Peer Perspectives: Andre Hollingsworth, MD, FACP, FAAP

Internal Medicine Associate Program Director 
Internal Medicine Section Chief
Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital
Grand Rapids, MI

Clinical Assistant Professor
Michigan State College of Human Medicine
Grand Rapids, MI

Medical Director
Baxter Wholistic Health Clinic
Grand Rapids, MI

1. What is your current professional position?

I am currently an Internal Medicine Associate Program Director as well as Section Chief of Internal Medicine at Trinity Health Grand Rapids in Michigan. I am also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Michigan State College of Human Medicine. Additionally, I am the Medical Director of Baxter Community Center Wholistic Clinic in Grand Rapids. Clinically speaking, my role is a hybrid role of outpatient primary care and hospitalist medicine that involves teaching and precepting residents.

2. Why did you choose internal medicine?

Going into medical school I knew I wanted to be a pediatrician. However, during my last rotation as a third-year medical student, I had my internal medicine rotation and loved it. I then heard about med/peds as a specialty and chose it because of the depth, breadth, and ability to take care of the full spectrum of patients. 

3. What trends are you seeing in your day-to-day practice (with patients, the health care system, or otherwise)?

I think there are a few trends that I have been witnessing over the past several years both in my day-to-day practice and in medicine overall. One of the biggest is the use of AI to help with both information/data gathering and efficiency, given time constraints in the primary care/office-based setting. As for the acute/hospital setting, I think patients are coming in with more chronic conditions and with higher acuity, making care even more complex. In addition to these things, I have been seeing a shift toward more of a work–life balance for physicians and focus on physician well-being especially post-COVID, which I think is essential for helping to avoid burnout.

4. What do you want to accomplish professionally within the next five years?

I want to continue to refine my diagnostic and management skills across a wide spectrum of conditions and continue to hone my skills as a teaching physician. I would also like to get my MBA potentially to gain essential business, leadership, and strategic skills to complement my clinical expertise.

5. Can you share a brief (and anonymous) patient encounter or professional situation that made you proud to be an internal medicine physician?

I have many patient encounters that make me proud to be an internal medicine physician, but there is a recent encounter that has made me very proud. I had a patient who was suffering from chronic pain, which was debilitating to the point they were unable to work. The patient had seen many different pain specialists and gone through injections and physical therapy, all with little to minor relief. The patient simply said, “No one is listening to me.” I simply asked the patient, “What are your goals and what would you like to be able to do?” The patient stated, “I just want to be able to work and finish college.” After a little further discussion, revisiting prior medications, we settled on a medication that has now allowed the patient to attend college and go back to work. Seeing the patient be able to work toward their goals and being able to see the progress is why I love internal medicine.