VA Maryland Health Care System

Hospitalist Section

 What is a Hospitalist?
Hospitalists are physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Their activities include patient care, teaching, research, and leadership related to Hospital Medicine.  The Hospitalist assumes responsibility for the observation and treatment of hospitalized patients, and returns them to the care of their primary care providers or private physicians when they are discharged from the hospital.

What benefits can a Hospitalist offer patients?
By focusing on the care of hospitalized patients, a Hospitalist can gain a great deal of experience in the unique aspects of a patient's needs during their hospital stay.  Hospitalists typically spend most or all of their work day in the hospital, and thus can be more readily available to a patient than a doctor who spends much of their day outside the hospital in an office or clinic setting.

What else do Hospitalists do?

• Provide compassionate and cutting-edge care focused on putting the Veteran first.
• Train and mentor medical residents and students
• Lead VA committees that focus on improving or eliminating processes that impede good customer service
• Practice by the “I CARE” principles - Integrity Commitment Advocacy Respect and Excellence.

Meet our Hospitalists:

Christine D’Arbela, MD, FACP
Chief, Hospitalist Section; Medical Director, VA Maryland Health Care System Flow; and Academic Hospitalist Physician
christine.d'arbela@va.gov

Vishal Vaghela, MD
Assistant Chief, Hospitalist Section: Deputy Director, VA Maryland Health Care System Flow; and Academic Hospitalist Physician
vishal.vaghela2@va.gov

Meng Wang, MD
Director of Research, Hospitalist Section and Academic Hospitalist Physician
meng.wang2@va.gov

Ryan Scilla, MD, FACP
Director, Medical Consult Service and Academic Hospitalist Physician
ryan.scilla@va.gov

Stephen Musisi, MB, ChB
Director, Short-Stay Team and Academic Hospitalist Physician
stephen.musisi@va.gov

Muhammad Huq, MD
Academic Hospitalist Physician
muhammad.huq@va.gov

Emily Rushing, MD, RD
Academic Hospitalist Physician
emily.rushing@va.gov

Physician Assistants

Jaquetta Charles-Morris, PA-C
Lead Physician Assistant, Hospitalist section
jaquetta.charles-morris@va.gov