MEET LOCAL LEGENDS: By State

"Since I was nine years old, I've wanted to spend my life helping people."

"I try to help my patients live their lives and improve the quality of their lives even when I can't cure them."

"I grew up in a large family with no health insurance. Now I have a chance to give back. I do what I do because I see the future in the eyes of each child I treat."

"With radiation oncology you can really help a lot of people. Cancer survivors need special care and special follow up. It's a great feeling to see people for follow up when things are going well."

"I'm passionate about raising women's awareness of heart disease. Our biggest challenge is helping our patients understand their risk."

"Treating diabetes involves so much education–not just of the patient but for the doctors treating the patient. A good physician can really help improve the physical condition of a patient and give that patient a sense of control over the illness."

"At Beth Israel in Boston I met people in the hospital and clinic who taught me so much about medicine and life. Here was this devastating illness, AIDS, that nobody really understood, but there was also a tremendous need and opportunity to help fight a baffling disease."