Recently, Joseph Antonios, MD, PhD, a second-year neurosurgical resident, was named the Emergency Department Outstanding Consultant of the Year at Yale New Haven Hospital for his work during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Dr. Antonios was given the award for his insight, support, ability to stay calm, get creative, and work as part of the team.
“We acknowledge Dr. Antonios for his rapid response to ED consultations, deliberate action plans and teamwork,” says Gail D’Onofrio, MD, chair of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine. “His efforts help us to control what is often a chaotic environment, ultimately improving the care of our patients.”
As a second-year resident, Dr. Antonios spent a lot of his time consulting on neurosurgical and neurologic issues in the emergency department at the main hospital and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital.
He remembers many of his cases vividly—one involved a young child who came in unconscious. Dr. Antonios examined the patient, diagnosed the problem, and realized that there was an emergent procedure was in order.
He quickly gathered up a team of emergency medical professionals and turned the tiny pediatric trauma room into an ad hoc operating room in just 10 minutes.
Dr. Antonios placed a life-saving drain and within minutes, the patient was moving again, pupils started working, and the patient was taken to the intensive care unit where the child was cared for — the procedure had been successful.
Dr. Antonios completed his MD/Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles before coming to Yale. After his residency, he’d like to pursue a fellowship in vascular neurosurgery, treating stroke patients and dealing with complex brain blood vessel malformations.
He’s enjoyed his time in the emergency department as part of his training. “I love the high acuity work,” he says. “Where you have to make a split-second decision that impacts the rest of that patient’s life.”