Kris Rehm, MD, SFHM

Each July, the largest gathering of pediatric hospitalists occurs, and 2019 is no different! This year, hospitalists who care for children will gather at Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) in Seattle from July 25 to 28, with the goal of enhancing participants’ knowledge and competence in the areas of innovation, clinical medicine, education, health services, practice management, quality improvement, and research.

But what makes this year particularly special is the launch of the subspecialty exam for certification in pediatric hospital medicine coming later this fall, solidifying its growth and importance within hospital medicine and the entire health care landscape. The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) has approved PHM as the newest board subspecialty with a 2-year fellowship accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This conference will be a great opportunity to join with others to review competencies for board review, as well as to network with those who are also navigating the road ahead.

During 2019, the Pediatric Hospitalist Special Interest Group (SIG) of SHM has been working tirelessly on several initiatives, including a revision of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Core Competencies as well as additional work to develop Choosing Wisely 2.0 recommendations. These will help us ensure we are developing the best curricula for the next generation of pediatric hospitalists, while cutting back on unnecessary tests and procedures for those practicing today. Each of these initiatives, as well as the July conference, highlights the opportunities that we have within SHM to work with other like-minded providers who care for children. While we partner with all professionals across many organizations, like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academic Pediatric Association to name a few, I wanted to share my reflections on SHM and my appreciation for the “big tent” philosophy that has served us so well thus far.

Having an opportunity to sit on the board of SHM has allowed me a chance to really appreciate the efforts that this organization invests in all who care for patients in the hospital; we have an active group of advanced-practice providers, practice administrators, residents, students, academic hospitalists, and the list goes on and on. We collaborate with a number of spectacular societies dedicated to medical specialties, and we are always open to new ways of improving the methods of delivering care to patients, in hospitals, post-acute care facilities, homes – you name it! As health care delivery models continue to evolve, I believe we are well positioned to be leaders in the delivery of acute care medicine in the hospital and beyond.

I have also learned of happenings at the grassroots level by attending SHM chapter meetings across the United States. For example, the Hampton Roads Chapter led a great Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) workshop, and influenced by that, I shared an idea at home in Nashville – borrowing my son as a model to demonstrate ultrasound techniques that hospitalists can use to assist in clinical care. I hope you, as pediatric hospitalists, will see if you have a local chapter and attend a meeting; whether you are a member of SHM or not, you can mingle with those who provide acute care treatments to all your communities and share best practices. If you don’t see an SHM chapter close by, let’s get one going! SHM is here to help launch a chapter that can help bring your community together and provide education and networking closer to home.

If you can’t attend PHM in Seattle this year, I hope you will make every effort to be at PHM 2020, where our own SIG leader, Dr. Jeffrey Grill from Louisville, Ky., will be chairing the next rendition of this amazing conference. The SHM Meetings team led by Michelle Kann will be working tirelessly to make it a great event with continued growth in content and attendance.

Dr. Rehm is associate professor, pediatrics, and director, division of pediatric outreach medicine at Vanderbilt University and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, both in Nashville, Tenn. She is also a member of the SHM board of directors.

Each July, the largest gathering of pediatric hospitalists occurs, and 2019 is no different! This year, hospitalists who care for children will gather at Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) in Seattle from July 25 to 28, with the goal of enhancing participants’ knowledge and competence in the areas of innovation, clinical medicine, education, health services, practice management, quality improvement, and research.

But what makes this year particularly special is the launch of the subspecialty exam for certification in pediatric hospital medicine coming later this fall, solidifying its growth and importance within hospital medicine and the entire health care landscape. The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) has approved PHM as the newest board subspecialty with a 2-year fellowship accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This conference will be a great opportunity to join with others to review competencies for board review, as well as to network with those who are also navigating the road ahead.

During 2019, the Pediatric Hospitalist Special Interest Group (SIG) of SHM has been working tirelessly on several initiatives, including a revision of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Core Competencies as well as additional work to develop Choosing Wisely 2.0 recommendations. These will help us ensure we are developing the best curricula for the next generation of pediatric hospitalists, while cutting back on unnecessary tests and procedures for those practicing today. Each of these initiatives, as well as the July conference, highlights the opportunities that we have within SHM to work with other like-minded providers who care for children. While we partner with all professionals across many organizations, like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academic Pediatric Association to name a few, I wanted to share my reflections on SHM and my appreciation for the “big tent” philosophy that has served us so well thus far.

Having an opportunity to sit on the board of SHM has allowed me a chance to really appreciate the efforts that this organization invests in all who care for patients in the hospital; we have an active group of advanced-practice providers, practice administrators, residents, students, academic hospitalists, and the list goes on and on. We collaborate with a number of spectacular societies dedicated to medical specialties, and we are always open to new ways of improving the methods of delivering care to patients, in hospitals, post-acute care facilities, homes – you name it! As health care delivery models continue to evolve, I believe we are well positioned to be leaders in the delivery of acute care medicine in the hospital and beyond.

I have also learned of happenings at the grassroots level by attending SHM chapter meetings across the United States. For example, the Hampton Roads Chapter led a great Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) workshop, and influenced by that, I shared an idea at home in Nashville – borrowing my son as a model to demonstrate ultrasound techniques that hospitalists can use to assist in clinical care. I hope you, as pediatric hospitalists, will see if you have a local chapter and attend a meeting; whether you are a member of SHM or not, you can mingle with those who provide acute care treatments to all your communities and share best practices. If you don’t see an SHM chapter close by, let’s get one going! SHM is here to help launch a chapter that can help bring your community together and provide education and networking closer to home.

If you can’t attend PHM in Seattle this year, I hope you will make every effort to be at PHM 2020, where our own SIG leader, Dr. Jeffrey Grill from Louisville, Ky., will be chairing the next rendition of this amazing conference. The SHM Meetings team led by Michelle Kann will be working tirelessly to make it a great event with continued growth in content and attendance.

Dr. Rehm is associate professor, pediatrics, and director, division of pediatric outreach medicine at Vanderbilt University and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, both in Nashville, Tenn. She is also a member of the SHM board of directors.

Each July, the largest gathering of pediatric hospitalists occurs, and 2019 is no different! This year, hospitalists who care for children will gather at Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) in Seattle from July 25 to 28, with the goal of enhancing participants’ knowledge and competence in the areas of innovation, clinical medicine, education, health services, practice management, quality improvement, and research.

But what makes this year particularly special is the launch of the subspecialty exam for certification in pediatric hospital medicine coming later this fall, solidifying its growth and importance within hospital medicine and the entire health care landscape. The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) has approved PHM as the newest board subspecialty with a 2-year fellowship accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This conference will be a great opportunity to join with others to review competencies for board review, as well as to network with those who are also navigating the road ahead.

During 2019, the Pediatric Hospitalist Special Interest Group (SIG) of SHM has been working tirelessly on several initiatives, including a revision of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Core Competencies as well as additional work to develop Choosing Wisely 2.0 recommendations. These will help us ensure we are developing the best curricula for the next generation of pediatric hospitalists, while cutting back on unnecessary tests and procedures for those practicing today. Each of these initiatives, as well as the July conference, highlights the opportunities that we have within SHM to work with other like-minded providers who care for children. While we partner with all professionals across many organizations, like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academic Pediatric Association to name a few, I wanted to share my reflections on SHM and my appreciation for the “big tent” philosophy that has served us so well thus far.

Having an opportunity to sit on the board of SHM has allowed me a chance to really appreciate the efforts that this organization invests in all who care for patients in the hospital; we have an active group of advanced-practice providers, practice administrators, residents, students, academic hospitalists, and the list goes on and on. We collaborate with a number of spectacular societies dedicated to medical specialties, and we are always open to new ways of improving the methods of delivering care to patients, in hospitals, post-acute care facilities, homes – you name it! As health care delivery models continue to evolve, I believe we are well positioned to be leaders in the delivery of acute care medicine in the hospital and beyond.

I have also learned of happenings at the grassroots level by attending SHM chapter meetings across the United States. For example, the Hampton Roads Chapter led a great Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) workshop, and influenced by that, I shared an idea at home in Nashville – borrowing my son as a model to demonstrate ultrasound techniques that hospitalists can use to assist in clinical care. I hope you, as pediatric hospitalists, will see if you have a local chapter and attend a meeting; whether you are a member of SHM or not, you can mingle with those who provide acute care treatments to all your communities and share best practices. If you don’t see an SHM chapter close by, let’s get one going! SHM is here to help launch a chapter that can help bring your community together and provide education and networking closer to home.

If you can’t attend PHM in Seattle this year, I hope you will make every effort to be at PHM 2020, where our own SIG leader, Dr. Jeffrey Grill from Louisville, Ky., will be chairing the next rendition of this amazing conference. The SHM Meetings team led by Michelle Kann will be working tirelessly to make it a great event with continued growth in content and attendance.

Dr. Rehm is associate professor, pediatrics, and director, division of pediatric outreach medicine at Vanderbilt University and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, both in Nashville, Tenn. She is also a member of the SHM board of directors.

As I began my career in pediatric hospital medicine at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., I knew that I wanted a way to continue my education and to network with other hospitalists with interests in academics and pediatrics.

In 2010, I decided to attend a pre-course to the Society of Hospital Medicine’s annual conference that focused on academic hospital medicine, and my career has never been the same! I am thrilled to say I have found my professional home in SHM.

Here’s a quick list of the reasons SHM has been such a warm, welcoming home for me. I’ve highlighted the few options that stood out to me, but rest assured there is so much more from which to choose:

• Leadership opportunities in our Pediatrics Special Interest Group.
• Representation on the Annual Conference Committee to select pediatric-specific content as well as workshops on leadership, education, patient experience, and quality improvement.
• The Academic Hospitalist Academy, first as a pre-course before the SHM annual conference, and now as its own amazing meeting for academic pediatric hospital medicine providers.
• SHM’s Leadership Academy, a wonderful opportunity to learn leadership skills and network with other leaders. This year, it is in Vancouver!
• Participation in quality improvement initiatives like Pedi-BOOST, a care transitions program that specializes in pediatric patients.
• Traveling to Abu Dhabi and the Middle East Update in Hospital Medicine this March – being able to spread the latest trends in hospital medicine in the USA is one of the best experiences I have had with SHM!

Another reason SHM truly made me feel welcomed was the opportunity to attend the Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) meeting. Each July, SHM helps to put on the largest gathering of pediatric hospital medicine providers. This year, it will be held in Atlanta from July 19-22.

This meeting is organized and supported by SHM, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Academic Pediatric Association (APA), and offers spectacular content in many tracks, including quality improvement, education, research, and the incredibly popular “Top Articles” presentation at lunch on Saturday. This session provides teaching materials that can span the year for Journal Clubs and resident and student education. The abstracts and poster sessions are top-notch and provide an opportunity for young and experienced providers to share their work.

The fourth annual Knowledge Café will be a highlight for me as well, as it allows collaboration and networking experiences in hot topics for early career hospitalists. How to strive for work/life balance, how to get the most out of your first meeting, and techniques for talking with your boss about difficult issues are some of the topics we plan to cover this year.

On top of this, networking and participation on various committees and work groups afforded me the opportunity to join the SHM Board of Directors in May of 2017. Having completed my first year on the Board, I have an even deeper appreciation for the progressive thinking of our leadership team and the amazing work that the staff of SHM does behind the scenes to help us maximize our memberships. I love the continuous process improvement that is happening with every Board meeting.

As a member of the Board, it’s important to keep tabs on the pulse of SHM members and their evolving needs. One way I have really enjoyed getting to learn about our membership is by attending local chapter meetings. I recently traveled to West Virginia and Connecticut, both of which have active, engaged chapters working to improve care in their local communities – it was so inspiring to have the opportunity to represent the organization, and I look forward to more meetings just like this. For our local chapter in Nashville, I have the honor of picking the venue for our meetings, which keeps me on my toes as I look for the latest hot spots in an incredibly happening city!

Last summer, the benefits of membership in SHM and my career choice of hospital medicine took on a whole new meaning. In July, just before PHM 2017, a meeting that I was lucky enough to chair, my husband started to feel the pain of a recurrent kidney stone as he was traveling with our four sons and their three friends. Can you imagine being on an airplane with seven elementary school–age boys when the worst pain EVER strikes?

I was home in Nashville thinking, “Who can I call to help him in Minneapolis?” My first thought was of fellow members of SHM with whom I’ve developed friendships over the years – other hospitalists like you and me. Many people came to mind, all of whom practice hospital medicine! A huge thank-you to our friend Dr. Shaun Frost, who rescued my husband, drove him to a local ED, AND took the seven boys out for lunch. I truly have never been so grateful!

My task for you is simple: Engage with the Society of Hospital Medicine! Come to a meeting, join a special interest group, connect with your local chapter, and make friends who can support you through your career – and, as evidenced by my husband’s experience – even in your personal life. It’s truly a special organization, and I can’t wait to share some experiences just like these with you.


Dr. Rehm is associate professor, pediatrics, and director, division of pediatric outreach medicine at Vanderbilt University and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, both in Nashville, Tenn. She is also a member of the SHM board of directors.

As I began my career in pediatric hospital medicine at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., I knew that I wanted a way to continue my education and to network with other hospitalists with interests in academics and pediatrics.

In 2010, I decided to attend a pre-course to the Society of Hospital Medicine’s annual conference that focused on academic hospital medicine, and my career has never been the same! I am thrilled to say I have found my professional home in SHM.

Here’s a quick list of the reasons SHM has been such a warm, welcoming home for me. I’ve highlighted the few options that stood out to me, but rest assured there is so much more from which to choose:

• Leadership opportunities in our Pediatrics Special Interest Group.
• Representation on the Annual Conference Committee to select pediatric-specific content as well as workshops on leadership, education, patient experience, and quality improvement.
• The Academic Hospitalist Academy, first as a pre-course before the SHM annual conference, and now as its own amazing meeting for academic pediatric hospital medicine providers.
• SHM’s Leadership Academy, a wonderful opportunity to learn leadership skills and network with other leaders. This year, it is in Vancouver!
• Participation in quality improvement initiatives like Pedi-BOOST, a care transitions program that specializes in pediatric patients.
• Traveling to Abu Dhabi and the Middle East Update in Hospital Medicine this March – being able to spread the latest trends in hospital medicine in the USA is one of the best experiences I have had with SHM!

Another reason SHM truly made me feel welcomed was the opportunity to attend the Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) meeting. Each July, SHM helps to put on the largest gathering of pediatric hospital medicine providers. This year, it will be held in Atlanta from July 19-22.

This meeting is organized and supported by SHM, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Academic Pediatric Association (APA), and offers spectacular content in many tracks, including quality improvement, education, research, and the incredibly popular “Top Articles” presentation at lunch on Saturday. This session provides teaching materials that can span the year for Journal Clubs and resident and student education. The abstracts and poster sessions are top-notch and provide an opportunity for young and experienced providers to share their work.

The fourth annual Knowledge Café will be a highlight for me as well, as it allows collaboration and networking experiences in hot topics for early career hospitalists. How to strive for work/life balance, how to get the most out of your first meeting, and techniques for talking with your boss about difficult issues are some of the topics we plan to cover this year.

On top of this, networking and participation on various committees and work groups afforded me the opportunity to join the SHM Board of Directors in May of 2017. Having completed my first year on the Board, I have an even deeper appreciation for the progressive thinking of our leadership team and the amazing work that the staff of SHM does behind the scenes to help us maximize our memberships. I love the continuous process improvement that is happening with every Board meeting.

As a member of the Board, it’s important to keep tabs on the pulse of SHM members and their evolving needs. One way I have really enjoyed getting to learn about our membership is by attending local chapter meetings. I recently traveled to West Virginia and Connecticut, both of which have active, engaged chapters working to improve care in their local communities – it was so inspiring to have the opportunity to represent the organization, and I look forward to more meetings just like this. For our local chapter in Nashville, I have the honor of picking the venue for our meetings, which keeps me on my toes as I look for the latest hot spots in an incredibly happening city!

Last summer, the benefits of membership in SHM and my career choice of hospital medicine took on a whole new meaning. In July, just before PHM 2017, a meeting that I was lucky enough to chair, my husband started to feel the pain of a recurrent kidney stone as he was traveling with our four sons and their three friends. Can you imagine being on an airplane with seven elementary school–age boys when the worst pain EVER strikes?

I was home in Nashville thinking, “Who can I call to help him in Minneapolis?” My first thought was of fellow members of SHM with whom I’ve developed friendships over the years – other hospitalists like you and me. Many people came to mind, all of whom practice hospital medicine! A huge thank-you to our friend Dr. Shaun Frost, who rescued my husband, drove him to a local ED, AND took the seven boys out for lunch. I truly have never been so grateful!

My task for you is simple: Engage with the Society of Hospital Medicine! Come to a meeting, join a special interest group, connect with your local chapter, and make friends who can support you through your career – and, as evidenced by my husband’s experience – even in your personal life. It’s truly a special organization, and I can’t wait to share some experiences just like these with you.


Dr. Rehm is associate professor, pediatrics, and director, division of pediatric outreach medicine at Vanderbilt University and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, both in Nashville, Tenn. She is also a member of the SHM board of directors.

As I began my career in pediatric hospital medicine at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., I knew that I wanted a way to continue my education and to network with other hospitalists with interests in academics and pediatrics.

In 2010, I decided to attend a pre-course to the Society of Hospital Medicine’s annual conference that focused on academic hospital medicine, and my career has never been the same! I am thrilled to say I have found my professional home in SHM.

Here’s a quick list of the reasons SHM has been such a warm, welcoming home for me. I’ve highlighted the few options that stood out to me, but rest assured there is so much more from which to choose:

• Leadership opportunities in our Pediatrics Special Interest Group.
• Representation on the Annual Conference Committee to select pediatric-specific content as well as workshops on leadership, education, patient experience, and quality improvement.
• The Academic Hospitalist Academy, first as a pre-course before the SHM annual conference, and now as its own amazing meeting for academic pediatric hospital medicine providers.
• SHM’s Leadership Academy, a wonderful opportunity to learn leadership skills and network with other leaders. This year, it is in Vancouver!
• Participation in quality improvement initiatives like Pedi-BOOST, a care transitions program that specializes in pediatric patients.
• Traveling to Abu Dhabi and the Middle East Update in Hospital Medicine this March – being able to spread the latest trends in hospital medicine in the USA is one of the best experiences I have had with SHM!

Another reason SHM truly made me feel welcomed was the opportunity to attend the Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) meeting. Each July, SHM helps to put on the largest gathering of pediatric hospital medicine providers. This year, it will be held in Atlanta from July 19-22.

This meeting is organized and supported by SHM, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Academic Pediatric Association (APA), and offers spectacular content in many tracks, including quality improvement, education, research, and the incredibly popular “Top Articles” presentation at lunch on Saturday. This session provides teaching materials that can span the year for Journal Clubs and resident and student education. The abstracts and poster sessions are top-notch and provide an opportunity for young and experienced providers to share their work.

The fourth annual Knowledge Café will be a highlight for me as well, as it allows collaboration and networking experiences in hot topics for early career hospitalists. How to strive for work/life balance, how to get the most out of your first meeting, and techniques for talking with your boss about difficult issues are some of the topics we plan to cover this year.

On top of this, networking and participation on various committees and work groups afforded me the opportunity to join the SHM Board of Directors in May of 2017. Having completed my first year on the Board, I have an even deeper appreciation for the progressive thinking of our leadership team and the amazing work that the staff of SHM does behind the scenes to help us maximize our memberships. I love the continuous process improvement that is happening with every Board meeting.

As a member of the Board, it’s important to keep tabs on the pulse of SHM members and their evolving needs. One way I have really enjoyed getting to learn about our membership is by attending local chapter meetings. I recently traveled to West Virginia and Connecticut, both of which have active, engaged chapters working to improve care in their local communities – it was so inspiring to have the opportunity to represent the organization, and I look forward to more meetings just like this. For our local chapter in Nashville, I have the honor of picking the venue for our meetings, which keeps me on my toes as I look for the latest hot spots in an incredibly happening city!

Last summer, the benefits of membership in SHM and my career choice of hospital medicine took on a whole new meaning. In July, just before PHM 2017, a meeting that I was lucky enough to chair, my husband started to feel the pain of a recurrent kidney stone as he was traveling with our four sons and their three friends. Can you imagine being on an airplane with seven elementary school–age boys when the worst pain EVER strikes?

I was home in Nashville thinking, “Who can I call to help him in Minneapolis?” My first thought was of fellow members of SHM with whom I’ve developed friendships over the years – other hospitalists like you and me. Many people came to mind, all of whom practice hospital medicine! A huge thank-you to our friend Dr. Shaun Frost, who rescued my husband, drove him to a local ED, AND took the seven boys out for lunch. I truly have never been so grateful!

My task for you is simple: Engage with the Society of Hospital Medicine! Come to a meeting, join a special interest group, connect with your local chapter, and make friends who can support you through your career – and, as evidenced by my husband’s experience – even in your personal life. It’s truly a special organization, and I can’t wait to share some experiences just like these with you.


Dr. Rehm is associate professor, pediatrics, and director, division of pediatric outreach medicine at Vanderbilt University and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, both in Nashville, Tenn. She is also a member of the SHM board of directors.