Debra Romberger, MD, Henry J. Lehnhoff Professor and chair of the department of internal medicine, announced a new division of hospital medicine, effective immediately, within the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine.
“Our hospital medicine section within General Internal Medicine (GIM) has grown substantially in recent years and now has 51 out of 92 GIM faculty,” Dr. Romberger said. “The time is right to allow the two groups to be separate divisions and better focus on their individual goals. General Internal Medicine is largely outpatient focused and hospital medicine is inpatient focused.”
Dr. Romberger has named Chad Vokoun, MD, the first division chief for the UNMC Division of Hospital Medicine. Dr. Vokoun has served as the interim hospital medicine section leader in GIM.
“He is an excellent choice to be the first division chief for hospital medicine and has an exciting vision for the development of the division,” Dr. Romberger said.
Dr. Vokoun said he is honored and humbled to be named the inaugural division chief of hospital medicine.
“I have the pleasure of leading an incredible group of physicians that play an integral role at UNMC/Nebraska Medicine. Hospital medicine has grown very quickly across the country due to the effectiveness, efficiency and safety of the care we provide. Our group has had excellent support from leadership in order to grow here. I hope to continue our excellent track record in both patient care and education as well as grow a robust research team.”
Tom Tape, MD, will continue as division chief of GIM and vice chair of clinical affairs.