National Hospitalist Day 2022: Reflections of the Year

Happy National Hospitalist Day to all of our Division of Hospital Medicine faculty and all hospitalists in the Emory community! Read below to hear why our physicians and medical staff love practicing hospital medicine at Emory.

Posting on social media today? Be sure to tag @EmoryDeptofMed and use #HowWeHospitalist and #WeAreEHM on Twitter and Instagram for a chance to be featured on the Emory Department of Medicine channels!


Tony Kuzhippala, MD, Emory Johns Creek Hospital
“I’m biased; I love being a hospitalist. What it means to be a hospitalist though, that is ever-evolving. I recall a patient admitted with COPD who inquired about my role. She asked tongue in cheek, ‘I have a pulmonologist; he diagnoses things wrong with the lungs. What does a hospitalist do, diagnose things wrong with the hospital?’ At first past, her remarks elicited a hearty chuckle from me. Only on deeper reflection did I appreciate the morsels of truth. As hospitalists, we are uniquely privy to the internal workings of the hospital. We know its staff, its processes, its triumphs and shortcomings. We are truly positioned to help diagnose and optimize how a hospital functions. So yes, I love my job, I love being a hospitalist. #HowWeHospitalist”

Harika Gorti, MD, Atlanta VA Medical Center
“There are multiple reasons why I chose hospital medicine. First and foremost, as a hospitalist, you are at the forefront of providing care to patients at their most vulnerable states. While building relationships in such states can be challenging, it is quite rewarding when you’re able to turn their distress into comfort. Hospital medicine allows for the ability to care for an entirety of a disease through a multidisciplinary approach, which provides me opportunities to continue learning from all different specialties. It challenges me to command knowledge over a wide range of medical conditions. Lastly, I have the opportunity to influence patient care not only through bedside medicine, but also through medical education and quality improvement research.”

Toby Terwilliger, MD, Grady Memorial Hospital
“Being a hospitalist at Grady is an absolute privilege. I think what makes the job so special is the people: coworkers, hospital staff, and patients. I love that, as hospitalists, we care for patients in every corner of the building, so we get to know the nurses, case managers, technicians, and support staff in just about every unit. It really makes me feel connected to the people here and to the mission of the hospital. We also get to collaborate with just about every specialty service. Since we are such a large group, I think our division garners a lot of respect throughout the hospital, and so the relationships that we make across departments are impactful and symbiotic. And finally, I love the ability to connect to patients from all walks of life. Since we often care for patients from admission to discharge, we meet them at their most vulnerable, but also see them at times of great optimism. Watching the healing process in action, while also having the privilege of being granted access to pieces, no matter how small, of their life story is truly what gets me excited to come to work every day.”

Sherri Bogard, MD, Grady Memorial Hospital
“Although calling patients’ family members can be one of the most time-consuming parts of my day, I also find it to be the most rewarding and one of the things I love about hospital medicine. It gives me the opportunity to not only get to know my patients better, but also to provide comfort and assurance to my patients’ loved ones. As a direct care hospitalist, I feel that this is one of my biggest contributions to my patient’s care. It may seem small and at times monotonous (it’s not as intellectually stimulating as making an obscure diagnosis and sometimes it doesn’t come with any gratitude at all) but it’s still important. Being in the hospital is a vulnerable time for all patients, and it’s a privilege to be a source of support and continuity for them and their families.”

Travis Douglass, MD, Emory Hospital Medicine Midtown
“As a hospitalist, I practice in a community that serves a diverse population; one that looks like me. Each day I walk in a room [to see a] patient, I’m reminded of a member of my own family with all their individualities. Demonstrating courageousness in their most vulnerable state, patients inspire me to deliver thoughtful care in hopes of preserving their health. Protecting health and comforting families is a job fit for a super team whose value is only illuminated during the current global pandemic. With skills in physical and occupational therapy, social work, case management, and medicine, being a hospitalist means bringing our talents together to offer patients an experience and opportunity to live in health. With all that, the hospitalist position provides the platform to have a meaningful career with financial security while having the flexibility to attain individual wellness and a family life; a combination highly sought after. That is #HowWeHospitalist.”

Hayley Tseng, MD, Emory Hospital Medicine Midtown
“I chose hospital medicine because I like being a generalist; I enjoy the challenge of looking at patients as a whole and how all of their problems interconnect. It’s so rewarding to see how patients improve day-to-day while in the hospital and eventually leave to get back home to their loved ones. That is #HowWeHospitalist.”

Dina Adimora-Onwuka, MD, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital
“I love the unique blend of acuity, complexity, and variety of medical issues seen in hospital medicine. I like the ability to follow patients as they are admitted in the hospital. Additionally, I enjoy building relationships with my patients and colleagues. I have especially enjoyed being part of the hospitalist group at Saint Joseph’s Hospital. Working with a cohesive team is an important part of providing high quality care for our patients. I recall admitting an elderly woman last week who was returning with a new problem post-discharge. She and her daughter spoke volumes of the hospitalists and the care that she received on her first admission; thus, when she fell ill, she was confident that Saint Joseph’s was the right place to be. I am excited to work with such a group of hospitalists committed to caring for our patients and for each other.”

Nader Aboujamous, MD, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital
“I chose hospital medicine because it allows me to work with an interdisciplinary team to provide the best care for my patients. Being on the frontlines of caring for patients is invigorating. Collaborating as a team is stimulating and I enjoy getting to know patients and their families. Ultimately, the greatest satisfaction is sharing the moments, good and bad, with patients and their families. Patients come to you and trust you in their most vulnerable times. Compassion and understanding are of the upmost importance. While the years of studying medicine are critical for my ability to practice, it cannot serve as a substitute for the bedside moments. Day in and day out, we are faced with medical dilemmas in our clinical decisions. Involving our patients and families in these decisions is so important. One particular patient who comes to mind did not do well. He had stage IV metastatic esophageal cancer that had proven itself to be refractory to any treatment. He was tired. His wife was exhausted. I can recall our distinct conversation. I told his wife that she had done enough, and it was ok to rest now. She told me they’ve had a rough year, and with every hospitalization and every complication, they had grown more and more tired. They shared with me the moments they have had in their 37 years of marriage. We decided that it was time for the patient to be comfortable and at peace. She said to me “Doctor, I know we’re in the middle of a pandemic, but can I give you a hug?” At that moment, like many other times with vulnerable patients and their families, you realize how you have become a small part in their very rich history. Just a few hours later, the patient succumbed to his illness. He was comfortable and surrounded by his loved ones. He was at peace. Sometimes, although we can keep going and continuing the fight, we have to dig deep and realize that we have done all we can and it’s ok to stop. We are all human after all. Hospital medicine has allowed to me to treat, heal, and truly care for patients and their families. I get to work with colleagues who motivate and inspire me every day. It is truly a privilege being able to be a part of such a dynamic hospital medicine team.”

Rashida La Barrie, MD, Emory Decatur Hospital
“I love being a hospitalist because I am able to take care of a wide variety of complex patients. This affords me the opportunity to work with many subspecialties. As a result, I am able to refine and expand my medical knowledge.”

Madhavi Chavan, MD, Emory Decatur Hospital
“I once admitted an elderly lady who had suffered with profound fatigue for some time. A blood transfusion made a world of difference for her. The following morning, she felt like a completely new person; full of vigor and ready to take on the day. She was genuinely grateful for her care. Cases like these motivate me to continue doing what I love.”

Sara Millwee, NP, Emory University Hospital
“I became a hospitalist for a few reasons. I started my career as a Nurse Practitioner in the emergency department. I really liked it; the adrenaline, the procedures, starting the patient’s workup for a particular ailment, and then admitting the patient to the hospital. Soon I realized that I wanted more. I wanted to make the change to inpatient medicine. I wanted to have that relationship with the patient, families, and nurses. I wanted to be the one to treat and diagnose. I wanted to see the patient get better and be there for the difficult conversations if things did not go as planned. As hospitalists, we need to know a lot about many medical conditions and there is never a dull moment. Hospital medicine is the perfect fit for me, in my healthcare career. I love it; the challenges, the patient care, and the relationships I have formed. I try to learn something new every day and give 100 percent to my patients, families, and colleagues.”

Jessica Nave, MD, Emory University Hospital
“I love being a hospitalist because it means you’re a jack of all trades. We not only have to be clinically competent at taking care of every disease process, but we also have to know governmental regulations, hospital flow, healthcare metrics, quality and core measure components, and have mad communication skills. I have a love/hate relationship with how challenging our job is!”

Nadine Anderson-Greenland, NP-C, Emory Hillandale Hospital
“I am one of four APPs who practice in hospital medicine at Emory Hillandale Hospital (EHH). I didn’t immediately gravitate towards hospital medicine at the start of my career. Initially I wanted to go into family practice where I believed preventive healthcare could make a real difference in patients’ lives. After earning my graduate degree in nursing as a family nurse practitioner, I struggled to get a job in the primary care setting. A colleague at DeKalb Medical told me about a job opening for an advance practice provider (APP) in the hospital medicine service (HMS) at Hillandale Hospital and encouraged me to apply. At that time, I had been working at DeKalb Medical for almost 14 years as a staff nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU). I was offered the position and never looked back. What I love about hospital medicine is the relationship we are able to have with patients in often very difficult circumstances, in addition to the range of clinical knowledge that is needed to be able to treat the medical complexity of our patients. I am able to look at each hospitalized patient holistically and understand the best and shortest path for getting them from admission to discharge in a safe and efficient way. It’s has also been very rewarding to work within a multi-disciplinary team to provide excellent care for patients. I must also mention that I liked how the role focused on team-based care and offered flexibility.”

About the Author

Emory Department of Medicine
The Department of Medicine, part of Emory University's School of Medicine, promotes excellence in education, patient care, and clinical and basic research.

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