The following list is from my personal Rolodex of some of the best travel medicine specialists in the United States. It includes physicians and nurses I have known for two decades, either personally or by reputation, and for whom I have a high degree of professional respect.

ALABAMA, Birmingham
David Freedman, M.D.
University of Alabama at Birmingham Travelers' Health Clinic
Teaches and conducts research on international health at the UAB; runs seminars in tropical medicine that are attended by physicians from all over the world (205-731-9366; start.tripprep.com/uabtraveldoc).

ARIZONA, Phoenix
Eileen Klecka, R.N.
Arcadia Physicians Travel Clinic
A member of ISTM, Klecka has more than 30 years' experience in travel medicine (602-224-5932; travelshots.net).

CALIFORNIA, Beverly Hills
Alan Spira, M.D.
Travel Medicine Center
Has an A-list movie-industry clientele and is highly regarded for his involvement in professional education and international health; extensive experience treating scuba divers (310-360-1331; healthytravel.com).

Bonsall
Victor Kovner, M.D.
Traveler's Immunization Center
Is actively involved in professional education; a regular contributor to travel medicine discussion groups (888-633-8728; medtravdoc.com).

San Diego
Marc Robin, R.N.
International Traveler's Clinic
Nurse-run practice with long-standing involvement in travel medicine (619-299-8002; no Web site).

Woodside
Eric L. Weiss, M.D.
The Village Doctor
Assistant professor at Stanford University, he specializes in emergency medicine and infectious diseases; actively involved in ISTM and ASTMH (650-851-4747; villagedoctor.com).

COLORADO, Telluride
Peter Hackett, M.D.
Telluride Medical Center
Internationally acclaimed specialist in high-altitude medicine (970-728-3848; telluridemedicalcenter.org).

CONNECTICUT, New Haven
Michele Barry, M.D., and Frank Bia, M.D.
Yale Tropical Medicine and International Traveler's Clinic
Travel and tropical medicine practice in an academic setting; Barry is past president of ASTMH (203-688-2476; no Web site).