Brian Alverson, M.D., Receives Milton Hamolsky Outstanding Physician Award

Posted Thursday, March 01, 2012

The Rhode Island Hospital medical staff presented its annual Milton Hamolsky Outstanding Physician of the Year Award to pediatric hospitalist Brian Alverson, M.D., for his commitment to his patients, his colleagues and the community. The award is the highest honor the Rhode Island Hospital medical staff bestows on one of its own.

Alverson, a resident of Barrington, joined Hasbro Children’s Hospital in 2005 to help establish a pediatric hospitalist program. A pediatric hospitalist is a pediatrician who specializes in caring for patients who do not have a physician, or whose primary care physician prefers to have an on-site medical team in charge of coordinating care. The hospitalist leads a comprehensive team including interns, residents, medical students, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, social workers and nurses - essentially acting as a child’s primary care physician within the hospital during their stay.

“Dr. Alverson has spearheaded a service line that is relatively new to the medical community, but is such a vital part of our mission to provide excellent, personalized care to each and every one of our patients,” said Robert Klein, M.D., pediatrician-in-chief at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “His tireless work in this endeavor alone would make him worthy of this award. However, it is his endless compassion, humility, eagerness to teach others, and true love of his life’s work that has made Dr. Alverson distinguishable.”

One of Alverson’s greatest achievements has been his advocacy work to change the laws in Rhode Island regarding HIV testing for pregnant women and newborns. Colleagues who nominated Alverson wrote of his relentless yet gracious pursuit of better HIV testing guidelines, stating “he seeks what most great men and women in his field seek – an enhanced health care system, a safe and healthy community, and a world that allows human rights to excel.”

Another colleague added that “because of Dr. Alverson’s heroic efforts, HIV testing rates among pregnant women improved from 53 percent to an amazing 99 to 100 percent consistently since 2009! This has almost eliminated new infants in Rhode Island from being infected with HIV.” Alverson’s advocacy in creating and successfully guiding the passage of appropriate legislation related to HIV screening earned him a Special Achievement Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Alverson received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University, and his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a keen interest in the education of the students and colleagues around him, and has received numerous teaching awards over the years. As one nomination letter pointed out “he has won a teaching award in our pediatric department almost more times than the number of years he has been with our institution.”

The Hamolsky Outstanding Physician Award is presented each year to a physician who has made exceptional contributions to medicine, medical education and research; who has demonstrated leadership; and who has been an exemplary role model. The award honors Milton Hamolsky, M.D., a now-retired endocrinologist who came to Rhode Island Hospital in 1963 and served as the first full-time physician-in-chief. Hamolsky is also the retired chief administrative officer of the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline and a pioneer of medical education in Rhode Island.

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