Staff Spotlight January 2026

“For a patient who has just been told that they need a heart catheterization or a major surgery, it can be overwhelming,” Dr. Pope said. “I will come in after they talk to the specialist and ask them what their understanding is and if they know what is going to happen. I often find that a lot of patients don’t know if they have questions because they don’t know what questions to ask. It’s my job to put them at ease and make sure they understand the process.”

WHAT IS HOSPITAL MEDICINE?

Hospital medicine is a relatively new but rapidly growing specialty at Fairfield Medical Center. When the Fairfield Hospital Medicine program launched in 2009, there were only two hospitalists; today, there are 22 who round on every unit and care for a wide range of patients, from those dealing with acute issues like pneumonia or sepsis to those recovering from surgery. Most hospitalists work 12-hour shifts and see 15-18 patients a day, although that number can increase in the winter months to as many as 25.

FMC’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, which offers a three-year residency in internal medicine or family medicine for physicians, has been instrumental in fostering a wave of hospitalists over the past decade. Half of FMC’s hospitalists are graduates of the program and received extensive training on caring for inpatients during their residency.

“Residents have the opportunity to rotate with many specialties, and this is generally where they are able to identify their goals after residency,” said GME supervisor Melissa Newman. “Many residents select the hospitalist rotation as an elective because they want to enhance their skills and increase their volume of patients, much like they will after graduation.”

Dr. Imthiaz Khan, who completed his residency at FMC and has been a hospitalist since 2023, said the role of a hospitalist appealed to him early in his residency.

“I loved the problem-solving aspect of inpatient medicine and the opportunity to make a real impact on patients’ lives,” Dr. Khan said. “It’s especially rewarding now to work alongside my former mentors and teachers as colleagues who continue to support me.”

Dr. Majida Giancola, who also completed her residency at FMC in 2015, said she pursued hospital medicine because she found it to be challenging and rewarding. She and Dr. Khan now assist with mentoring new residents to help them find their niche in the healthcare field.

“My journey into medicine wasn’t something I always had mapped out from the beginning – it developed over time as I discovered my strengths and where I felt called to serve,” Dr. Giancola said. “I was drawn to this role because it combines direct patient care, problem-solving across different specialties, and the chance to be part of a team that guides patients through some of their most vulnerable moments.”

WHAT SHOULD PATIENTS EXPECT FROM THEIR FMC HOSPITALIST?

As a hospitalist, building trust and familiarity with each patient is key to ensuring a successful hospital stay. When a patient is introduced to a hospitalist for the first time – usually right before or right after they are admitted – the hospitalist has already reviewed the patient’s files and been briefed by their care team.

“I think some patients may feel like the hospitalist doesn’t know them, but that’s not the case – in some instances, that hospitalist may have even taken care of the patient before,” Dr. Pope explained. “So even though I’m not that patient’s primary care provider, I know who they are and can still build that familiar relationship with them.”

Jennifer said she developed a trust and confidence with Dr. Pope very quickly, so much so, that she felt comfortable speaking with him about other health issues she was experiencing.

“At one point, I told him I was worried I might also have lymphedema, as my legs have always been large and sensitive to touch,” Jennifer said. “He looked at my legs and agreed that I needed to be checked out at the lymphedema clinic. I appreciated that he didn’t brush it off.”

Dr. Pope said his visits with patients extend beyond caring for their medical needs, but also putting them at ease, encouraging them when they experience setbacks or bad news and letting them know that they are not alone as they navigate the path toward healing.

“I don’t wear a white coat when I visit patients and I always sit at their bedside, talk to them about their life and try to use some humor when appropriate,” he said. “My interaction is a success if the family and patient are smiling when I leave.”