Meriter Hospitalist Program
To ensure the best possible care for patients who must be hospitalized, Meriter Hospitalists provide medical services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our team of highly qualified, dedicated hospitalists - physicians who specialize
in the care of hospital patients - works closely with your primary care
physician and specialists. To learn about the members of our team, please read
the physician profiles below.
How the Hospitalist Program Works
At the time of your admission, your physician contacts the hospitalist on duty to provide pertinent information about your illness, your health history and any special needs or concerns. The process is similar to what he or she does when referring you to any specialist.
The hospitalist's role is to assist you through a smooth, quick recovery process by managing and coordinating all aspects of your care at Meriter. Having one or more hospitalists onsite at all times means we're never more than a few minutes away. In case of emergencies or changes in your condition, you can be assured a physician will be close by to respond quickly.
During your stay, we will remain in contact with your physician, providing regular updates. Upon discharge, information will be forwarded to your physician's office to add to your medical record.
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Meriter Hospitalist Staff
Depending on the length of your hospitalization at Meriter, you may be cared for
by one or several of our hospital-based medicine specialists. This overview of
hospitalists who practice here includes their specialty training and other
information you may find interesting. If you have further questions, please
speak to your nurse if you are currently a patient. The hospitalist office can
also be reached at (608) 417-5695.
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"I believe there is no greater gift we can give than to help restore
the health of another. Being a hospitalist allows me to focus on acutely
ill patients and make an impact on their recovery."
Dr. Busse earned his medical degree from Chicago College of Osteopathic
Medicine/Midwestern University, Illinois and completed his residency at Eastern
Virginia Medical School. He specializes in hospital medicine because of his
interest in caring for hospitalized adult patients and the speed of recognition
and treatment that is important in the outcome of certain diseases.
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"I chose to join the hospital medicine department at Meriter due to
its commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to
patients."
Dr. Certain, was born right here in Meriter Hospital (then called Madison
General). She attended college at the University of California-San Diego, then
returned home to receive her medical degree at the University of Wisconsin. Dr.
Certain completed her internal medicine training, with an emphasis on women's
health, at Virginia Commonwealth University. To further her knowledge of the
care of women, she returned to UW to complete a fellowship in women's health,
during which time she also obtained a master's in population health. Her
interests include reading, traveling, canoeing and Badger basketball.
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"As a hospitalist, I can devote all my time to patients when they
are sick and need my care the most. I can come back periodically the
same day to talk with families and check up on treatment and how
patients are feeling. I value family time, and practicing as a
hospitalist allows me to devote time to my patients and do what I love
best, practicing medicine, while allowing me to see my family and spend
uninterrupted time with them."
Dr. Childers received her medical degree from Des Moines University -
College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her internship and
residency through University of Illinois Chicago at Christ Hospital and
Medical Center, Oak Lawn, Illinois. Board certified in internal
medicine, Dr. Childers was an internist with UW Health at its South Park
Street clinic before joining Meriter's Hospitalist Program.
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Dr. Davis graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and
completed his internship and residency at the Mayo Medical School. Dr. Davis completed a research fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in 2007 and currently conducts research on meditation and smoking cessation at the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.
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"I have found many opportunities to work toward an important
professional goal: improving the quality of our health care delivery
systems, particularly as it relates to the services we provide patients
and families at the end-of-life. I feel fortunate to be supported in
this way here at Meriter."
Dr. duPreez earned her medical degree at the University of North Dakota School
of Medicine & Health Sciences. She completed her internship and residency at UW
Hospital and Clinics, and a fellowship in palliative medicine, also at UW
Hospital and Clinics. Dr. duPreez grew up on a farm in North Dakota, and enjoys
reading and spending time with family. She hopes to return to horseback riding
soon, an interest she put on hold throughout her medical training.
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Joanna received her bachelor's degree from University of Wisconsin-La
Crosse-Gunderson Lutheran-Mayo School of Health Science Physician Assistant
program. She worked in family practice for three years in Watertown, Wisconsin,
followed by two years in endocrinology and diabetes management for UW Medical
Foundation prior to joining Meriter. Joanna has a special medical interest in
diabetes, and hopes to expand diabetes care at Meriter. She likes spending
personal time with family and friends, and enjoys fishing, quilting and
gardening.
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Dr. Kimura received his medical degree from the McGill University Faculty of
Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and
Clinics.
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"I have worked as a paramedic, ICU nurse, ER nurse and a critical
care transport nurse for many years. Now, I am able to combine all of my
experience and education to take care of patients throughout their
hospital stay."
Jeff is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner who received an intensive care
paramedic associate's degree from South Central Technical College in Mankato,
MN, a bachelor's in nursing from Winona State University, Minnesota, and a
master's from UW School of Nursing. He enjoys nursing history, especially
reading about orders such as the Teutonic Knights, the Knights of Lazarus and
the Knights Hospitalers who organized male nurses to tend to the sick and
wounded.
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"I find hospital medicine highly engaging; the complexity of dealing
with acutely ill medical patients is demanding. Dealing with a variety
of medical issues across all sub-specialties without being tied down to
any one in particular are the inherent challenges and rewards of this
field."
Dr. Lakshmi (lock-schmee) received her medical degree from Madras Medical
College, India and subsequently spent additional years training to be an
OB/GYN - completing an internship at Chennai Medical College, India - before
electing to change her career path to internal medicine and relocating to the
United States. She completed her residency training at Michigan State
University-Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies. Dr. Lakshmi loves reading,
music and spending quiet time with her husband and daughter.
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"It is an honor to take care of those who are hurting and there is
no better place than the hospital to do this."
Dr. Okas received his medical degree from Des Moines University -
College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internship and
residency through University of Illinois Chicago at Christ Hospital and
Medical Center, Oak Lawn, Illinois. Board certified in internal
medicine, Dr. Okas was an internist with UW Health at its South Park
Street clinic before joining Meriter's Hospitalist Program.
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"I'm always amazed by the reserves of courage and strength that
patients tap into when they are facing apparently insurmountable
challenges."
Dr. Ranheim received her medical degree from the UW School of Medicine
and Public Health and completed her internal medicine residency and
hematology fellowship at UW Hospital and Clinics. She is the medical
director of the Meriter Anticoagulation Service and is actively engaged
in hospital-based, quality improvement research on the prophylaxis and
treatment of blood clotting disorders. She and her husband, Erik Ranheim,
MD, PhD, are involved in several international health projects focused
on providing diagnostic and educational resources for local providers in
hematology and hematopathology. She most enjoys traveling, reading and
spending time with her husband and kids. Learn more about
Dr. Ranheim by viewing her
physician profile video.
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Dr. Schneider earned his medical degree from St. George University, Granada and
completed his residency at Marshfield Clinic, Wisconsin.
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"Once a terminally ill patient of mine told me that nobody knows
what it feels to be inside his body. My job as a hospitalist is to treat
my patients the best I can and not to forget that each and every one of
them is an individual. I do my best to try to cure them in an acute
setting before handing over their care to their primary care
physicians."
Dr. Spiegelman earned her medical degree from the Russian State Medical
University, Moscow. She completed her residency at University of
Colorado Health Science Center. She serves on a committee comprised of
clinical specialists from many areas of the hospital that is striving to
improve and expand diabetes care and education at Meriter.
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"Both medical disease and the medical system are more complicated than ever. Patients deserve both a clinic doctor who can focus her expertise on the complex outpatient chronic medical problems AND an inpatient doctor who specializes in the acutely ill, hospitalized patient and is physically present throughout the day during their hospital stay. I feel honored and enjoy being on the inpatient side of that physician team."
Caroline Wilker obtained her MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin. She subsequently completed her training in Internal Medicine with internship, residency and chief residency at Washington University in St. Louis. She remained in Missouri for two years and worked as a hospitalist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital before returning here, her home town, to settle with her husband and two children in July 2008.
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"One of the things that I love about working at Meriter is the sense
of being part of a close-knit team of people working to provide the
highest quality of care for our patients. Plus, the Madison area is a
great place to live and raise a family."
Dr. Yelk is medical director of the Meriter Medical Group Hospitalist
Program. Born and raised in Madison, he completed his undergraduate
degree (majoring in both Spanish and Medical Microbiology/Immunology) at
the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before entering medical school, he
volunteered in Meriter's ER, and was later employed by Meriter in the ER
and Guest Services. He earned his medical degree from the Kirksville
College of Osteopathic Medicine, Missouri, and completed his internal
medicine residency at Wright State University School of Medicine, Ohio.
He recently returned to Meriter after serving seven years in the active
duty Air Force, including two war-time deployments to Kuwait and Iraq.
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6/26/2009
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