The 2022 ApolloMD Leadership Conference highlighted a theme of “High Performance Leadership”, reflecting the focus of our company as we move forward into a strong future for our clinical teams and for health care. For three days, ApolloMD colleagues enjoyed a packed agenda featuring a variety of presentations, workshops, training modules, and social networking events.
Powerful keynote speakers took the dais for presentations that impacted every ApolloMD team member. From Dr. Daniel Grossman sharing his personal journey with resilience to Dr. Meeta Singh revealing the crucial metrics surrounding healthy sleep to Dr. Thom Mayer inspiring message of empowerment, these voices resonated deeply with our priority to continue living, working, and practicing our vision statement of “Healthy Clinicians, Healthy Patients, Healthy Communities”.
Also on the 2022 agenda, ApolloMD included CME sessions addressing hot topics in emergency medicine and providing valuable education to our physicians. Again this year, APCs were offered SIM lab workshops by which they could enhance clinical skills.
An important part of our event is the awards ceremony during which we recognize the dedication and excellence of various clinicians. These team members are applauded by their colleagues as they receive accolades such as Medical Director of the Year and Lead APC of the Year. For 2022, we distinguish the following ApolloMD professionals:
MEDICAL DIRECTORS OF THE YEAR EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Yousif Alkadhi, MD
Central Carolina Hospital
“Dr. Yousif Alkadhi has provided ApolloMD and our partner hospitals with high-quality work for over a decade, reports Dr. Ayaz Pathan, Regional President. “As a medical director, he has navigated unique and difficult challenges in innovative and constructive ways.”
Sulieman Wazeerud-Din, MD
Wellstar Health System
“We are delighted to recognize Dr. Wazeerud-Din as one of our Medical Directors of the Year,” proclaims Divisional President Dr. Brett Cannon. “Over the past several years, Dr. Waz has done an outstanding job as the Medical Director of AMC South. This past year, he faced the unusual and difficult task of shutting down an emergency department but accepted that challenge with the same commitment and dedication as he had in keeping it running. He navigated the many challenges — whether in the hospital, in the community, and even in the political arena — with grace and an ever-positive outlook. His leadership has been invaluable for both the team on the ground and the health system. We are excited to celebrate Dr. Wazeerud-Din with this well-deserved award.”
MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR HOSPITAL MEDICINE
Ahmad Nooristani, MD
Lompoc Valley Medical Center
“Dr. Nooristani is an outstanding medical director at Lompoc Valley Medical Center,” professes Regional President Dr. Andrew Kassinove. “He has grown the service line admirably and has been a successful champion of ApolloMD at the hospital and community levels. His leadership exemplifies the forward-thinking that makes ApolloMD a different organization than the norm. It is truly a pleasure to work with Dr. Nooristani and to present him with this award.”
“Dr Ahmad Nooristani has been director at Lompoc Valley hospital medicine since it’s integration into ApolloMD,” adds Dr. Martin Duclos, CMO of Hospital Medicine. “He not only was crucial to ensuring a smooth transition but has been able to work with the local medical staff and regional support teams to help the program succeed and even improve. Ahmad is a proven leader who works well with administrative initiatives and to support his medical team.”
LEAD APCs OF THE YEAR EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Mark Benning, PA-C
Central Carolina Hospital
“Mark’s passion for delivering the highest quality of care to his community is rivalled only by his commitment to educating the next generation of Advanced Practice Clinicians,” says Evan Howell, MBA, M.M.Sc, PA-C, Chief APC and Chief Clinical Operations Officer of ApolloMD. “Over the last year, Mark has leveraged his skills in both leadership and education to help create ApolloMD’s first emergency medicine APC post-graduate program. He has dedicated significant amounts of time — on top of his already busy clinical schedule — to launch this program with the first cohort of post-grad APCs starting in March 2023.”
Stephanie Connell, PA-C
Ascension Providence Hospital
“Stephanie has been our Lead APC at Ascension Providence Mobile for many years and has always been a champion of quality care and patient throughput,” Howell praises. “As we emerged from the Omicron surge last winter, Stephanie was tasked with implementing strategies for improving door-to-provider times, discharge length-of-stay, and left-without-being-seen at Providence. Not only did she demonstrate exceptional leadership by personal example, but she was also able to engage both the clinician and nursing teams to produce some amazing results. In less than six months, Providence became the Ascension market leader in both door-to-provider times and LWBS. Her servant leadership, proactive approach to problem solving, and ability to collaborate across all stakeholder groups has been truly exemplary.”
Brian Doss, PA-C
Novant Health
“Brian is a fierce and thoughtful advocate for his patients and colleagues,” Vice President of Operations Meredith Valentine commends. “He is professionally involved in every facet of the PA world and his commitment to advancing the PA profession is evident throughout his career. He is a servant leader.”
LEAD APC OF THE YEAR HOSPITAL MEDICINE
Meredith Flanagan, NP
North Okaloosa Medical Center
“Meredith is a true asset to our team and to all health care,” extolls Dr. Ramon Thigpen, Medical Director. “She has superior organizational skills and has doubled our APC bench. She also has excellent communication skills, and her calm demeanor is a comfort to all. She does all this while caring for her two-year-old daughter, persuing a critical care advanced NP degree, and married to an active-duty military pilot. It’s an honor to work with her.”
LEADERSHIP IMPACT AWARD
John Sullivan, MD
Hospital Medical Director
Baptist Health Care
Our ApolloMD CEO, Dr. Mike Dolister, conveys his regard for Dr. Sullivan by saying: “John has exhibited exemplary leadership in his time with us as site medical director of the Baptist Pensacola and Gulf Breeze hospital medicine program. He has led by example and with his effective communication style, he has implemented change that has resulted in multiple improved metrics, including reduced length of stay and improved patient experience.”
