Hospitalist Services at St. Mary's
What is a Hospitalist?
A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in caring for patients in the hospital. Most hospitalists are general internal medicine physicians, family practice physicians, or pediatricians.
What is Athens Hospitalist Services (AHS)?
Located in St. Mary’s Hospital, Athens Hospitalists Services is an independent group of board certified internal medicine physicians dedicated to patient satisfaction. AHS hospitalists serve as a liaison between St. Mary’s medical staff and primary care physicians when patients can no longer be cared for in an office setting.
How is my Primary Care Physician Included?
To ensure seamless patient care, St. Mary’s hospitalists keep your primary care physician informed of your status during your time in the hospital and are on call 24 hours a day for any questions or emergencies. Upon your discharge from the hospital, St. Mary’s Hospitalists also work with your primary care physician to arrange further treatment, follow-ups, prescribe necessary medications and send medical records to your physician. St. Mary’s hospitalists see private patients of community physicians. These physicians have a written agreement for their patients to come to St. Mary’s.
What if I do not have a primary care physician?
Some patients may not have a primary care physician. If this is the case, St. Mary’s Hospitalists will help these patients find a primary care doctor before they leave the hospital. This allows patients to receive seamless, quality care.
How does the St. Mary’s hospitalist learn about me and my condition?
Our hospitalists talk to your primary care physician on a frequent basis. At the time of your admission to the hospital, your primary care physician calls and informs us of your condition and sends over records to provide as much information as possible about your illness. The process is similar to what your physician does when he/she refers you to a specialist for another opinion or additional tests or treatments. During the course of your hospitalization, a St. Mary’s hospitalist and your primary care physician may talk further regarding your treatment. At discharge we will communicate with your primary care physician to discuss any further treatment needs, help arrange follow-up, prescribe necessary medications and send hospital records to your primary care physician’s office.
Learn about St. Mary’s NeuroHospitalists Drs. Morgan and Lockhart
Meet the Team
Stephen Berry, MD
Hospitalist Chief Medical Informatics Officer
Dr. Berry joined Athens Hospitalist Services in July 2010. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology from The University of Georgia in 1988 and a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science from Georgia State University in 1991. After finishing medical school at The Medical College of Georgia, he completed his residency at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Berry remained at UAB as Chief Medical Resident from 1998-1999. He practiced 8 years of traditional Internal Medicine and then became a Hospitalist. Dr. Berry is an Atlanta native and lives in Gainesville, GA with his wife and three children. Dr. Berry currently serves as Chief Medical Informatics Officer for St. Mary’s Health Care System.
Stephane Conte, MD
Hospitalist Geriatric Specialist
Dr. Conte joined Athens Hospitalist Services in July 2011. He received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Miami in 1998. He attended Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he earned his medical degree in 2004. Dr. Conte completed the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship in 2002, and he completed his Internal Medicine residency training at Lutheran Medical Center in New York City, New York in 2007. He then graduated from fellowship training in Geriatrics in 2008 at New York University. He is board certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Conte was in private practice prior to joining Athens Hospitalist Services. He currently lives in Alpharetta, GA with his wife and two children.
Ishmael Lamptey-Mills, MD
Hospitalist
Dr. Ishmael Lamptey-Mills joined Athens Hospitalist Services in August 2015. He received his bachelor’s degree in Medical Science from the University of Ghana in 1996. After finishing his medical school at the University of Ghana, he completed his residency at Harlem Hospital Center in New York, NY. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Lamptey-Mills has previously worked as a Hospitalist for other facilities prior to joining Athens Hospitalist Services. He lives in Flowery Branch, GA with his wife and children.
Amir Shirazi, MD
Hospitalist
Dr. Amir Shirazi joined Athens Hospitalist Services in July 2020. He received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Emory University in 2013. After finishing his medical school at Emory University, he completed his residency at AU/UGA Medical Partnership here at St. Mary's. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Shirazi currently lives in Grayson, GA.
Drew Willey, MD
Hospitalist
Dr. Drew Willey joined Athens Hospitalist Services in September 2020. He received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2012. After finishing his medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, he completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fl. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Willey currently lives in Athens, GA with his wife.
Rida Younus, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Graduate Medical Education, St. Mary's Health Care System
Dr. Rida Younus joined Athens Hospitalist Services in September 2019. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from New York Institute of Technology in 2008. After finishing her medical school at The International American University School of Medicine in Saint Lucia, she completed her residency at AU/UGA Medical Partnership here at St. Mary's. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Younus still works closely with the Residency program and Residents in the outpatient clinical setting as well. Dr. Younus currently lives in Athens, GA.
Andrew Ke, MD
Hospitalist
Dr. Andrew Ke joined Athens Hospitalist Services in September 2018. He received his bachelor’s degree in Sports Science from the University of Georgia in 2010. After finishing his medical school at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, he completed his residency at AU/UGA Medical Partnership here at St. Mary's. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Ke currently lives in Athens, GA with his wife.
Jaideep Patel, MD
Hospitalist Medical Director, Hospice & Palliative Care, St. Mary’s Health Care System
Dr. Patel joined Athens Hospitalist Services in 2002. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Patel completed medical school in 1999 at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson, MS. Dr. Patel completed his internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice/Palliative Medicine. Dr. Patel is the Director of Palliative Care & Hospice for St. Mary’s Health Care System. He resides in Athens, GA with his wife and children.
Sharif Elkabbani, MD
Hospitalist
Adam Traill, DO
AHS Medical Director
Dr. Traill joined Athens Hospitalist Services in August 2004. He graduated from The University of Florida in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology. From 1997 to 2001, he attended The University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, MO, where he earned his medical degree. His Internal Medicine residency was at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, from 2001 to 2004. He is board certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Traill currently serves as the Medical Director for Athens Hospitalist Services. He resides in Bishop, GA with his wife and two children.
Lisa Fowlkes, MD
Hospitalist
Dr. Lisa Fowlkes joined Athens Hospitalist Services in 2015. She received her bachelor’s degree from Emory University in 1988. After finishing her medical school at Duke University, she completed her residency at University of North Carolina Memorial Hospital. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Fowlkes resides in Colbert, GA.
James "Ted" Farmer, MD
Hospitalist
Dr. James T. Farmer joined Athens Hospitalist Services in 2015. He received his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Mercer Pharmacy in 1982. After finishing his medical school at Mercer School of Medicine, he completed his residency at Medical Center of Central Georgia. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and board certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Farmer lives in Athens, GA.
Robert Meyer, MD
Chief, Department of Medicine, St. Mary’s Health Care System; Associate Professor of Medicine, Graduate Medical Education, St. Mary's Health Care System
Dr. Meyer, a native of Athens, joined Athens Hospitalist Services in 2008. He received his bachelor’s degree from The Citadel, Charleston, SC in 1995 and received his MD from the Medical College of Georgia in 1999. He subsequently received a commission in the United States Navy and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Portsmouth, VA. He served on active duty as a physician from 1999 until 2008. He is board certified in Internal Medicine. He is also certified in Palliative Care. He is a key faculty member for our Internal Medicine Residency Program that accepted its first residents in July 2015 and has been a growing program since. He is also Chief of the Department of Medicine at St. Mary’s Health Care System. He currently resides in Athens, GA with his wife and children.
Lela Ward, MD
Medical Staff Secretary/Treasurer, St. Mary's Health Care System; Associate Professor of Medicine, Graduate Medical Education, St. Mary's Health Care System
Dr. Lela Ward joined Athens Hospitalist Services in August 2014. She received her bachelor’s degree in Genetics from The University of Georgia in 2006. After finishing her medical school at The Medical College of Georgia, she completed her residency at Greenville Hospital System in Greenville, South Carolina. Dr. Ward was Chief Resident from July 2013 through June 2014. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. She is a key faculty member for our Internal Medicine Residency Program that accepted its first residents in July 2015 and has been a growing program since. Dr. Ward is also the Medical Staff Secretary/Treasurer for St. Mary's Health Care System. Dr. Ward is a native of Madison, Georgia, and she currently resides in Athens, GA with her husband and child.