MOVERS and SHAKERS: Dr. John Connolly, President & CEO of Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. publisher of America's Top Doctors® and Chairman of Castle Connolly Private Health Partners, LLC Our Coverage Sponsored by Hallak Cleaners the Couture Cleaner
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John J. Connolly, Ed.D., - the nation’s foremost expert on identifying top physicians, is the President & CEO of Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. publisher of America’s Top Doctors® and other consumer guides to help people find the best healthcare. He also serves as Chairman and CEO of Castle Connolly Private Health Partners LLC. And he is Vice Chairman of Castle Connolly LifestreamMD. He is also Vice-Chairman of Castle Connolly Graduate Medical Ltd., which publishes review manuals to assist resident physicians and fellows in preparing for their board exams and serves as Secretary of Medebound, LLC ., a company doing second medical opinions in China and is Secretary and a director of TopDoctors.es. which operates throughout Europe and South and Central America.
Dr. Connolly served as President of New York Medical College, the nation’s second largest private medical college, for more than ten years. He is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine, a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences, a Director of the Northeast Business Group on Health, a member of the President’s Council of the United Hospital Fund, and a member of the Board of the American Swiss Foundation.
Dr. Connolly has served as trustee of two hospitals and as Chairman of the Board of one. He is extensively involved in healthcare and community activities and has served on a number of voluntary and corporate boards including the Board of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, of which he is a founder and past chairman, and the Culinary Institute of America for over 20 years where he is now Chairman Emeritus. He also served as a director and Chairman of the Professional Examination Service and served as the Board of Advisors of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. His current corporate board service includes: Air Methods Inc, and The Hudson Group. He formally served on the boards of Baker and Taylor, Morton’s of Chicago, Dearborn Risk Management, Perkins & Marie Callendar’s, Truck components Inc., the Delaware Mutual Funds, McCormick & Schmick’s, Charlie Browns Inc. and Alpha Gene Inc., where he served as Chairman. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Worcester State College, a Master’s degree from the University of Connecticut, and a Doctor of Education degree in College and University Administration from Teacher’s College, Columbia University and honorary doctorates from Mercy College, Worcester State University and Daemon College.
Over the years, Dr. Connolly has served on the boards and as an officer of numerous not-for-profit organizations including: President, Sullivan Country Association for Retarded Children; Director and Chairman United Way of Dutchess County; Director and Founding Chairman Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency. Director and Founder Dutchess County Economic Development Association; President, Westchester County Historical Society.
Professionally, he served as a director, and chairman, of the American Association of Community Colleges and was chosen as one of the “One Hundred Young Leaders in Higher Education” by Change magazine. He received the Marie Martin Award for Leadership in Community Colleges and was designated Man of the Year by the Dutchess County Legislation in 1978.
Dr. Connolly has appeared on or been interviewed by over 100 television and radio stations nationwide including “Good Morning America” (ABC-TV), “The Today Show” (NBC-TV),“20/20” (ABC-TV), “48 Hours” (CBS-TV), Fox Cable News, “Morning News” (CNN) and “Weekend Today in New York” (WNBC-TV). The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Daily News (New York), The Boston Herald and other newspapers, as well as many national and regional magazines, have featured Castle Connolly Guides and/or Dr. Connolly in stories. He is the author and/or editor of seven books.
His primary business activity centers on the mission of Castle Connolly medical Ltd. Which is to help people find the best healthcare by identifying top doctors. John K. Castle, Chairman of Castle Connolly and also Chairman of
Castle Harlan Inc, a merchant banking firm, founded Castle Connolly in 1991.Through their books, magazine partnerships, website and employer services they have helped millions of people find Top Doctors and the best healthcare. We are absolutely thrilled to present Dr. John Connolly as our latest Mover and Shaker! Peachy Deegan interviewed John for Whom You Know.
Peachy Deegan: How do you define a top physician?
Dr. John Connolly: We identify a physician as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor based on nominations by other doctors and a thorough review of their education, training, hospital appointments, discipline and malpractice histories by our physician-led research team.
What should the world know about Castle Connolly?
We are unique and the most trusted source for identifying top doctors in the nation. We have been doing this research for 25 years. Others claim to have similar research models, but none do. That is why over 40 regional magazines use our research for their Top Doctor articles.
What are the greatest challenges physicians face today and how can they overcome such obstacles?
Overwhelming paper work created by government regulation; reduced reimbursement for individual practitioners and small groups; the pressure to see too many patients; and “burn-out” created by all this. We need to pay primary care physicians better, give them more time with patients, reduce regulation and produce more physicians.
What are the biggest mistakes people make with their health and what should they do to improve their lives?
Not taking care of themselves and not having a relationship with a good primary care doctor.
What makes doctors in America better or not as good as doctors outside the United States?
The U.S. enjoys a high quality and standardized model of medical education enforced through a rigorous model of accreditation.
What medical schools produce the best doctors?
I cannot answer that. Some medical schools enjoy better reputations than others, but much of that is created by their research programs. All medical schools create excellent doctors and, occasionally, poor doctors.
If you were stranded on a desert island with five doctors, who would they be and why?
An internist (general care), a physiatrist ( muscle-rehab)), a psychiatrist (mental health); a pain management specialist; a neurologist (diagnosis). Without sufficient facilities, any kind of surgery would be impossible.
What boards have you enjoyed serving on the most and how did you impact them?
Air Methods is a terrific company with a vital mission of saving lives through emergency medical transport by helicopter. The Hudson Group is another terrific company, one that is known as “the travelers best friend”. The Culinary Institute of America is the world’s leading culinary education college and has transformed dining in America. Of course all of our Castle Connolly companies, including TopDoctors.es in Europe and south and central America and our concierge medical company Castle Connolly Private Health Partners LLC are particularly close to my heart.
What makes a great CEO?
Being smart; working hard; listening to other people; being a good leader.
What is your opinion on Obamacare as it is now?
Obamacare has a couple of good things—no denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions; covering children until 26--- but, for the most part , it is a regulatory and expensive mess which will have lasting negative impact. Coverage of the uninsured could have been achieved better and less expensively by having the Feds. Take over and expand Medicaid.
How do you think Obamacare should be reformed?
Unfortunately, some of the impact, such as most physicians now being employed by hospitals, cannot be reversed. Otherwise, I support what many call “Medicare or All”. It will be more expensive, but it will insure good coverage and care for all Americans.
Where in Ireland is your family from, have you been to Ireland, and how has your Irish heritage influenced your life?
Kilarney. I have been to Ireland a few times. The influences, if any, came from my family—hard working , intelligent people.
What or who has had the most influence on your pursuit of excellence?
My partner, John K. Castle
What are you proudest of and why?
Being one of the youngest college presidents in the nation at age 32.
What would you like to do professionally that you have not yet had the opportunity to do? Make our concierge medicine company a success. It is still a start-up.
What one word best describes you and why?
Hard working, because I have worked hard since I was ten years old.
What do you take your sense of identity from?
My mother and father.
What is your favorite place to be in Manhattan?
In my office, working with our team.
And Ireland?
On a golf course!
If you could hire anybody who would it be and why?
My grandchildren. They are terrific!
What is your favorite drink?
Wine
What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at a cocktail party?
My most embarrassing moment at a cocktail party occurred when I rushed out of one to catch a train. I had hung my coat at the end of the rack to I could grab it quickly. I did, but didn't realize until an hour later that it was not my coat and not my car keys in the pocket!
What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan?
Trattoria Del Arte.
And Ireland?
Connolly’s Pub!
What is your favorite Manhattan book or character in Manhattan literature?
“The Island at the Center of the World”
And Ireland?
James Connolly
Who would you like to be for a day and why?
The President of the U.S.A. –to make some changes.
If you could have anything in Manhattan named after you what would it be and why?
Central Park. It will be there forever!
And Ireland?
Phoenix Park. Same reason.
What has been your best Manhattan athletic experience?
Playing hockey at Sky Rink with students from New Your Medical College.
And Ireland?
Playing golf at Port Monarch.
What is your favorite thing to do in Manhattan that you can do nowhere else?
View the rebirth of the World Trade Center site.
And Ireland?
Kiss the Blarney Stone.
If you could have dinner with any person living or passed, who would it be and why?
Jesus Christ—who else!!
What has been your best Manhattan art or music experience?
“Jersey Boys”.
And Ireland?
I have not had any in Ireland.
What do you personally do or what have you done to give back to the world?
For 25 years John Castle and I have helped people find the best health care by identifying top doctors. We were the first people to do that anywhere in the world.
In Manhattan, what do you think is most underrated?
The people are much friendlier and helpful than most believe.
And overrated in Manhattan?
You cannot overrate Manhattan. It is the center of the world!
And Ireland?
It survived England!
Other than Movers and Shakers of course, what is your favorite WhomYouKnow.com column and what do you like about it?
I like the stories about Ed Koch. He was a terrific guy, real New York!
What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
I have a very beautiful wife. Most people forget me but remember her.
How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers? jconnolly@castleconnolly.com
