Salah G. Keyrouz, MD, FAHA

2023 Dean’s Impact Award Recipient

As chief of the Section of Neurological Critical Care, Salah G. Keyrouz, MD, demonstrated outstanding leadership and exceptional clinical service that exceeded what could be expected of even the most committed physician in a time of crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic our critical care physicians covered shifts in other intensive care units (ICUs) throughout the hospital to assist with the surge of critically ill patients with COVID-19. During this time, Keyrouz met with his faculty weekly to update them on the status of the pandemic and constant operational changes. In a time when finding the right balance between sufficient communication and not overwhelming providers with information, our critical care physicians felt informed, supported and motivated to step up to this challenge. All critical care providers volunteered for extra shifts and were proud of the contribution they were making — a situation attributable to Keyrouz’s leadership and personal commitment to our patients and his faculty in face of this challenge. The Neurology and Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit bed capacity changed constantly to accept overflow patients. Keyrouz coordinated with colleagues in vascular neurology, neurosurgery and hospital leadership to find solutions for caring for neurological critically ill patients while expanding capacity to care for COVID-19 patients throughout the system. He created schedules, communicated with faculty and leadership, reassured providers and did this while serving on the front lines, taking more shifts than anyone else in the department. His inspirational self-sacrifice and unwavering leadership allowed the critical care team to meet the challenge of that difficult time.