surgery
• Dr. Robert W. Wake, urology

Doctors selected for inclusion on the Top Doctors™ list may also appear as Regional Top Doctors online at www.castleconnolly.com or in one of Castle Connolly’s national Top Doctors™ guides, such as America’s Top Doctors or America’s Top Doctors for Cancer.

UT Medical Group is the Memphis area's largest physician practice, with more than 325 providers, all of whom are qualified to teach on the faculty of the University of Tennessee, Memphis College of Medicine.