San Diego Magazine

Wow — I just read the other reviews and I’m going to go against the grain and say — I just open a subscription with San Diego Magazine and I’m happy with the info I’ve read thus far… I like the stories of local family’s and local businesses. Keep up the good reporting, I’d love to see more on local sports figures and the positive contributions of Scripps Hospital or Sharp… I’ve heard San Diego Hospitals are leading the way in break through medicine and new ways to treat patients. -«Just Say’n»

San Diego Magazine clearly does not do its research when selecting its «Top Doctors», as they included one who was convicted of fraud in their October 2013 issue.
What a disappointment it was to find Dr. Joel Bernstein listed as a «top doctor» of internal medicine in this issue. It has been widely reported that Dr. Bernstein was convicted of treating many of his cancer patients with unapproved foreign chemotherapy drugs, for which he fraudulently billed insurance as if they were FDA approved drugs. As noted in the Union Tribune by Kristina Davis on July 2, «His practice was ordered to pay a $ 500,000 fine, forfeit $ 1.2 million and make restitution to Medicare for $ 1.7 million.»
As one of his cancer patients who received chemotherapy from him in 2008, I’m shocked and saddened that he is recognized as a «top doctor». His activities were at best fraudulent and at worst may have put so many of our lives at risk.
As the wife of a local doctor, my understanding is that «top doctors» PAY to be recognized as such. (Hubby received a letter from SDM stating that he was one of their «top doctors» and did he want to pay to be listed in the magazine?) If that weren’t enough evidence, I think the inclusion of Dr. Bernstein further proved that point.
Shame on you, San Diego Magazine for allowing this deceitful person to be listed as the best of the best!

San Diego Magazine in no way, shape, or form asks people to pay in order to be on the Best of lists. I know, because I worked there (though this is in no way a formal statement, just a point to be made).
Best Restaurants, is voted by the readers (along with separate critics picks section). Editorial rarely even allows the internal staff to see the results until the publication is in process.
Top Doctors, is chosen by doctors and the polling is run by a third party, The San Diego County Medical Society. In a separate section, doctors are invited to profile their business, but doctors are only solicited after voting results are in and do not effect the results in any way. This may be what you are thinking of Gail.
If you knew how careful the medical society is to not have the involvement of SDM you would not even consider your statement.
The ironic thing about the statements made by others is that I am sure the sales team wishes they had the option to sell editorial if there were any possibilty to it. The problem is it would stop being editorial and others would be right in feeling misguided.
For simple opinions on liking the magazine or not, I leave that up to the individual since you cant be all things to all people. I only respond because I believe in the integrity of the publication and think rumors should be addressed fairly.
Personally I am a big fan and will read it long after I worked there.
Thanks!

I was excited when I found out SD had a magazine. I moved here from NYC and loved my subscription to New York Magazine. This is nothing like that. It is half ads and the other half is crap. I had hoped to use the event guide in the back to discover cool festivals and activities in the area. Not so much.
The target demographic clearly has a much higher income than anyone I know so I was glad when my subscription ran out and I didn’t have to kill anymore trees for this.

As much as I enjoy the magazine and contents I am appalled at the way they solicit Doctors and local professionals to pay over $ 5,000 to be named as Top Dr’s or any other profession as the best of the best. HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND! Why don’t they just poll the readers and give us all a true perspective of the best loved local pros. So SHIESTY!

I wouldn’t line my birdcage with it. The bird might become dumber from the experience.

I cannot support a magazine where businesses can pay their way into a Top 10 list. This is the Citysearch of magazines. Even worse, they don’t tell you this is how the list is procured. I was unaware of this when I went to a coffee shop voted one of the top ten best in San Diego. It wasn’t until I told a friend how disappointed I was that he laughed at me and told me how he personally knew a business owner who flashed the cash in order to get on a Best Of list and that this was a normal occurrence.
I feel so used! Boo!