A combination of clinical sophistication and compassion is just part of what makes this veteran physician at New York Methodist Hospital, and the Department he heads, stand apart

By Megan Schade • Photos By amess é photography

When Stephen Peterson, M.D., received the offer to become chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) in 2013, he accepted without reservation.

“NYM is known in the medical community as an excellent hospital, not only for patients, but for physicians,” said Dr. Peterson. “The facilities, equipment, and technology are state of the art, and, perhaps most important, there is support from all levels of administration. When all of these factors are aligned, physicians are able to focus on the most important thing: our patients.”

The Department of Internal Medicine, the largest clinical department at NYM, offers a full primary care service and includes many specialized divisions including cardiology, endocrinology, hematology/oncology, gastroenterology, geriatric medicine, infectious diseases, medical genetics, nephrology, palliative care, pulmonary and critical care medicine and rheumatology, with each division containing many subspecialties.

“As the chairman of internal medicine, I work with the hospital leadership and strive to foster a culture of enthusiasm and innovation for the nearly 500 physicians who are members of my department. Equally important is providing the forum for a high-quality and relevant educational experience for the department’s 140 residents and fellows,” said Dr. Peterson.

“I’d be lying if I said managing a department with such a breadth of unique needs, wasn’t challenging at times,” Dr. Peterson laughed. “But I continue to be impressed by the talent of the physicians on our staff as well as the spirit of collaboration towards the common goal of providing the best patient experience possible.”

“It’s my job to make patients’ care feel seamless. Patients don’t necessarily want to know what division each of the doctors are in, they just want to know that their questions and concerns are being heard and that they are going to get the care they need. It is also my job to make sure patients have the best healthcare team; that if they need an echocardiogram or a CT scan or blood tests or a consultation from a neurologist or an orthopedic surgeon, that need will be identified and met.”

“Dr. Peterson leads by example,” said his colleague, Steven Garner, M.D., chairman of the Department of Radiology at NYM. “Yes, he is chairman, but if he hears that there is an issue with a patient’s chart or confusion at some point in the communication chain, he leaves his office and soon he is right there by the patient’s bedside, chart in hand, working towards a solution.”

Terrence Sacchi, M.D., chief of cardiology, a division within the Department of Internal Medicine, added. “His enthusiasm is genuinely contagious, which is wonderful for our residents to experience, but his positive demeanor affects everyone around him. His commitment to running a top-notch medicine service and making sure that the service meets the needs of patients is crystal clear.”

Before becoming chairman of internal medicine at NYM, Dr. Peterson was the executive vice chairman of the Department of Medicine at New York Medical College, where he served on the faculty for 27 years. During the last 19 of those years he was associate director of the Department of Medicine at Westchester Medical Center—the academic medical center of New York Medical College—as well as the program director of the internal medicine residency training program.

Because NYM is a teaching hospital, medical students, resident physicians, and fellows go on daily rounds with seasoned attending physicians.

“I love medicine, I love practicing medicine, but I especially love teaching medicine, “Dr. Peterson said. “NYM’s emphasis on training was a huge draw for me, and I work closely with Harvey Dosik, M.D., director of the department’s residency program and my predecessor as chairman of the department, to ensure that our training programs remain vital and relevant to today’s healthcare environment.”

Dr. Peterson cites his own training as the foundation for his current teaching philosophy. “When I was a resident, I once had an attending physician tell me, ‘every problem does not need a solution, but it does need an ear,’ and that has informed both my teaching and my practice of medicine. I always tell incoming residents that patients are often scared and confused about what is happening to them. They need you to stop, look them in the eye, and say, ‘You have my attention and I am here for you.’ Patients need to feel safe and to understand what is happening. If they do not, then you have failed them.”

“Dr. Peterson is a tremendous role model for our internal medicine residents,” said Lauren Yedvab, senior vice president at NYM. “He embodies a wonderful combination of clinical sophistication and compassion; qualities that make a truly great internist—and any physician—stand apart. He is passionate about medicine and his management style brings out the best in everyone, which is crucial when running such a multifaceted and dynamic department.”

“We frequently are thanked by the patient and the family, but really, we are the ones who should be thanking them for entrusting us with their care. They have a choice, and they chose us. It is a huge responsibility. Each patient that walks through our doors is someone’s mother, daughter, father, son, sister, loved one. They are sick and they are scared and it is our responsibility to make them feel better—emotionally and physically.”

New York Methodist Hospital
506 Sixth St. / 718.780.3000 / nym.org