Dear Colleagues,
I find myself conflicted as I write this month’s message. On one hand, I am very excited to share the good news of our department as we do each month, and on the other, I am keenly aware of and feel it is critical to acknowledge the range of emotions that have been felt in our community over the last few weeks. Once again as a nation, we are facing an unfathomable tragedy and loss of human life with the recent mass shooting in Maine. We also continue to feel an array of emotions as we watch the conflict progress in the Middle East and acts of hate occur here in the United States. I want to convey to you, our friends and colleagues, at a time of great uncertainty and insecurity, that you have our strongest commitment to creating a safe environment for you. We consider ourselves your professional family, and we will continue to look for ways to support every individual in our community. I also want to ensure that you know of resources that are available to you if you need any support services through both UMass Chan and UMass Memorial. If you need support, please reach out for assistance: https://www.umassmed.edu/well-being/.
Turning toward reasons for celebration, this month in our chair’s spotlight, we are highlighting Doreen Brettler, MD, a hematologist and professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Dr. Brettler has been at UMass Chan/UMMH since the early 1980s and in a recent conversation with our team, shared about the broad spectrum of patients she has cared for over the years. Read Dr. Brettler’s spotlight.
I am also thrilled to highlight the Hospital Medicine Procedural Service that launched in 2022, as a way to help address patient flow challenges. Our team spoke with Dr. Mike Devine, director of the Procedural Service, and Dr. Greg Leslie, interim chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine, to learn more about how the service started, the current team, and benefits to the division and beyond. Read about the Procedural Service.
Additionally, at the beginning of October, we welcomed Dr. Allan Walkey as the new chief of Health Systems Science. Dr. Walkey joined us from Boston University, where he was director of Critical Care Clinical Research, co-director of the Evans Center of Implementation and Improvement Sciences, and a practicing pulmonologist and intensivist. We are also preparing to welcome two additional chiefs in 2024—Dr. Anil Chandraker who will serve as the new chief of Renal Medicine, will join us from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is planning to begin at the start of the new year, and Dr. David Dosa who will serve as the new chief of Geriatric Medicine, will join us from Brown University and Providence VAMC and is planning to begin in the Spring. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Walkey, and Drs. Chandraker and Dosa when they arrive in 2024!
Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to the veterans in our department and all those who have served, as we observe Veteran’s Day on November 11. Also, as we enter this season of giving, please consider donating to the UMass Chan Cares campaign and/or volunteering your time to help those who are in need, if you are able.
I wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.
Sincerely,
Dave
Stay informed:
Find us at https://www.umassmed.edu/medicine and on Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn
SharePoint: https://umassmed.sharepoint.com/sites/medicine