Undergrad Institution; Degree and Major:
Duke University, Physics
Medical School:
Emory University
In practice since:
2000
Your Specialty:
Internal Medicine (Hospital Medicine)
Where and for how many years did you train AFTER medical school:
- 3 years in Internal Medicine
- 2 years in Hospital Medicine fellowship (which included a Master of Science in Clinical Research at Emory University)
How did you choose your specialty?
Care of acutely ill patients, whom I can then assist in getting significantly improved rapidly, or whom I can assist in their end-of-life planning and decision making.
What do you like MOST, and like LEAST, about your specialty?
- MOST: Fast-paced…Diversity of clinical pathology and pathophysiology…Collaborative team-based care. Working closely with and understanding a variety of different medical specialties (emergency physicians, surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, rehab physicians, cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, ENT physicians, nephrologists, endocrinologists, etc, etc) and medical-related specialties (e.g. physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, social services, case managers, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, respiratory therapists, etc). Helping to improve the operations and processes that make hospitals work efficiently and effectively and harnessing its resources to offer the best possible care for patients during a vulnerable time.
- LEAST: Less longitudinal interaction with patients/families. The mentality (by some) of 'shift work' when the role actually requires always being 'on your game' and maintaining some level of availability, even when not on the 'shift' (…similar to most other specialties) is the least liked.
In your opinion, what attributes are important in anyone choosing this specialty?
hose who enjoy caring for complex and ill patients, who can get dramatically better within a short amount of time. Patients can also worsen and die as a component of your care or soon after your care, and this specialty requires an appreciation of and respect for and utilization of palliative care medicine. Strong communication skills with a variety of individuals such as patients, families, primary care providers, consultants, nursing staff, social workers, PTs, OTs, Speech Therapists and Respiratory Therapists. Being knowledgeable of hospital systems and processes as well as care transitions are important for the practice of hospital medicine.
Hobbies/special interests:
- All types of exercise: running, weight-lifting, biking, basketball and tennis
- Doing anything and everything with my twins (Josh and Rachel, 9 years old in 2015)
- Amusement parks
- Travel