Congratulations to the Wright State Physicians (WSP) team members recently recognized by the Dayton Business Journal as Health Care Heroes for 2022!
David Dhanraj, MD, Chief Medical Officer and OB/GYN physician
Health Care Hero — Provider Category
Dr. Dhanraj is the leader of an OB/GYN practice that boasts high patient satisfaction and significant patient growth, contributing to hiring three new providers since late 2021. He is focused on the success and well-being of the clinic and team, constantly reviewing processes to improve operations to benefit patients and staff. Along with patient care he also provides educational opportunities for Boonshoft School of Medicine (BSOM) students, and has helped increase research in the OB/GYN department at BSOM, where he is department chair and associate professor. Dr. Dhanraj also serves as BSOM’s Dean of Clinical Affairs.
Dr. Dhanraj also sees patients, while working with BSOM OB/GYN residents, at Five Rivers Health Center in Dayton, and in labor and delivery at Premier Health’s Miami Valley Hospital.
Quality of care is also a primary focus. Dr. Dhanraj is co-chair of the Quality Council at WSP, responsible for overseeing risk mitigation, patient safety, quality improvement and peer review.
Dr. Dhanraj prioritizes the health and welfare of all his patients, but is especially focused on the health outcomes for those from underserved groups. He participated with other OB/GYN physicians and medical educators from institutions across the nation in authoring a study and best practices for incorporating social justice into OB/GYN medical education, to help learners and providers understand how unintentional racial bias can affect patient health outcomes. The study appeared in the journal for the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. BSOM’s OB/GYN department is one of several nationwide that intentionally incorporates health equity-specific training for students.
Dr. Dhanraj was recognized this spring by Dayton Magazine as a Dayton’s Best Doc, selected based on votes by the community.
Dr. Dhanraj is currently accepting new patients, click here to learn more.
“Best doctor I’ve ever had! Thank you, and to the whole practice for taking such good care of me!”
Casey English, LPN, Clinical Coordinator, Internal Medicine
Health Care Hero — Patient Experience Category
Among Casey’s duties is managing activities for five infectious disease providers in internal medicine, whom since the start of the pandemic have been some of WSP’s busiest! She is purposeful to schedule patients in a timely manner, while not overloading the providers, and is intentional about making sure providers have every bit of information needed for each patient visit.
Casey has built relationships with area hospitals and healthcare agencies to further support WSP patient care, and has gone above and beyond to assist patients with finding community resources.
Casey volunteered her time to help administer COVID-19 vaccines during WSP’s community vaccine clinics, and assists in the flu vaccine clinic for WSP employees.
“I have worked with many nurses in my 18 years of practice and Casey is far and away the best. She takes patient care very personally, and advocates to get patients seen in a way that is still feasible for the physicians. I hope that Casey is with me for many more years to come.”
— Steven Burdette, MD, infectious disease specialist, internal medicine
Terri Zalat, Site Manager, Surgery
Health Care Hero — Manager Category
Terri manages both of WSP’s surgery practices, transforming them into one cohesive unit. In an effort to increase access to care she has also successfully staffed additional WSP sites with surgery providers. Terri has also expanded the marketing footprint of WSP surgery working with WSP marketing to generate collateral and interacting with other organizations and the public.
During the height of the pandemic neither surgery site closed or experienced issues regarding seeing patients, due to Terri’s managerial efforts. As a result of of Terri’s leadership and influence over patient care, WSP has had multiple surgeons voted by the community to Dayton Magazine’s Dayton’s Best Docs the past two years.
Terri’s support of her team, and the entire organization, is unwavering. She covers additional non-clinical duties in the surgery department when needed and covered as site manager for Family Medicine and OB/GYN while managers were out on extended leave. One staff member shared, “She didn’t just do the bare minimum, she ensured that work flow wasn’t disrupted, and even looked for ways to improve processes”. Terri always makes sure her staff know they are respected and valued and have the tools to do their jobs and grow professionally and personally. Terri is the driving force behind a new WSP policy allowing for donation of vacation hours to co-workers in a time of need.
Terri prioritizes communication, to her team and about her team. She shares minutes from WSP organizational meetings with staff when they can’t attend, and ensures information gets to providers who work solely in the hospitals. She regularly shares good news and accolades about her team and clinic with WSP marketing for sharing internally or with the community.
“Sheryl Sandberg, self-made billionaire and influential business executive says, ‘Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.’ Terri possesses all the qualities of a great leader, a true health care hero, and it is evident in the effect she has and the way she is received by everyone around her.”
— Tara Harris, Front Office Coordinator, surgery
