Key Professional Media performs the polling, research and selection for Super Doctors in a process designed to identify medical professionals who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Doctors is a selective yet diverse listing of outstanding doctors, representing the consumer-oriented medical areas.

1. Survey of Medical Doctors
Each year, Key Professional Media sends thousands of ballots to doctors asking "If you needed medical care, which doctor would you choose?" The intent is to identify those doctors most highly regarded by their peers. Numerous safeguards are in place to prevent ballot manipulation and doctors may not self-nominate.

2. The Blue Ribbon Panel Review
The nominees are grouped into more than 30 medical practice areas. Those nominees with the highest point totals from each practice area are invited to serve on the blue ribbon panel. Each blue ribbon panelist reviews and scores a list of nominees for their primary practice area.

3. The Research Process
Interviews and contacts: Throughout the selection process, Key Professional Media interviews and corresponds with medical professionals to identify the top doctors in each practice area.

Independent research: Key Professional Media actively searches for outstanding doctors to complement the statewide survey of doctors. KPM evaluates prospective candidates on indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement as a supplement to the balloting and blue ribbon panel review.

Data verification: Each candidate is contacted to verify the doctor's professional information, including primary area of practice. Even if selected, a candidate's name will not be published on the Super Doctors list unless all information is verified prior to publication.

Good standing review: Key Professional Media reviews the discipline record of each candidate and verifies that the doctor is active and in good standing.

4. The Final Selection Process
The point totals from the ballot surveys and the screening process are added to arrive at a final point score.