The Department of Surgery is pleased to appoint Drs. Justin Blasberg and Britt Tonnessen to the inaugural positions of Medical Director, Care Experience, and Associate Medical Director, respectively. Effective January 1, 2021, Drs. Blasberg and Tonnessen will co-lead the development and implementation of strategic experience efforts for both the surgical patients and members of the health care team, across the Yale New Haven Health System, including the establishment of The Surgery Patient & Family Advisory Committee (PFAC).
“The patient experience is fundamental to delivering excellent care. I am delighted that both Drs. Blasberg and Tonnessen have accepted these inaugural roles. I look forward to their efforts in developing a culture centered on excellent clinical care in partnership with our patients. Along with our efforts in improving quality, improving the patient and provider experience is crucial in delivering a consistent care signature, and toward our mission of leading as a destination academic health system," said Department of Surgery Chair, Dr. Nita Ahuja.
Dr. Blasberg, an Associate Professor of Thoracic Surgery, has recently expanded his post to Greenwich Hospital. Dr. Tonnessen is an Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery in New Haven.
“My family has had several positive care experiences at Yale, including the birth of our son. As a thoracic surgeon, a lot of my time is spent interacting with patients and families under tremendous stress. I can appreciate all the details that make a difference to everyone involved in the care chain, across a range of cases, and I look forward to putting structure and metrics around those practices, together with Dr. Tonnessen and our hospital counterparts,” said Dr. Blasberg.
Improving the patient and provider experience is fundamental, toward our vision of becoming a destination academic health system.
Dr. Nita Ahuja, Department of Surgery Chair
“I feel a tremendous passion and responsibility to take something we’ve all heard before — ‘the care experience’ — and translate that into actionable steps that can measurably improve the Yale Surgery experience for our patients, and for our colleagues,” said Dr. Tonnessen.
The Director and Associate Director positions will report to Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs, Dr. Kimberly Davis, and collaborate with the Yale New Haven Health System Office of Experience and Engagement.
The search committee for the internal role was led by Dr. Saral Mehra, Associate Professor of Otolaryngology along with representation from Chief Medical Experience Officer for YNHHS Dr. Alan Friedman, Yale New Haven Hospital Patient Family Advisory Council member Ms. Delinda Conte, and Division Administrator Ms. Vanessa White.