A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF
I am pleased to introduce the 2024-2025 Review for the Division of Hospital Medicine at the University of Michigan Health System. Over the past year, our team has grown in size, skill, and purpose. We’ve positioned ourselves as Leaders and Best in delivering exceptional patient care, driving healthcare innovation, shaping the next generation of clinicians, and advancing the science that propels us forward. We are excited to share the remarkable accomplishments and ongoing growth of our division over the past two years. Sincerely, Stephanie Taylor, MD - Division Chief
FACULTY HIGHLIGHTS
Tammy Eaton, PhD, MSc, RN, has been selected to become a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Induction into the academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their significant contributions and impact to advance the public’s health. Ruby Marr, MD, Chapter President, Society of Hospital Medicine, received the Resiliency Award as well as the Platinum Chapter Excellence Award which goes to the chapter that has gone above and beyond to showcase its ability to withstand and rise above hardships and challenges as well as to successfully adapt and position the chapter for long-term sustainability and success. Mark McQuillan, MD, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Physicians. Recipients of this award are either Fellows or those elected to Mastership and are universally looked upon as Chapter leaders, advisors and mentors. David Paje, MD, MPH, received the Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians. The Laureate Award honors Fellows or those elected to Mastership of the College who have demonstrated by their example and conduct an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education or research and in service to their community, their Chapter, and the American College of Physicians. Jennifer Stojan, MD, was named the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Professorship in Medical Education. Stephanie Parks Taylor, MD, MS, was named the J. Griswold Ruth, MD and Margery Hopkins Ruth Research Professor in Internal Medicine. In addition, she received the Society of Hospital Medicine’s (SHM) 2025 Excellence in Research Award. SHM’s Awards of Excellence Program honors members who have made exceptional contributions to hospital medicine in a wide variety of categories.
patient care
10,000+ inpatient discharges and 6,000+ observation and outpatient cases in 2024 and 2025.
Excellence Across Multiple Institutions
In the past two years, our division demonstrated significant clinical reach and influence, delivering high-quality care across multiple locations including University Hospital, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and University of Michigan Health affiliate locations including Chelsea Hospital and Trinity Health Ann Arbor.
Michigan Medicine's Access Initiative
Megan Mack, MD, led our whole Hospital Medicine team, as well as other Internal Medicine inpatient services, in a patient access initiative, as part of Michigan Medicine's FY25 BASE priorities - Belonging, Access, Safety and Quality, Experience, and Strategic Growth and Partnerships. The adult hospitals reached their lowest observed-to-expected (O/E) length of stay in six years - a milestone made possible through Dr. Mack's strategic leadership and the commitment of our entire faculty and staff team to improving inpatient operations.
New Medical Short Stay Unit
Hospital Medicine opened the Medical Short Stay Unit (MSSU) Gold, a new unit featuring 26 private observation rooms. This will complement existing MSSU Blue and Maize units, offering short-term care for general medicine patients. Its creation was accelerated due to the closure of a 26-bed unit at Trinity Health Ann Arbor. The goal is to address the ongoing capacity issues and high patient volumes at Michigan Medicine’s Adult Hospitals and Emergency Services. Director of the MSSU, Matthew Luzum, MD, stated, “For patients, the MSSU Gold expansion means quicker access to the care they need, reduced wait times, and a continued commitment to safety and dignity. The opening is necessary to address growing patient care demands and improve the overall efficiency of our health care system.” The project came together in under a year thanks to intense cross-departmental collaboration, creative problem-solving, and the dedication of healthcare teams who remained engaged and adaptable throughout. The unit’s opening represents both a significant step toward better care access and a testament to the hospital's unified, team-based approach.
RESEARCH
Expanding National Impact
Our faculty led six active R01 grants — totaling $2M — representing nearly half of all U.S. R01-funded hospital medicine research. Our research focus areas include acute lung injury, global hypertension and diabetes care, systems engineering for whole-health integration, and sepsis diagnostics and recovery.
Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium
Our work with the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium (HMS) delivered measurable improvements in sepsis care including reduced antibiotic use in asymptomatic bacteriuria, a focus on timely sepsis treatment and discharge care, and improved midline use across the state. Notably, the consortium's Sepsis Initiative achieved remarkable success, with several member hospitals such as: Henry Ford Health Macomb, Bronson Methodist, Munson Healthcare Cadillac, McLaren Health System, and Covenant Health, demonstrating high performance in post-discharge care coordination for sepsis patients.
Additionally, HMS partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Sepsis Alliance to develop and disseminate the Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements and a comprehensive sepsis toolkit. These resources, aimed at guiding hospitals in implementing and optimizing sepsis care, were featured in a widely attended webinar in February 2024, attracting over 500 participants from across the country. The collaborative efforts underscored the effectiveness in fostering statewide improvements in sepsis care.
Epidemiologic Characteristics and Management of Sepsis Among Previously Healthy Patients
Rachel Hechtman, MD; Scott Flanders, MD, and other researchers recently published a new study in CHEST Critical Care titled “Epidemiology and Management of Sepsis Among Previously Healthy Patients”. The study found one in 10 patients with community-onset sepsis was previously healthy. Although gaps for in-hospital management were identified, deaths among previously healthy patients were generally deemed unpreventable with better in-hospital management due to patients presenting too late in their course of sepsis. The study highlights system-level opportunities for better pre-hospital recognition and triage of sepsis.
DATA-MD: Technology-Assisted Medical Decision-Making for Clinical Trainees
A new study by Andrew Wong, MD, and team, published in Academic Medicine describes the development and pilot implementation of the DATA-MD curriculum, an educational program designed to equip clinical trainees with foundational knowledge in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) as applied to healthcare. It responds to the growing use of AI/ML tools in clinical settings and the current gap in clinician preparedness to evaluate and apply these technologies.
EDUCATION
Training the Next Generation
As one of the largest inpatient rotations in the region, our service continues to be a cornerstone of clinical training. In 2024 and 2025, faculty supervised over 2,100 resident shifts, offering consistent mentorship and skill-building opportunities, while also precepting more than 570 shifts for advanced practice professional students, strengthening interprofessional education and preparing trainees for independent practice.
New Faculty Mentorship Model
We proudly launched the Ann Arbor Mentorship Model, designed to provide tailored, structured mentorship for our faculty members. This new model aims to enhance professional development, foster career growth, and encourage a collaborative academic culture. By pairing faculty with seasoned mentors, we are empowering our people to navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and thrive in their roles.
Supporting Our People
In 2024 and 2025, we have placed a strong underlying focus on supporting our most valuable asset - our people. We have worked diligently to create an environment that fosters growth, efficiency, and sustainability across all areas of our institution. A few key initiatives have driven this effort forward, reinforcing our commitment to both individual success and organizational excellence.
Onboarding and Orientation Processes
Understanding the critical role onboarding plays in employee success, we undertook a comprehensive overhaul of our faculty and advanced practice provider orientation and onboarding processes. These changes streamline and enhance the introduction to our institution, ensuring that new hires feel supported and prepared from day one. By providing them with a clear path forward, we aim to create a seamless transition and foster long-term satisfaction and success.
Building for the Future
To support our growing institution and ensure operational efficiency, we made thoughtful additions to several key teams, including clinical operations, administrative, and research support. These additions are designed to improve sustainability, efficiency, and well-being.
Legacy of Service and Excellence
David Wesorick, MD, has been a cornerstone of our academic and clinical community. His career includes service as an attending physician on the MFH, consult and pre-operative services, and general medicine wards, while also holding eighths at the VA Hospital. His extraordinary clinical expertise has profoundly impacted countless patients and colleagues. Dr. Wesorick’s leadership and contributions to quality improvement have been transformative. As Physician Co-lead of the Inpatient Clinical Guidelines Team, he developed evidence-based guidelines that standardized care for conditions such as vertebral osteomyelitis, atrial fibrillation, and gallstone-related illnesses. A champion for professional development, Dr. Wesorick has left a lasting mark on the careers of his colleagues. As Director of Hospitalist Faculty Development, he led initiatives like the Hospitalist Clinician-Educator Mentorship Program and the “JetPack” scholarly program, fostering collaboration and innovation. His research has focused on hospital quality improvement, perioperative medicine, and inpatient diabetes care. Dr. Wesorick has been widely recognized through a portfolio of publications, his role as a feature editor for Annals for Hospitalists, and his contributions to national organizations like the Society of Hospital Medicine. Throughout his career, Dr. Wesorick has received numerous accolades, including induction into the Department of Internal Medicine Clinical Excellence Society and the Spectrum Health Residency Teacher of the Year Award. As we honor Dr. Wesorick’s extraordinary career, we extend our deepest gratitude for his service, mentorship, and leadership. His contributions have shaped the field of internal medicine and the lives of countless patients and colleagues. We wish him a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement.
Thank you for your interest in the Division of Hospital Medicine.
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