Karen Atkinson, MD named Deputy Chief of Staff at the Central Western Massachusetts VA

It is with mixed feelings that we announce the departure of Karen Atkinson, MD, currently, the Associate Chief of Staff for Medical Specialty Care Service Line at the Atlanta VA Health Care System and an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Rheumatology. Dr. Atkinson will be leaving Emory this month to serve in her new role as the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Central Western Massachusetts VA.

Atkinson joined the Atlanta VA in 2003 as Chief of Rheumatology, a position she held until 2019 when she became Assistant Chief of Medicine and then served as Acting Chief of Medicine. During her time at the VA, Atkinson has been actively involved in education, serving as the Associate Program Director for Emory’s Internal Medicine Residency Program; the Fellowship Director for Emory’s Rheumatology Program; Co-Director of the Skin, Muscle, Bone, and Joint Module; and Site Director for Rheumatology rotations for both Emory and Morehouse College. She also serves as an inpatient attending for both Morehouse College and Emory residents.

Please join us in wishing Dr. Atkinson well in her new role in Western Massachusetts and thanking her for her years of service within the Department of Medicine!