Oak Street Health, a national network of primary care centers and part of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), announced that 11 of its practicing physicians have been named to Castle Connolly's 2026 Top Doctor List. The company also ranked among the top three primary care practices in Illinois for the number of Castle Connolly Top Doctors and was named a 2026 Castle Connolly Center of Excellence. These recognitions underscore the organization's commitment to clinical excellence and its leadership in the regional medical community.
“We are proud to see 11 Oak Street Health providers recognized among the top physicians in the United States,” said Creagh Milford, DO, MPH, President of Oak Street Health. “This distinction reflects their unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, value-based primary care for older adults. I congratulate this year's honorees and couldn't be more proud to be rebuilding health care as it should be, together.”
Oak Street Health delivers personalized, preventive primary care through a model designed specifically for older adults. The integrated model incorporates behavioral healthcare and social determinants support, as well as a 24/7 patient support line. The organization is dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities it serves by hiring locally and investing resources to support those communities.
The 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors from Oak Street Health are: Aarti Agarwal, MD (Elizabeth, NJ); Deborah L. Edberg, MD (Chicago, IL); Taryn Lee, MD (Cleveland, OH); Rebecca Levine, MD (Chicago, IL); Sonal S. Mehr, MD (Memphis, TN); Kaya Oyejide, MD (Philadelphia, PA); Sheetal Patel, MD (Memphis, TN); Rene Roberts, MD (Chicago, IL); Melissa G. Schiffman, MD (Wyncote, PA); Mallory M. Smith, MD (North Little Rock, AR); and Vanessa R. Sohn, MD (Harwood Heights, IL).
Castle Connolly Top Doctors are selected through a peer review nomination process and reviewed by a physician-led research team. Each year, tens of thousands of licensed doctors nominate their peers, and a specialized research team vets candidates based on credentials, disciplinary history, patient outcomes, and bedside manner. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.
Oak Street Health, part of CVS Health, is a network of value-based primary care centers for older adults. The company operates an innovative healthcare model focused on quality of care over volume of services and assumes the full financial risk of its patients. Oak Street Health currently operates 230 centers across 27 states and is the only primary care provider to carry the AARP name. The organization accepts all forms of Medicare, including Original Medicare Part B, select Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement or Medigap plans, and Medicare-Medicaid Plans. For more information, visit oakstreethealth.com.
The Castle Connolly Top Doctor list is published at castleconnolly.com and in various print and online partner publications. Nominations are open to all board-certified MDs, DOs, and DPMs. The Castle Connolly team selects honorees based on criteria including medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories.
The recognition of 11 Oak Street Health physicians as Top Doctors and the Center of Excellence designation highlight the growing importance of value-based care models in the healthcare industry. For leaders in business and technology, this signals a shift toward integrated, patient-centered care that leverages data and community resources to improve outcomes and reduce costs. Oak Street Health's approach, which includes behavioral healthcare and social determinants support, demonstrates how technology and innovative care models can address the complex needs of aging populations.
