My father is a doctor – but in another State. When I lived near him I was able to bounce names off my dad – and if the doctor wasn’t well known (well known for either being very talented or not competent) he could usually reach out to his other friends and colleagues in other specialties and get the scoop.
I find that doctors know their peers best. Find one good doctor that you really trust (preferably your general practioner or internist—someone who can recommend you to specialists) and ask: “If it was you, who would you trust to do this operation?”
When I moved over a decade ago to MN it took me some time to find good doctors. One place to look is in a publication (if your city has them) like this one. The unfortunate thing, however, is that usually by the time a doctor is listed as a “top” in your city they might not be accepting new patients.
I lucked into a good OB about a decade ago and in recent years he’s consistently in the “Top Doctors” award lists. Lucky for me – I’ve been under his care for years and now he’s not accepting new patients. Also, because he’s so well regarded in our community, when he recommends me to another doctor (for example, the surgeon he sent me to was amazing—and also makes the top doctors lists each year) I end up with wonderful care.
So – shop around until you find a doctor you really trust. Then take his/her recommendations on who to have help you with specialty care. Even in a larger size city – the true stand-outs (both good and bad) are known among their peers.