Highlighting our Faculty

Oct. 6, 2017

singh kush

Technology is exciting, especially to radiologists like Kush Singh, MD. Even his voice beams as he describes the equipment upgrades in process at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital. As chief of Radiology Services for Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital and assistant professor in the Division of Community Radiology Specialists, a new 1.5T scanner and a 3.0T scanner, for example, mean Emory Saint Joseph’s Outpatient Imaging Center will be able to perform MRI scans for all sub-specialties so patients who live on the northside can get their imaging needs met in the same place they trust for their other medical care.

“It puts us on par with or better than other hospitals in the Emory system,” says Dr. Singh, and hopefully will make Emory Saint Joseph’s “the EUH of the north.”

Dr. Singh is a strong advocate for Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital. He worked at Saint Joseph’s Hospital for four years as a private practice radiologist before it became Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital (ESJH) in 2013. Dr. Singh says choosing to become a part of Emory was the right choice for him, too.

“I chose to stay and have enjoyed working at Emory ever since,” he says. “I have made many lasting relationships with the people working here in the radiology department and also with others in the hospital.  It is nice to come into work every day and know most of the people in the hospital. The people who work at ESJH are very dedicated and loyal and I think they are a great fit for the Emory system.”

The opportunities for growth are another benefit. “With Emory coming in and bringing their specialists and specialty surgeons, the level of complexity and acuity has increased and now is akin to that seen on the main campus. In the Community Division, we get to interact with a lot of the other divisions and I find working with and learning from the experts in their fields to be very rewarding.”

Dr. Singh also appreciates the many opportunities for leadership development at Emory. He completed the Radiology Leadership Academy Class in 2015. Dr. Singh currently is involved in the Emory Medicine Professional Leadership Enrichment and Development Program (EM-ProLEAD), a ten-month leadership development program designed to enrich leadership skills, enhance business knowledge, and develop strong partnerships across Emory Medicine.

“Collaboration is a big deal,” says Dr. Singh, “so I want to constantly hone my skills and develop new relationships.”

Dr. Singh’s clinical expertise involves orthopaedic imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopy. Orthopaedics seem to run in the family.

“My older brother is a spine surgeon in Chicago. Initially, I planned to follow his path and become an orthopaedic surgeon, but then I participated in musculoskeletal imaging research at the end of my third year in medical school.  I ended up changing directions and applying for residency in radiology during my 4th year of medical school after I realized that I enjoyed radiology more than orthopaedics.”

Dr. Singh spent five years in Philadelphia including medical school at Jefferson Medical College and internship at Pennsylvania Hospital.

He then “turned Southerner” during residency in diagnostic radiology and fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC. He’s deepened his Southern roots in Atlanta: after six years living in Buckhead, he and his wife moved with their two children to Johns Creek last year.

Dr. Singh finds his work rewarding. “Although it can be difficult as times, helping to solve problems and issues that arise at ESJH can be one of the most rewarding parts of my job.”

He also appreciates Emory’s team approach to patient care. “It’s great working with the whole team,” he says. “The APPs are excellent. Whenever they’re gone, it’s tough getting through the day. They’re a great addition to the patient workflow.”

If teamwork is an essential ingredient to excellent patient care, the secret sauce, he says, “is the Golden Rule… Treat others how you would like them to treat you.  It sounds simple enough but it works surprisingly well both inside and outside of the hospital. It’s something instilled in me as I grew up but it totally applies everywhere and SEI and RLA reinforced it. Treat people with respect and both you and they will be better off.” ■