Drs. Jay Reddy, Swati and Anda Yangson, Role Models for Excellence

07 Feb 2016

Drs. Reddy, Mehta and Yangson were named as interim leadership for the adult hospitalist program. Dr. Reddy was interim medical director. He led with a wisdom and poise that was recognized by several committee and meeting members. Drs. Yangson and Mehta exemplified grace under pressure as interim associate directors. They were committed and assisted in maintaining stability and security during a very tumultuous time with high census and low staffing. All three worked beyond their full time clinical duties and came on their days off for administrative oversight. End result was a smooth and seamless transition.   

Thomas Winkler, MD, for Excellence Above and Beyond

Cardiovascular surgeons lead teams in CVCU through ordinary post-operative care on a daily basis.  Recently, nurses on CVCU received a patient following open heart surgery, but this was not an ordinary case. 

Dr. Winkler stayed with the clinical team for 2 ½ hours, working to measure filling pressures, stroke volumes, evaluate rhythms, and other hemodynamics. Multiple blood products were brought to the room and administered, along with resuscitation medications. 

Still Dr. Winkler remained at the bedside watching and waiting with us to measure and evaluate responses to our interventions. Our hero anchored a calm approach during a stressful, chaotic emergency. Hospital staff walked by the door of the room on their routine rounds wondering if they were needed in what appeared to be a Code Blue situation. “No thanks, we have Dr. Winkler!  We are good,” the in-room nurses replied.  We rejoiced as the patient responded with a slightly improved condition, enough to survive the trip to the operating room. 

Nurses carry profound reverence for experts that lead with both calmness and precision. Safety is maximized when a surgeon remains at the clinical bedside until the crisis is past or surgical intervention is required. The following day, our patient responded to commands and now is showing great promise for a full recovery. Dr. Winkler’s leadership of the CVCU crew during this clinical crisis was heroic, the outcome just what the patient needed.