MVHS medical director, emergency department receive awards

UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System’s (MVHS) Emergency Department (ED) on both the St. Luke’s and St. Elizabeth Campuses has been named one of the top response teams in the Northeast by TeamHealth for its work through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dr. Afsar Khan, medical director of the MVHS EDs, has been awarded the 2020 Northeast Group Medical Director of the Year by TeamHealth for his role in leading the MVHS team this past year. Dr. Khan oversees the day-to-day operations of the ED on both the St. Elizabeth and St. Luke’s Campuses as well as providing direct patient care. He was honored for providing high quality patient care throughout the pandemic as well as outstanding leadership to his team.

“We are so proud of Dr. Khan and our Emergency Department team for the role they have played throughout the pandemic and the critical service they provide to our community every day,” Darlene Stromstad, president and CEO of MVHS, said in a release. “Dr. Khan is very deserving of this recognition. He has been a shining example of leadership, strength and consistency through an incredibly difficult year.”

TeamHealth, which provides staffing for the ED at MVHS, is an organization comprised of over 16,000 affiliated health-care professionals and advanced-practice clinicians. The company offers emergency medicine, hospital medicine, and more to about 3,100 acute and post-acute facilities and physician groups nationwide.

“It was a difficult year with all of the stress that the COVID pandemic put on the health care system across the country,” Dr. Khan said. “I am personally grateful for all of the support shown to the department from the hospital’s administration, staff and the especially from the community.”