To prospective teammates,

I’m the medical director for Sound Physicians’ hospital medicine practice at Dameron Hospital in Stockton, California. I have proudly been a part of Sound for two years and welcome interest from physicians coming out of training or desiring a career change. I’d like to share more about it, specifically about our people, practice, and purpose, as you consider options:

 What drew me to Sound? Sound allows for substantial growth, particularly for those, like me, initially less familiar with leadership roles. The organization also provides avenues for vertical career progression, and the physician-led structure adds to the appeal.  

People

• Join our tight-knit team of eight physicians, supported by a clinical performance nurse, fostering a collegial, collaborative, and hardworking environment.
• As a member, you’ll be able to actively participate in meetings, including those led by the clinical performance nurse and myself. Our team is deeply involved in peer-to-peer review, and one of our members currently serves as the hospital’s chief of staff.
• Working with us means having a say in program management and influencing positive changes for our patients, the hospital, and ourselves. You’ll never feel isolated in our culture of respect, fun-loving camaraderie, and close collaboration, where we cover for each other.
• My leadership style is 90% participative and 10% authoritative in emergencies, valuing outspoken, solution-oriented, and considerate team members.
• Our diverse team of internal medicine-trained physicians welcomes those with family medicine training and inpatient experience.
• We emphasize work-life balance, offering a flexible schedule and mutual support for each other. Social gatherings, from dinners to unconventional activities like axe-throwing, reflect our commitment to building strong connections outside work.
• Our practice within the hospital is characterized by mutual respect, and we have avenues to escalate issues to the medical director and C-suite when necessary.
• We proudly sponsor J1 visa candidates, and Sound has excellent in-house visa specialists and our licensing and credentialing experts. All required filing fees for the visa are paid, and services are covered by Sound.

Practice

• Step into a dynamic healthcare environment where we thrive on the challenge of complex cases in our open 24-bed ICU. With intensivist coverage during the day and E-ICU support at night, our team manages a diverse patient population with intricate illnesses and diagnoses.
• Our day-to-day routine is structured yet collaborative, including computer rounds, clinical rounds, multidisciplinary rounds, and charting, followed by engaging lunch sessions where we decompress and catch up.
• Working with an underserved population, we emphasize empathy and collaborate with the case management team to address patient needs, even providing bedside medication delivery for those without insurance or at risk of non-compliance.
• While proficiency in intubation and central line procedures is advantageous, it’s not mandatory.
• As part of the Rapid Response team, our hospitalists play a crucial role in the ED handling code responses.
• We follow a 7 on/7 off block schedule for continuity of care, with a fair rotation between day and night shifts.
• Our team comprises three physicians during the day (7:00 am-7:00 pm) and one physician at night (7:00 pm-7:00 am), ensuring a manageable workload and encounters.
• Utilizing All Scripts Sunrise Clinical Manager EMR and our internal informatics platform, we prioritize ACLS, BLS, ICU-level care patient management, and initial vent management.
• We seek board-certified/eligible physicians committed to certification within the first year, fostering a culture of integrity, honesty, and support that contributes to our exceptional retention rates among physicians and nurses.
• Expected annual compensation for part-time $175K – $187K.
• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, long- and short-term disability, 401k with match, paid medical malpractice and tail coverage, and annual CME allowance.

Purpose

• We put patients first. Always.
• Growth and development are key features of Sound’s practice, where teammates can expand their careers here locally and within the broader medical group.

• We’re a community-minded team and encourage our team members who want to contribute in and out of the hospital to help make our local community thrive.

Stockton, California, offers a diverse and vibrant living experience with its central location in the heart of the state. Boasting a Mediterranean climate, residents enjoy sun-soaked days and many outdoor activities. The city’s cultural scene, diverse culinary options, and proximity to the coast and the Sierra Nevada mountains make Stockton an appealing destination for those seeking a dynamic and well-rounded lifestyle in California.

To learn more, please get in touch with my recruiting partner, who will put you in touch with me.

Lanre Ishola, MD
Dameron Hospital