Six physicians affiliated with Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) have been recognized among Castle Connolly’s 2025 Top Doctors, an annual peer-nominated list of leading physicians from across the country.
The TRMC physicians named to this year’s list include Dr. David Banks (Georgia Sports Medicine), Dr. Edward Hellman (Georgia Sports Medicine), Dr. William Kaiser (Tift Regional Vascular), Dr. Apurva Shah (Anita Stewart Oncology Center), Dr. Hewatt McGraw “Mac” Sims (Southern Spine Center), and Dr. Bill Smith (Georgia Sports Medicine).
Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors list features approximately 70,000 board-certified physicians nationwide, selected through a process that includes peer nominations and independent evaluation by a physician-led research team. More than one million practicing physicians in the United States are considered each year.
Criteria for selection include professional qualifications, education, hospital and faculty appointments, research leadership, professional reputation and disciplinary history. The process also considers interpersonal skills such as listening, communication, empathy and the ability to instill trust and confidence in patients.
Physicians do not pay to be included in the Castle Connolly directory. Inclusion is based solely on merit and evaluation by the selection team. Doctors may also be removed if they no longer meet selection criteria.
“We are proud to see several of our medical staff members recognized on this year’s Castle Connolly Top Doctors list,” said Dr. David McEachin, Chief Medical Officer at Southwell. “This distinction is a testament to their dedication, clinical excellence, and the high standard of care provided to patients at Southwell.”
Castle Connolly has compiled physician directories for more than 30 years and is often cited as a trusted source for identifying quality medical care. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Medical Research found that Castle Connolly’s peer-reviewed list was more reliable than sites relying solely on patient reviews.
TRMC is listed among Castle Connolly’s featured hospitals and healthcare networks where Top Doctors are employed or affiliated. A complete list of recognized physicians and affiliated facilities is available at https://www.castleconnolly.com.
