Honored to Be Named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor

At the start of my journey as a medical practitioner, the last thing on my mind was awards. Instead, at the forefront, I had dreamed of in-depth conversations, cracking mystery cases, and knowing my patients inside and out to see patterns and stop them before they had a chance to start. This was the type of care on my mind, full of intention and human connection.

Despite it not being at the forefront of my mind, this year Dr. Julia Loewenthal and I were named 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors. For us, this is truly an honor to be chosen for the second consecutive year.

Castle Connolly selects about 7% of licensed physicians nationwide to be recognized. To be chosen, physicians can’t apply or pay to be included. These doctors are nominated by peers and intentionally chosen by a physician-led research team. Various factors come into play in the selection process such as education, training, professional reputation, hospital appointments, and disciplinary review.

Being selected meant a lot to us, knowing that we were nominated by our fellow physicians. It affirmed that the way we practice and the standard we hold ourselves to are seen and respected by our colleagues who know the depth of this work.

This recognition to me doesn’t signal the completion of the work we set out to do. Instead, it is a direct reflection of what we are building at Lutanen.

Lutanen is built on the foundation that medicine is best practiced with relationships between patient and provider at the forefront. We believe when we care for a small panel of patients, understand their biology and their story, and have adequate time to think, you can practice medicine at a higher standard.

Julia and I both share this philosophy. Each of us cares for no more than 150 patients, this allows us to achieve the depth, responsiveness, and continuity we believe our patients deserve. It allows us to practice the medicine we would want for ourselves and our families.

Recognition like this extends beyond Julia and me and includes our entire clinical team. In many ways, it also extends to our patients. The trust our patients place in us makes it possible to practice thoughtfully and helps us move beyond transactional care toward health stewardship.

We are so grateful to be recognized through awards, but what truly matters here at Lutanen remains the same. We hope to be recognized by our patients and peers as pioneers in this realm of healthcare. We want to be known for the values of time, trust, partnership, and small daily strides helping people live longer, stronger, and more intentional lives.

With gratitude,
Jay

About the Author:

Dr. Jay Luthar is a Harvard-trained internist and the founder of Lutanen Health, where he leads a longevity-focused model of primary care that blends advanced diagnostics, evidence-based medicine, and mind-body health. He is triple board certified in Internal, Integrative, and Lifestyle Medicine and teaches at Harvard Medical School. His work bridges modern clinical science with personalized, relationship-centered care.

Dr. Jay Luthar, MD, DipABLM

February 20, 2026