FROM THE PUBLISHER
DIY Diagnosis
WE ALL KNOW THAT PERSON, an anxiety-ridden hypochondriac type, who for the least little tweak or change in the norm( which is daily for aging boomers) rushes to a plethora of Google-produced“ doc websites.” They seek a prognosis on the worst possible outcome, and with their physician on speed dial, call for an appointment, arriving with a full rundown on their preidentified malady and a list of suggested tests and medications.
Of course, because of their search, they have been fed ads and videos from every pharmaceutical company that manufactures any medication to deal with the perceived“ problem.”
In the past decade, our reliance on the internet has only been fueled by health care technology. We have patient portals that email us appointment reminders and payment requests. Every doctor, from your primary care physician to specialists, has access to reports, medications and test results. We can get our results online as well to allow for more anxiety, more self-diagnosis and more pharmaceutical company ads.
This issue is our annual homage to the state’ s Top Doctors, physicians nominated by their peers. These are the doctors they seek out when the need arises.
Contributing writer Annie Sherman delves into the growing problem of childhood anxiety, something that just a few years ago would often go undiagnosed, emerging even more problematic in adulthood. It can drain self-worth and joy from the lives of children and adolescents, often causing them to change their behaviors and become mired in a downward spiral if not caught in time.
Meanwhile, Managing Editor Dana Laverty authors a Q & A with Dr. Viren A. D’ Sa( this month’ s Top Doctor cover model). She spoke with the developmental behavioral pediatrician about the growing impact that social media use has on children and teens.
Kids are getting iPhones and iPads at younger ages— some are even provided by their schools as part of their education protocol. All this opens the extreme light and darkness of the internet to a very vulnerable audience, and Dr. D’ Sa wisely suggests that all parents start a conversation with their children about using it responsibly.
Finally, please allow us a moment in the spotlight. This month marks the beginning of our thirty-ninth year of publishing Rhode Island Monthly. It began at a time with no internet, cellphones or desktop computers, in a small office above the beloved Benny’ s( RIP) on Branch Avenue.
We are still here. And I think this quote by one of my faves, the great Etta James, is appropriate:“ I’ ve gone through so much in my life. I should have been dead a long time ago, but I am still here, and I’ m the happiest I’ ve ever been.”
Yep, we’ re pretty happy too, doing what we love, and we’ re not going anywhere.
To the Rhode ahead.— J. J. P.
ILLUSTRATION: CHERYL CHALMERS.
12 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I MAY 2026