Hampden, Holy Spirit medical centers honor Hirsh and Singh as 2023 Physicians of the Year
Hampden and Holy Spirit medical center leaders and employees honored their 2023 Physicians of the Year during National Doctors’ Day appreciation celebrations on March 30. A group of physicians and nurses select physicians for the award.
Hampden Medical Center vice president of medical affairs and staffing development Dr. James Leaming presented Dr. Brian Hirsh, a pulmonologist with Penn State Health Medical Group ─ Lemoyne, with the Physician of the Year award at Hampden Medical Center’s first National Doctors’ Day appreciation breakfast.
One of Hirsh’s nominators wrote, “Dr. Hirsh was the pulmonary critical care attending when the hospital opened and nothing scared him. Every issue and problem we ran into, he was able to find the answers or formulate a plan.” The nominator explained that when the Intensive Care Unit had numerous COVID patients, Hirsh was there to provide “top-tier patient care” and address all the new facility issues too.
Another nominator was moved by a patient story, “Our first COVID-19 patient spent well over six weeks at Hampden on a ventilator, all while having other critical conditions. I am a firm believer that if it wasn’t for Dr. Hirsh pushing the limits every day and fighting for this patient, he would have never gotten a second chance at life.” A year later the patient shared, “Dr. Hirsh saved my life.”
Hampden Medical Center recognized Dr. Henry Ostman, a pulmonologist with Penn State Health Medical Group ─ Lemoyne, and Dr. Sharatkumar Rokkam, an internal medicine hospitalist, with honorable mentions.
Holy Spirit Medical Center honorees
Later in the day, during a National Doctors’ Day appreciation lunch, Holy Spirit Medical Center vice president of medical affairs Dr. Bret Delone honored urologist Dr. Prabhjot Singh with the medical center’s 2023 Physician of the Year award.
One of Dr. Singh’s nominators said that he, “provides consistent, excellent patient care to his urology patients, and spends time with O.R. staff to explain procedures, fostering new relationships and better surgical outcomes.”
Another nominator wrote, “Dr. Singh is a very caring physician, exemplified in his treatment of his patients both medically and surgically, but also in his caring attitude toward O.R. staff.” The nominator said Singh is “an excellent caregiver and teacher,” and noted that he took the time to demonstrate how to properly put a cystoscope together so it’s ready for use.
Holy Spirit Medical Center recognized Dr. Safwat Gassis, a cardiologist with Penn State Health Heart and Vascular, and Dr. Madhusudhan Ponnala, an internal medicine hospitalist, with honorable mentions.
The annual Doctors’ Day observance recognizes the contributions physicians make to improve the lives of their patients and communities.
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