STAR Award
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospitals’ STAR Award celebrates physicians who embody the exceptional qualities of servanthood, teamwork, attitude and results.
Recognizing physician excellence
Aasim M. Afzal, MD
Aasim M. Afzal, MD—2024
“[Dr. Afzal] always makes team members feel valued and advocates endlessly for staff satisfaction and positive patient outcomes. His teamwork is not bound by The Heart Hospital walls. He forms partnerships with physicians across state lines to allow patients to have shared care options in their hometown. … He supports his staff and goes above and beyond his duties to make sure nurses get what they need. Our team has always witnessed him having an interdisciplinary collaborative approach to patient care.”
“This physician is one of the most dedicated physicians who has walked the halls of this hospital. He is so committed that he has taken calls and has come in to care for patients in the middle of the night when he was not on call. He serves on many organizations and committees and is a leader who teaches new doctors in their Cardiology Fellowship. His patients appreciate his kindness and empathy. He has often been heard thanking patients for giving him the opportunity to care for them, and his gratitude to serve them is shown each and every day.”
“Everyone who knows Dr. Afzal knows his famous laugh. He is so fully of joy and compassion that it is hard to match his character. His passion for patients and his love of his staff are admirable and contagious. Everyone I have ever met who knows him would gladly echo the honor they feel in working for such an incredible physician and friend.”
“Dr. Afzal’s biggest strength is that he shows concrete results in improving patient care and growth for our facility. Under his leadership, our LVAD program has grown 50% over the past three years and has become the No. 1 destination therapy center in the country. We currently have the third lowest readmission rate for heart failure patients in the Baylor Scott & White Health system, with the highest CMI. The heart failure program has experienced a growth of 60% over the past two years and has added three new physicians and a nurse practitioner, with more on the horizon. After initiating the cardiogenic shock program in 2021, he has expanded it, having served over 500 patients in the past three years. Lastly, since his onboarding in 2019, he has increased our cardiac-specific ECMO volumes managed from an average of 32 cases per year to 48 (a 66% growth)!”
Samir N. Shahani, MD
Samir N. Shahani, MD—2024
“[Dr. Shahani] has consistently demonstrated a selfless commitment to serving others. His dedication to the well-being of both patients and colleagues goes beyond expectations. During the height and uncertainty of COVID, this doctor stayed late and worked diligently to ensure that all team members felt safe and heard. … This doctor has shown a remarkable ability to put the needs of others first, embodying the true spirit of servanthood.”
“In every collaborative effort, Dr. Shahani has proven to be an invaluable team player. He has the ability foster a positive and collaborative working environment that has significantly contributed to the success of the team. During a recent shooting outside the emergency department, he made it a priority to meet with key stakeholders to ensure that the department was safe and necessary implementations took place. He actively seeks opportunities to support his colleagues and ensures that everyone’s input is valued and considered.
“Dr. Shahani’s positive attitude is infectious and has a transformative impact on those around him. Regardless of challenges or setbacks, he maintains a constructive and optimistic outlook. His unwavering positivity has not only enhanced the work environment but has also inspired others to approach their tasks with a similar mindset. He pushes his peers and team members to strive for improvement and continued success, with the focus of always putting the patient and team members first.”
“Dr. Shahani’s commitment to achieving results is evident in the remarkable outcomes he has consistently delivered. He wanted to increase throughput in the emergency department and developed a CT coronary process, along with a direct-to-cath lab process. Whether in patient care, research initiatives or collaborative projects, Dr. Shahani has consistently surpassed expectations. His ability to drive results while maintaining a focus on quality is truly commendable, and his dedication and positive influence have significantly contributed to the success of our organization.”
Swathi R. Bayya, MD
Swathi R. Bayya, MD—2023
“[Dr. Bayya] is always looking after the patient’s best interest. She communicates with all team members effectively. She is available even when she is off. … She is a great communicator who keeps all the staff in the loop. She has the respect of all levels of staff and understands everyone’s role and limitations clearly. This allows her to provide the most efficient care to her patients.”
“Dr. Bayya is always there for her patients. She takes as much time as needed to listen to them. Even if she can’t do anything, she hears them. If there is an issue she can help with, she offers herself to her patients, other providers and nursing staff.”
“Dr. Bayya is a great communicator who keeps all the staff in the loop. She respects all levels of staff and understands everyone’s role and limitations clearly. This allows her to provide the most efficient care to her patients.”
“Excellent attitude, positive and uplifts our spirits.”
Dr. Bayya is approachable, kind and very funny! If there is an issue or question, she is there to assist the staff or help the patient understand. If she is providing care, she will circle back around to ensure the staff and patient understand what is going on.”
Timothy J. George, MD
Timothy J. George, MD—2022
“Dr. George went above and beyond in the last two years, sacrificing his time, resources and energy to ensure that all his patients received the best possible care at all times. This meant taking calls in the middle of the night when he wasn’t the designated on-call doctor, or coming in during his off hours to help ensure all was OK with their care. His actions and grit helped ensure that his patients had the absolute best chance to pull through. … He is the epitome of someone who serves his community from the heart.”
“Dr. George values other members of healthcare disciplines with a level of respect that is exemplary. He truly is a firm believer and subscriber to the motto: ‘teamwork makes the dream work.’ For example, when he decided to embrace a total and complete 180 culture change to begin waking and mobilizing our ECMO patients, which is a task and practice this facility had never done before, he immediately called on the idea of teamwork. He knew it would take all disciplines to come together and overcome the challenges of mobilizing them, which had very little research out there at the time. He asked for Nursing, ECMO specialists, perfusionists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurse practitioners, and several disciplines of doctors to work together to achieve his vision.”
“If Dr. George is not making the staff laugh or smile with his warmth and humor, he is telling them they are doing a great job or that they are superstars. He is quick to compliment and recognize a job well done by all disciplines, and he always says it with true gratitude and thanks in his heart. He is sincere. He has often been quoted saying ‘I have worked at some of the best hospitals in the country … and I would put any of our staff up against the staff in those famous places.’”
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