William Baumgartner, M.D., Physician of the Year
Stacey Seidel, M.D.
Physician, Pediatric Emergency Department
Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
Stacey Seidel plays an integral role in the pediatric emergency department. From making nervous patients and parents feel at ease to educating her fellow staff members, Dr. Seidel exudes excellence. She is dedicated to improving patient care and collaboration among physicians and nurses. “It does not matter whether a patient comes in with a simple or complex medical problem — Dr. Siedel always goes above and beyond to care for them,” says a colleague. Her wealth of knowledge and impeccable bedside manner make her an undeniable asset to the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center team.
Jamie Decker, M.D.
Director of Electrophysiology and Pacing
Heart Institute, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Jamie Decker is a pediatric cardiologist who specializes in electrophysiology, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiomyopathies and heart failure. He established and leads the heart institute’s electrophysiology and pacing program, which offers innovative and minimally invasive techniques.
Colleagues in cardiology and other pediatric specialties seek out Dr. Decker’s advice and expertise. He has developed numerous clinical pathways to share this knowledge and enhance the care of patients with cardiac arrhythmias.
“Dr. Decker is an expert in his field, relied upon by physicians at Johns Hopkins All Children’s and in the communities of St. Petersburg, Tampa and beyond,” a colleague notes. “He has saved many lives, and every day he betters the lives of all the patients he has had a hand in caring for.”
Raymond Fang, M.D.
Trauma Medical Director
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
During the last five years, the trauma program at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center has significantly grown thanks to Ray Fang’s leadership. When taking into account both trauma and activations, the program is one of the busiest in Maryland. Despite the pressure associated with this increase in volumes, Dr. Fang and his team have created a robust quality assurance/performance improvement program — one the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) cited it as a “best practice.”
Dr. Fang meets regularly with key stakeholders and reviews cases in real time, sharing important lessons to the multidisciplinary team and ensuring the best possible care for patients. He also is leading initiatives to support the trauma program, such as advancing the care of geriatric trauma patients, seeking designation from the American College of Surgeons, and improving simulation and code debriefs.
Sajida Chaudry, M.B.B.S., M.P.H.
Physician, Family Medicine
Johns Hopkins Community Physicians
Sajida Chaudry is the epitome of integrity. Everything she does — each patient encounter, each interaction with a colleague — is steeped in respect. She always finds ways to connect with and draw in her colleagues on a deeper level. Dr. Chaudry continually strives for excellence, and she embraces the diverse input and ideas of the Johns Hopkins Community Physicians (JHCP) Odenton practice (one of the largest), where she is office medical director.
Her patient satisfaction scores in communication are among the top at JHCP, and she consistently exceeds core quality metrics, all while supporting and championing new programs such as Supporting Nursing Advanced Practice Transitions (SNAPT) and Small High Acuity/Risk Panel (SHARP).
An advocate for physicians, advanced practice providers and staff members, Dr. Chaudry co-leads JHCP’s Joy at Johns Hopkins Medicine workgroup, which supports improvement of workflows. As part of this workgroup, she leads a book club to promote camaraderie and curb burnout. She also conducts a meditation session during JHCP’s Annual Provider Retreat. To summarize: There is nothing that Dr. Chaudry can’t do.
Rebecca Stone, M.D.
Director of Gynecologic Oncology
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Known as one of the most dedicated physician-scientists at Johns Hopkins and a passionate advocate for women’s health, Rebecca Stone is a pioneer in the surgical treatment of gynecologic cancers, particularly laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. During fiscal year 2023, she was the most productive gynecologic cancer surgeon at Johns Hopkins, leading a division that performs more than 700 cases at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and more than 800 at Sibley Memorial Hospital and the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center. At Howard, she spearheaded the opening of high caliber gynecologic oncology services.
Internationally recognized for her research on early diagnosis and treatment strategies for ovarian cancer, Dr. Stone is the lead investigator in a study with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to identify the precursors to the disease, using fallopian tubes removed at Johns Hopkins. She also created an educational program to teach nongynecologic surgeons how to remove fallopian tubes in women of post-child-bearing years who receive other surgical procedures (such as cholecystectomy and appendectomy) to eliminate their risk of ovarian cancer.
Dr. Stone “delivers on all pillars of the academic mission with a rare combination of exceptional surgical skill, an unrelenting commitment to quality and safety, deep compassion for patients and colleagues, and a brilliant innovative mind,” her colleagues wrote in nominating her for this award.
As director of the Gynecology Enhanced Recovery After Surgery initiative, Dr. Stone impacts thousands of Johns Hopkins patients each year, and has worked to revolutionize patient care by optimizing recoveries and minimizing health care costs after major abdominal surgery.
Amee Garg, D.O.
Hospitalist
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Amee Garg embodies leadership, and her work ethic is unmatched. She steps up when there is a need, demonstrating reliability and commitment. Dr. Garg always works hard behind the scenes. She deserves recognition for the quiet role she plays in the inner workings of Sibley Memorial Hospital. Anytime there are gaps in coverage, whether it’s clinical, administrative or case coordination, Dr. Garg puts on her gloves and gets to work. She is a valued member of the hospitalist team and our organization.
Atul Rohatgi, M.D.
Assistant Section Chief for Hospital-Based Medicine
Suburban Hospital
From January to August 2023, Atul Rohatgi led the effort to advance Suburban Hospital’s clinical programs as the interim vice president of medical affairs. During his time in the position, Dr. Rohatgi built crucial relationships and implemented key policies that laid the groundwork for improvement across the hospital. Dr. Rohatgi worked closely with the nurse leaders and the nursing team to develop collaborative approaches to clinical workflow, and he led specific partnerships to improve outcomes regarding nursing sensitive indicators such as falls and pressure injuries, capacity management, workplace safety, coordination of care and ancillary support. “His practical approach to problem solving, combined with his sense of humor and approachability, fostered a unique working relationship without a power gradient and with mutual respect,” a colleague says. “Not only have we, together, been able to tackle some difficult challenges, but he’s built a sustainable model for partnerships and improvement.”
