Casa Grande Regional Medical Center in Arizona named hospitalist Ammar Saifo, MD, its Physician of the Year. The medical center’s nursing staff praised Dr. Saifo “for his leadership, compassion, dedication, and for ‘going the extra mile’” in caring for his patients.
Bob Adams, MD, former chief hospitalist at MedWest-Harris in North Carolina, has accepted a position at Angel Medical Center in Franklin, N.C. A veteran hospitalist, he began his new position July 1.
Syed Irfan Ali, MD, a hospitalist at MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Unit in Waterville, received the 2011 NASF Humanitarian of the Year award from the Nasreen & Alam Sher Foundation. Dr. Ali earned the honor after spending several days in Pakistan providing free care to patients at Aisha Bibi Memorial Hospital (see “Hospitalist Honored for Humanitarian Work in Pakistan,” the-hospitalist.org).
J.D. Fitz, MD, FACP, has joined Sound Physicians as senior vice president of physician development. Dr. Fitz comes from MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital, where he worked as vice president of medical affairs for five years. In his new position, Dr. Fitz will direct professional development for Sound’s more than 500 physicians.
St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital in The Woodlands, Texas, recently awarded Seshasree Marupudi, MD, its 2012 Physician of the Year plaque. Dr. Marupudi is a hospitalist who has been at The Woodlands Hospital since 2008. According to her colleagues, she takes an active role in patient care, as well as in communication between staff, patients, and their families.
William Lamm, MD, was named Physician of the Year by the Western Maryland Health System (WMHS) at its annual recognition gala. Dr. Lamm joined the HM program at WMHS in 2004, and he serves as a clinical instructor at the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Department of Family Medicine, where he spent his residency.
Hospital executive Greg Ohe was recently appointed president of Health Central Hospital in Orlando, Fla. Ohe had served as senior vice president of the hospital since 2004, during which time he spearheaded several of the hospital’s successful programs, including its hospitalist program.
Blal Zafar, MD, hospitalist at River Park Hospital in McMinnville, Tenn., recently was awarded the 2012 Lathem Physician Leadership Award in Hand Hygiene. The award, sponsored by Proventix Systems Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., recognizes physicians who lead by example in their dedication to excellent hand hygiene.