Dr. Arora is an academic hospitalist who specializes in improving the learning environment for medical trainees and the quality, safety, and experience of care delivered to hospitalized adults. She is an internationally recognized expert on patient handoffs in healthcare and also has extensive expertise in using technology such as social media to improve the workplace learning in teaching hospitals on a variety of topics. Her educational videos on handoffs, supervision, professionalism and costs of care have been used by numerous educators around the country as well as garnered professional awards and been featured on NPR and by the New York Times.
As an accomplished researcher, she has been the Principal Investigator of numerous federal and foundation research grants. As the the Principal Investigator of an AHRQ funded study, she developed tools to evaluate handoff quality among hospitalists and residents. Through funding from the National Institutes on Aging and the American Sleep Medicine Foundation, she is investigating the effect of sleep loss on hospitalized patients, and developing novel interventions to optimize patient experience in hospitals through workplace learning and systems change. She is also the Principal Investigator of an NIH R01 entitled TEACH STRIVES (Spreading Teen-Research Inspired Videos to Engage Schoolmates) to evaluate the impact of a novel social media intervention to boost interest of minority youth into medical research careers.
Dr. Arora academic work has resulted in over 130 peer-reviewed publications and has been recognized with awards from the Society of Hospital Medicine, Society of General Internal Medicine, Association of Program Directors of Internal Medicine, and the Association of American Medical Colleges. She has also testified to Congress on the primary care crisis as well as to the Institute of Medicine on residency duty hours and handoffs. For her work, she was been recognized as ACP Hospitalist Magazine's Top Hospitalist in 2009, one of "20 People Who Make Healthcare Better" by HealthLeaders Magazine in 2011, and as a Master to the Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators at the University of Chicago. She currently serves as the Assistant Dean for Scholarship & Discovery, enabling all incoming Pritzker students to participate in longitudinal mentored scholarly projects. As the Director of GME Clinical Learning Environment Innovation, she is working to ensure residents from all specialties are integrated into hospital quality initiatives.
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PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2001-2004 House Physician, MacNeal Hospital, Oak Park, IL
2004-2006 Assistant Dean, Curricular Innovation, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago
2005-2013 Associate Program Director- Internal Medicine Residency, University of Chicago
2007-Present Assistant Director, Hospitalist Scholars Training Program, University of Chicago
2009-Present Assistant Dean Scholarship & Discovery, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago
2009-Present Co-Director, MERITS Medical Education Fellowship, University of Chicago
2013-Present GME Director of Clinical Learning Environment Innovation, University of Chicago Medicine
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American College of Physicians, 2001-Present
Chair, National Council of Associates, 2005-2006 (14-member Council representing 17,000 trainees in internal medicine residencies and fellowships)
Regent, Board of Regents, 2005-2006
Member, Strategic Planning Committee, 2005-2006
Ex-officio Member, Board of Governors, 2004-2005
Member, Health and Public Policy Committee, 2004-2005; 2009-present
President, Northern Illinois Council of Associates, 2003-2004
Member, Northern Illinois Policy Advisory Committee, 2004-2013
Society of Hospital Medicine, 2001-Present
Founder and Co-Chair, Early Career Hospitalists Section, 2004-2007
Co-Chair, Clinical Vignette Committee, 2002-2004
Member, Annual Planning Committee, 2004-2006
Reviewer, Research Abstract Committee, 2005-2011
Co-Chair, Hand-off Standards Task Force, 2006-2008
Co-Chair, Research Abstract Review Committee, 2007-2009
Member, Awards Committee, 2009-2011
Society of General Internal Medicine, 2003-Present
Reviewer, Workshop Committee for Research Methodologies, 2005
Reviewer, Hospital Medicine Research Abstracts, 2007
Chair, Special Symposia, Annual Planning Committee, 2007
Member, Ad Hoc Committee, 2009-Present
Co-Chair, Abstract Committee Society of General Internal Medicine Meeting, 2010-2011
Member, Communications Task Force 2013-present
American Geriatrics Society, 2003-Present
Association of Program Directors of Internal Medicine, 2004-Present
Survey Committee, 2009-Present (Chair in 2011-2014)
American Board of Internal Medicine
Task Force on Hospital-based Certification, 2006
Subcommittee on Hospital Medicine, 2007-2008
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FUNDED RESEARCH
Principal Investigator, NIH/NIGMS R01 GM107721
“TEACH STRIVES (Spreading Teen Research Inspired Videos to Engage Schoolmates)”
Dates: 9/1/2013-8/31/2017
To test the effectiveness of a social media based intervention using video vignettes made by teens to increase interest in clinical research careers among minority youth.
Principal Investigator, R25 HL116372-01A1, National Institute of Health
SIESTA (Sleep for Inpatients: Empowering Staff to Act)
Dates: 12/01/2013 - 11/30/2017
To develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate the SIESTA (Sleep for Inpatients: Empowering Staff to Act) program, a multicomponent educational intervention designed to prepare hospital staff to assist patients in obtaining better sleep in hospitals and recognize the importance of screening for sleep disorders.
Principal Investigator, American Sleep Medicine Foundation Educational Research Award
SIESTA: Sleep for Inpatients: Empowering Staff to Act
Dates: 7/1/2013- 7/1/2014
To develop educational modules for nurses and physicians designed to teach staff to optimize the hospital sleep environment as well as screen patients for sleep disorders
Principal Investigator, 1K23AG033763, National Institutes of Health, Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
“Environment and Perceived Control: Improving Sleep in Hospitalized Older Patients”
Dates: 12/01/09-11/01/14
To characterize and improve sleep and noise and its associated impact on health outcomes for hospitalized seniors
Co-director and primary author, 1T35AG029795, National Institute of Aging, Medical Student Short-Term Aging-related Research program (PI Meltzer) Dates: 5/08-5/12 (renewed 5/2013)
COVID-19 Threatens Progress Toward Gender Equity Within Academic Medicine.
Woitowich NC, Jain S, Arora VM, Joffe H. COVID-19 Threatens Progress Toward Gender Equity Within Academic Medicine. Acad Med. 2021 06 01; 96(6):813-816.
PMID: 33003040
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nighttime room entries and sleep disruptions for pediatric patients.
Riehm JM, Arora VM, Tatineni S, Erondu A, Mozer CL, Cook DJ, Byron M, Mordell L, Ye F, Orlov NM. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nighttime room entries and sleep disruptions for pediatric patients. Sleep Med. 2021 May 28; 84:76-81.
PMID: 34119840
Prevalence and Characteristics of Advocacy Curricula in U.S. Medical Schools.
Brender TD, Plinke W, Arora VM, Zhu JM. Prevalence and Characteristics of Advocacy Curricula in U.S. Medical Schools. Acad Med. 2021 May 25.
PMID: 34039856
Sleep Disturbances in Frontline Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Media Survey Study.
Stewart NH, Koza A, Dhaon S, Shoushtari C, Martinez M, Arora VM. Sleep Disturbances in Frontline Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Media Survey Study. J Med Internet Res. 2021 05 19; 23(5):e27331.
PMID: 33875414
Innovations in MD-only physician-scientist training: experiences from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund physician-scientist institutional award initiative.
McElvaine AT, Hawkins-Salsbury JA, Arora VM, Gladwin MT, Goldenring JR, Huston DP, Krakow D, Rhee K, Solway J, Steinman RA, Towler DA, Utz PJ, Yokoyama WM, Simpson RL, Muglia LJ, Permar SR, Gbadegesin RA. Innovations in MD-only physician-scientist training: experiences from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund physician-scientist institutional award initiative. J Clin Invest. 2021 May 17; 131(10).
PMID: 33998594
Gender Differences in Physician Use of Social Media for Professional Advancement.
Woitowich NC, Arora VM, Pendergrast T, Gottlieb M, Trueger NS, Jain S. Gender Differences in Physician Use of Social Media for Professional Advancement. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 May 03; 4(5):e219834.
PMID: 33983403
Impact of an Educational Comic to Enhance Patient-Physician-Electronic Health Record Engagement: Prospective Observational Study.
Alkureishi MA, Johnson T, Nichols J, Dhodapkar M, Czerwiec MK, Wroblewski K, Arora VM, Lee WW. Impact of an Educational Comic to Enhance Patient-Physician-Electronic Health Record Engagement: Prospective Observational Study. JMIR Hum Factors. 2021 Apr 28; 8(2):e25054.
PMID: 33908891
Pursuing Excellence: Integrating Clinical Learning Environment Staff and Learners Into the Pursuit of Quality, Safety, Equity, and Value.
Arora VM, Rosenbluth G, O'Rourke A, Pappas RM, Hamilton AC, Vath RJ, Blanchard AK. Pursuing Excellence: Integrating Clinical Learning Environment Staff and Learners Into the Pursuit of Quality, Safety, Equity, and Value. J Grad Med Educ. 2021 Apr; 13(2):294-300.
PMID: 33897969
LEAPFROG Rounds: Maximizing the Rounding Experience for the Interprofessional Team During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Orlov NM, Mattson C, Kraft A, Wagner E, Mallick S, Cunningham P, Arora VM. LEAPFROG Rounds: Maximizing the Rounding Experience for the Interprofessional Team During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Acad Pediatr. 2021 Apr 16.
PMID: 33872823
Weak Handgrip at Index Admission for Acute Exacerbation of COPD Predicts All-Cause 30-Day Readmission.
Witt LJ, Spacht WA, Carey KA, Arora VM, White SR, Huisingh-Scheetz M, Press VG. Weak Handgrip at Index Admission for Acute Exacerbation of COPD Predicts All-Cause 30-Day Readmission. Front Med (Lausanne). 2021; 8:611989.
PMID: 33898475
John D Arnold Mentoring Award, Pritzker School of Medicine
2015
Association of Program Directors Internal Medicine Spotlight Innovator
2014
Biological Sciences Division Mentoring Award, University of Chicago
2013
Favorite Faculty Member, Pritzker School of Medicine Class of 2012
2012
Medical Resident Teaching Award, Internal Medicine Residency
2012
Favorite Faculty Member, Pritzker School of Medicine Class of 2011
2011
Master, Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators, Pritzker School of Medicine
2011
Leader in General Medicine Award, Midwest Society of General Internal Medicine
2011
Research in Medical Education (RIME) Committee’s “Best Paper” Award, AAMC
2011
20 People Who Make Healthcare Better, Health Leaders Magazine
2011
Mid-career Mentoring Award, Society of General Internal Medicine
2011
American College of Physicians (ACP) Laureate Award, American College of Physicians
2010
3rd place Academy for Healthcare Improvement Award for Curricular Innovation, Annual AHI Meeting
2010
Inaugural Fellow, Society of Hospital Medicine
2009
Walter J. McDonald Award for Young Physicians, American College of Physicians
2009
Top 10 Hospitalist of 2009, American College of Physicians Hospitalist Magazine
2009
Faculty Inductee, Alpha Omega Alpha, Beta Chapter, Pritzker School of Medicine
2009
Favorite Faculty Member, Pritzker School of Medicine Class of 2009
2009
Department of Medicine Excellence in Medical Education and Clinical Care
2009
Favorite Faculty Member, Pritzker School of Medicine Class of 2008
2008
Fellow, Academy of Distinguished Medical Educators, Pritzker School of Medicine
2008
Fellowship, American College of Physicians
2008
New Investigator Award, American Geriatrics Society
2008
Excellence in Hospital Medicine Research Award, Society of Hospital Medicine
2007
Hartford Geriatrics Health Outcomes Research Scholars Award
2006
Best Research Poster Award, Society of Hospital Medicine
2006
Special Advocacy Award, American College of Physicians
2006
Innovation in Medical Education Award, Mid-West Society of General Internal Medicine
2006
Faculty Research Award for Health Services Research, Department of Medicine Research Day, University
2006
Quality Excellence Award (for Best Methodology), University of Chicago Quality Fair
2005
Research Abstract Award Winner, Association of Program Directors of Internal Medicine
2005
Milton W. Hamolsky Junior Faculty Award, Society of General Internal Medicine
2005 - 2006
Best Faculty Research Abstract Award, Midwest Society of General Internal Medicine
2004
Honors, Dartmouth Fall Invitational Clinical Microsystems Conference Film Festival
2003
Winner, National Clinical Vignette Competition,American College of Physicians
2001
Infectious Disease Scholarship Award to Graduating Resident, University of Chicago
2001
Senior Resident Award, University of Chicago
2001
Dean's Fellowship, Irving B Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies
2001
Paul R. Eisenberg Award, American College of Physicians
1998
Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society, Johns Hopkins University
1994
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Institutional Teaching or Research Awards