2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference Awards

Medical Directors of the Year


Emergency Medicine

Andrew Matthews, MD

Andrew Matthews, MD, CaroMont Regional Medical Center Emergency Medicine Medical Director, was named Medical Director of the Year during the 2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference held in Atlanta.

“We are blessed with many outstanding leaders in our organization, but I want to share what I have learned working alongside Dr. Andrew Matthews,” explained Yogin Patel, MD, ApolloMD President. “He stands out at as a superb example of thoughtful, fully-committed leadership. He has brought a level of passion and commitment to his team at CaroMont Regional Medical Center that has inspired his team and hospital medical staff. He was worked tirelessly to promote a culture of patient-centric clinical excellence. But most importantly, and what I am most proud of, is that he has supported his people. Drew has been a true peer advocate for his providers, setting high expectations of all staff, and working to create a culture of respect, professionalism, and camaraderie. It is with great honor and pride that Drew earns the ApolloMD 2018 Director of the Year award.”

 

Chuck Nygren, MD

Chuck Nygren, MD, WellStar Paulding Hospital Emergency Medicine Medical Director, was named Medical Director of the Year during the 2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference held in Atlanta.

“Dr. Nygren has done an incredible job at Paulding.  His site consistently leads the system in Press Ganey and he’s been elected by his peers to medical staff leadership positions,” explained Brett Cannon, MD, ApolloMD Divisional President. “In addition, the entire team has been engaged in improving quality and operations.  Paulding now has a dedicated core group that requests to work either a majority or all of their shifts there. Congratulations, Chuck, on leading this effort!”

 

John Wood, MD

John Wood, MD, Navicent Health, Emergency Medicine Medical Director, was named Medical Director of the Year during the 2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference held in Atlanta.

“Dr. Wood is a tireless champion for the patients and his team,” explained Steve Currier, MD, ApolloMD Regional Director. “He demands excellence from his fellow physicians, consultants and administrators.  His ability to inspire and lead his team has improved the Emergency Department capacity, quality and patient satisfaction. I am proud to work with him.  Congratulations, John!”

 

Hospital Medicine

Lee Thigpen, MD

Lee Thigpen, MD, North Okaloosa Medical Center, Hospital Medicine Medical Director, was named Medical Director of the Year during the 2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference held in Atlanta.

“Dr. Thigpen was a hospitalist at North Okaloosa when ApolloMD was asked to take over the hospitalist practice, and by using his years of experience in developing and growing his hospitalist program, he was able to seamlessly integrate into our system,” explained Martin Duclos, MD, ApolloMD Hospital Medicine National Medical Director. “Since then, he has provided leadership in quality improvements in his team and acted as the primary liaison with hospital administration and the medical staff.  Lee epitomizes the ideal of a director who focuses on clinical excellence, performance improvement and practice efficiency. I am proud of the work he has done and happy to have him as a leader on our ApolloMD hospital medicine team.”

 

Anesthesia

Roger Uhlir, MD

Roger Uhlir, MD, John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Anesthesia Medical Director, was named Medical Director of the Year during the 2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference held in Atlanta.

“Dr. Uhlir has helped guide the team at JFK in Indio, Calif., through many challenging staffing and scheduling situations. He has, through no fault of his own, seen staffing reduced by several providers simultaneously at times and, at one point, he was the sole remaining core provider having a conversation with the only one other newly recruited provider,” explained John Sherman, MD, ApolloMD Chief Medical Officer – Anesthesia. “After seeing the staffing situation, the new provider turned in his resignation and Dr. Uhlir convinced him to rescind his resignation saying ‘WE can rebuild this team and make it OURS’.  It is this inclusive and positive attitude that has allowed him to continue to rebuild and stabilize the team and provide assurances to administration. Congratulations, Roger!”

 

Lead APCs of the Year


Brent Curry, PA

Brent Curry, PA, Lead APC at CHS Blue Ridge-Morganton, was recently named Lead APC of the Year during the 2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference held in Atlanta.

“Brent is a strong leader and advocate for the APC profession. He is supporting of his peers and implements processes of continual improvement,” explained Nickalaus Goodman, ApolloMD Senior Vice President Anesthesia and Operations. “Brent has developed a reputation of high quality in his practice and has a strong presence in the education of PA Students and Medical residences in his community. He always has a “Can Do” approach to problems and is the first one to step up to the plate and go above what is expected of him. Congratulations, Brent!”

 

Jennifer Goldbach, PA

Jennifer Goldbach, PA, Lead APC at WellStar Paulding Hospital, was recently named Lead APC of the Year during the 2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference held in Atlanta.

“Jen joined ApolloMD in 2012 and quickly established herself as a clinical superstar.  She has developed her leadership skills over the years progressing from the Lead APC at Paulding, to the WellStar Health System Lead APC, and now presently serves as the Georgia Regional Lead APC,” explained Evan C. Howell, PA-C, ApolloMD Chief Performance Improvement & Analytics Officer and Chief Advanced Practice Clinician. “She was the only APC to win the Provider Excellence Award for the WellStar Health System this year, and shares her operational expertise as a Clinical Operations Specialist on the ApolloMD Clinical Operations team.  Jen embodies all of the characteristics of a successful APC Leader in today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. We are thankful to have her as part of our team.”

 

Skye Gratton, PA

Skye Gratton, PA, Lead APC at Grandview Medical Center, was recently named Lead APC of the Year during the 2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference held in Atlanta.

“Skye has been an APC with ApolloMD for over nine years and was a lead APC before there was even a category for the role.  She has been a stabilizing force at Grandview Medical Center and a natural leader for the team even prior to the transition to the new facility,” explained Amy Katnik, ApolloMD Chief Operating Officer. “Skye continues to grow in her role and develops the APC team while being a clinical superstar herself and running the flow in the Emergency Department.  We are very lucky to have such a solid clinician on our team!”

 

CRNA of the Year


Kristi Beach, CRNA

Kristi Beach, CRNA, Chief Anesthetist at Floyd Medical Center, was recently named Lead CRNA of the Year during the 2018 ApolloMD Leadership Conference held in Atlanta.

“Kristi Beach is a true advocate for her team and always has a positive and support attitude,” explained Nickalaus Goodman, ApolloMD Senior Vice President Anesthesia and Operations. “Over the past year, several changes have occurred in the Anesthesia Program and Kristi has maintained a win-win solution- based approach to these improvements.  She has navigated a challenging environment well and her peers look up to her as a leader and mentor.  Congratulations, Kristi!”


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