I'd like to cross-reference your answer with what I get from
word-of-mouth.  Here's how I define a good internist (in approximately
this order):

1. Intelligent / kind /well-thought-of
2. Patient and kind
3. The practice is well-run and considerate
4. The doctor is trained at an elite institution (place more emphasis
on the residency than on the medical school.  Good residencies are at
the Harvard hospitals, big city hospitals, UCSF, UCLA, Mayo Clinic,
Lahey Clinic, University of Rochester, Columbia Presbyterian, St.
Lukes' (NYC), Yale-New Haven, etc.)
5.  I don't care about the sex of the doctor.
6.  I don't care about the age of the doctor.
7.  If the doctor has a documented outside interest--is, say, a
drummer or a knitter--I'd consider that a plus

Examples of good internists:

Rafael Campo, Boston
Larry Schoenfeld, Providence
Robert Henry, Hamden/New Haven