Two orthopedic surgeons and an occupational medicine physicianwere among five Florida physicians cited this week for the 2005Florida CHOICE Awards.

The awards were given to physicians demonstrating excellence intreating injured employees.

The Florida CHOICE Awards for Workers' Compensation werepresented yesterday during the 60th Annual Workers' CompensationEducational Conference in Orlando, Fla.

Recipients include Vladimir Alexander, M.D., an orthopedicsurgeon with Alexander Orthopedic Associates in Largo; DavidGilbert, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Broward OrthopedicSpecialists in Ft. Lauderdale; and Mario Medero, M.D., anoccupational medicine physician with Medero Medical, afive-location clinic based in Ocala;

Also named were Mark Rubenstein, M.D., FAAPMR, a physicalmedicine and rehabilitation physician with Gold Coast Orthopedicsin West Palm Beach; and Seth Charles Wachsman, M.D., ananesthesiologist with Anesthesia Pain Care Consultants inTamarac.

Doctors were nominated by individuals involved in Florida'sworkers' compensation system, including risk managers, claimsprofessionals, nurse case managers, adjusters, employers, physicianstaff and injured employees.

Winners were selected from more than 93 nominees after astringent, multi-level judging process. Judging criteria was basedon the physician's record of delivering high-quality care,promoting a return-to-work philosophy and achieving a high rate ofpatient satisfaction, according to officials at Tampa, Fla.-basedCHOICE Medical Management Services, LLC, a specialty health caremanagement organization focused on workers' comp and disabilitymanagement services.

Award sponsors are CHOICE Medical Management Services LLC,Florida Underwriter magazine, Network Synergy Inc., One CallMedical Inc., Unisource Administrators Inc., and ZoneCare USA.