ENT & Allergy of Delaware Named State's #1 Private Practice for 2026

NEWARK, Del. – April 09, 2026 – ENT & Allergy of Delaware has been distinguished as the #1 Private Practice for Top Doctors in Delaware for 2026 by Castle Connolly, a leading healthcare research firm. This new system-wide accolade comes as the practice also retains its 2025 honor as the state’s #1 Private Practice for Top Doctors in the specialty of Otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat).

These practice-level awards are underscored by the individual recognition of sixteen of the practice's physicians, who were named Castle Connolly Top Doctors for 2026. This prestigious, peer-nominated honor places them among the top 7% of all practicing physicians in the United States, signifying a remarkable concentration of medical expertise within a single Delaware practice.

A Standard of Sustained Excellence

The dual awards from Castle Connolly highlight a pattern of consistent, high-quality performance for ENT & Allergy of Delaware. The practice's recognition has grown year over year, having also been named a #1 Physician Practice in Surgery Care for 2025. This sustained excellence is validated by the rigorous and respected methodology behind the Castle Connolly selection process.

For over three decades, Castle Connolly has been a trusted source for identifying premier physicians. Its process is entirely merit-based and begins with peer nominations from tens of thousands of doctors nationwide who are asked to identify the specialists they would trust with their own family's care. Critically, physicians cannot pay to be listed. Following nomination, a physician-led research team conducts a comprehensive review of each candidate, evaluating professional qualifications, education, hospital appointments, research leadership, disciplinary history, and interpersonal skills. This meticulous vetting ensures that only the most esteemed physicians earn the Top Doctor designation.

The consistency is also reflected in the individual careers of the practice's physicians. Many have been recognized by Castle Connolly for several consecutive years, with some, like Dr. Kieran M. Connolly and Dr. Neil Hockstein, having received the honor for over a decade. This long-term recognition points to a deeply embedded culture of quality and patient-focused care that predates the most recent awards.

The Strategic Engine Behind the Accolades

Behind the clinical success of ENT & Allergy of Delaware is a strategic partnership with Parallel ENT & Allergy, a physician-centric practice management organization (PPMO). This affiliation provides the robust operational infrastructure that allows the practice's medical team to focus squarely on what they do best: practicing medicine.

Parallel ENT & Allergy handles a wide spectrum of non-clinical administrative duties, including human resources, physician recruiting, marketing, information technology, legal compliance, and complex revenue cycle management. By offloading these significant burdens, the PPMO enables physicians to dedicate more time and energy to direct patient interaction, diagnosis, and treatment. This model is designed to enhance clinical autonomy while ensuring the business of medicine runs efficiently and effectively in the background.

This operational support is a key factor in creating an environment where medical excellence can flourish. William M. Sheppard, M.D., a board-certified otolaryngologist at the practice, commented on this dynamic in the announcement. "Our team's shared commitment to exceptional, patient-centered care is what makes achievements like this possible," he stated. "We take great pride in serving the Delaware community, and distinctions from Castle Connolly reinforce the high standards our patients can expect every day."

Dr. Sheppard's sentiment reflects the core benefit of the partnership: freeing up physicians to prioritize patients over paperwork, which directly translates into the high-quality care recognized by peers and rating organizations alike.

A Concentration of Top-Tier Medical Talent

Founded in 2011, ENT & Allergy of Delaware has grown into a dominant force for specialized care in the Mid-Atlantic region. The practice's team includes 22 board-certified physicians, a dedicated group of audiologists, and over 140 support staff members, offering comprehensive services in otolaryngology, allergy, and audiology.

The scale of their recognized expertise is particularly noteworthy within the context of Delaware's healthcare landscape. With approximately 37 practicing ENT specialists and 30 allergy and immunology specialists in the entire state, the fact that sixteen physicians from a single practice have achieved the Castle Connolly Top Doctor status is a testament to its role as a regional hub for medical talent.

The sixteen physicians from ENT & Allergy of Delaware recognized as Castle Connolly Top Doctors for 2026 are:

• Sokun K. Bhatti, MD
• Lauren C. Bogdan, MD
• Joan F. Coker, MD
• Kieran M. Connolly, MD
• Gregg Goldstein, MD
• Neil Hockstein, MD
• Jagdeep S. Hundal, MD
• Paul M. Imber, DO
• Junfang Jiao, MD, PhD
• Jay D. Luft, MD
• Gregory V. Marcotte, MD
• Jonathan Romak, MD
• Isma Shah, MD
• William M. Sheppard, MD
• Michelle M. Squadrito, MD
• Michael T. Teixido, MD

This extensive list demonstrates a depth and breadth of expertise across the fields of ENT and allergy that is unparalleled in the state, solidifying the practice's position as a market leader.

What Top-Ranked Care Means for the Community

Beyond the prestige of the awards, the consistent recognition of ENT & Allergy of Delaware has a tangible impact on the residents of Delaware and the surrounding region. The presence of such a high concentration of peer-vetted, top-tier specialists provides the community with reliable access to advanced medical care that might otherwise require travel to larger metropolitan areas.

This level of verified excellence helps build profound trust between patients and providers. For individuals and families seeking specialized care for conditions ranging from chronic sinusitis and allergies to hearing loss and complex head and neck disorders, the Castle Connolly distinction serves as a powerful, third-party endorsement of quality. It provides confidence that they are receiving care from physicians who are not only highly qualified but also respected by their own colleagues.

The practice's commitment to patient-centered care is further supported by strong patient satisfaction records for many of its physicians, reinforcing the idea that clinical skill is matched by a positive patient experience. Ultimately, having a practice of this caliber serves as a cornerstone for community health, ensuring that Delaware residents have access to a team of physicians consistently recognized as being at the very top of their field.