Let me begin by saying that I am no keener on National Doctors' Day than I am on National Administrative Assistants' Day.

Let me begin by saying that I am no keener on National Doctors' Day than I am on National Administrative Assistants' Day. Still, I believe strongly that primary care physicians are underappreciated and underpaid. So I will gladly salute Dr. Malaquias. Prior to moving to Cape Cod four years ago, we had been patients of another fine doctor, Stephen Cornwell in Alexandria, VA, and thought very highly of him, his nurse Sandy, and his office staff. (He too was in MD VIP at that time. Too bad you lost him.) We had some trepidation about the quality of health care on the Cape. That disappeared immediately when we became acquainted with Dr. Malaquias and his nurse Karen. They are a splendid team. Dr. Malaquias is intelligent, well-educated, an excellent diagnostician, possessed of a human and humorous touch, diplomatic but unshrinking in reminding his patients about what they must do to preserve their health. Karen is wonderful as well - such a caring person. I would talk to them - and have - about the most sensitive health issues. My only concern is that we are about the same age, and I dread the time when they retire just as I may be needing more attention from them.

A side note: Arriving at the questions below, I am annoyed that your are using National Doctors Day and a query that is purportedly about my doctor as a sidelong way of soliciting praise for MD VIP. Suppose I do not rate my doctor and MD VIP equally? Suppose I think my doctor is worth it, but MD VIP less so? I originally became an MD VIP member in order to remain Dr. Cornwell's patient. I remain an MD VIP member in order to be Dr. Malaquias's patient. I regard the $1500 a year as an entry fee that give me access to the kind of medical care everyone should have. The rest is of little importance to me.