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Profile

Nathan Spell III MD/FACP

  • SOM: Medicine: Primary Care
    Professor Emeritus
  • nspell@emory.edu
  • Emory University School of Medicine
    100 Woodruff Circle, Suite 331
Head shot of Nathan Spell III

Overview

Dr. Spell joined Emory in 1998. He is an associate dean for education and professional development at the Emory University School of Medicine. In his role as associate dean he works across the system to augment professional development, with our doctors at the Emory Clinic, the VA, Grady, Childrens, and Emory Specialty Associates. He also oversees continuing medical education, faculty education and associated clinical development activities, programs and initiatives.

Dr. Spell most recently served as Chief Quality Officer for Emory University Hospital, and leads the Quality Academy for faculty and staff and quality and patient safety education for the School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Harvard and completed his internship and residency at Brigham and Womens Hospital. He practices general internal medicine and primary care.

Academic Appointment

  • Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
  • Associate Dean for Education and Professional Development, Emory University School of Medicine

Education

Degrees

  • MD from Harvard Medical School
  • BS from Davidson College

Research

Focus

  • My limited research has focused on issues of patient safety and education in the subject area of quality and safety in medicine. I participated in a large Adverse Drug Event (ADE) study on the attributable costs of ADEs and have published on the effectiveness of our quality improvement education courses.

Publications

  • Supporting the pursuit of professionalism during a crisis.
    BMJ Lead Volume: 6 Page(s): 104 - 109
    06/01/2022 Authors: Cooper WO; Lorenzi NM; Davidson HA; Baldwin CA; Feinberg DM; Hopkins J; Spell NO; Uthe CJ; Hickson GB
  • Student-faculty co-creation of experiential learning in health systems science.
    Med Teach Volume: 44 Page(s): 328 - 333
    03/01/2022 Authors: Greenhouse AR; Goldstein RS; Bradley CD; Spell NO; Spicer JO; George MR
  • Exploiting the power of information in medical education.
    Med Teach Volume: 43 Page(s): S17 - S24
    07/01/2021 Authors: Cutrer WB; Spickard WA; Triola MM; Allen BL; Spell N; Herrine SK; Dalrymple JL; Gorman PN; Lomis KD
  • EXPLORING HEALTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE THROUGH PROACTIVE OUTREACH: AN EXPERIENTIAL ELECTIVE CURRICULUM
    Volume: 36 Page(s): S440 - S440
    07/01/2021 Authors: Greenhouse AR; Goldstein R; George M; Bradley C; Spell N
  • Synchronous virtual interprofessional education focused on discharge planning.
    J Interprof Educ Pract Volume: 22 Page(s): 100388
    03/01/2021 Authors: Robertson B; McDermott C; Star J; Lewin LO; Spell N
  • Variability of Antibiotic Prescribing in a Large Healthcare Network Despite Adjusting for Patient-Mix: Reconsidering Targets for Improved Prescribing.
    Open Forum Infect Dis Volume: 6 Page(s): ofz018
    02/01/2019 Authors: Jung S; Sexton ME; Owens S; Spell N; Fridkin S
  • Using the CLER Pathways to Excellence to Evaluate the Learning Environments at a Multi-Site Institution.
    J Grad Med Educ Volume: 10 Page(s): 683 - 687
    12/01/2018 Authors: Aaron M; Shayne P; Brownfield E; Spell NO; Khan J; Luhanga U
  • A Consensus Approach to Identify Tiered Competencies in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.
    J Grad Med Educ Volume: 10 Page(s): 646 - 650
    12/01/2018 Authors: Kruszewski BD; Spell NO
  • Use of Unsolicited Patient Observations to Identify Surgeons With Increased Risk for Postoperative Complications.
    JAMA Surg Volume: 152 Page(s): 522 - 529
    06/01/2017 Authors: Cooper WO; Guillamondegui O; Hines OJ; Hultman CS; Kelz RR; Shen P; Spain DA; Sweeney JF; Moore IN; Hopkins J
  • Concept and development of a discharge alert filter for abnormal laboratory values coupled with computerized provider order entry: a tool for quality improvement and hospital risk management.
    J Patient Saf Volume: 8 Page(s): 69 - 75
    06/01/2012 Authors: Mathew G; Kho A; Dexter P; Bloodworth N; Fantz C; Spell N; LaBorde DV
  • A two-pronged quality improvement training program for leaders and frontline staff.
    Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf Volume: 37 Page(s): 147 - 153
    04/01/2011 Authors: Rask KJ; Gitomer RS; Spell NO; Culler SD; Blake SC; Kohler SS; Hawley JN; Bornstein WA
  • A SYSTEM ANALYSIS OF RAPID RESPONSE TEAM UTILIZATION AND CARDIORESPIRATORY ARREST RATES AT A HIGH ACUITY TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL
    Volume: 25 Page(s): 461 - 461
    06/01/2010 Authors: Willens D; Spell N
  • A curious case of cyanosis.
    Volume: 18 Page(s): 68 - 68
    04/01/2003 Authors: Ko CT; Spell N
  • Iterative method for learning skills as an efficient outpatient teacher.
    Am J Med Sci Volume: 323 Page(s): 124 - 129
    03/01/2002 Authors: Brady D; Schultz L; Spell N; Branch WT
  • Stopping and restarting medications in the perioperative period.
    Med Clin North Am Volume: 85 Page(s): 1117 - 1128
    09/01/2001 Authors: Spell NO
  • The costs of adverse drug events in hospitalized patients. Adverse Drug Events Prevention Study Group.
    JAMA Volume: 277 Page(s): 307 - 311
    01/22/1997 Authors: Bates DW; Spell N; Cullen DJ; Burdick E; Laird N; Petersen LA; Small SD; Sweitzer BJ; Leape LL
  • Routine sonographic techniques fail to quantify gallstone size and number: a retrospective study of 111 surgically proved cases.
    AJR Am J Roentgenol Volume: 153 Page(s): 503 - 506
    09/01/1989 Authors: Brink JA; Simeone JF; Mueller PR; Saini S; Tung GA; Spell NO; Ferrucci JT
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