Working for a Top Hospital

A day in the life of Gaylord Scott Rose, MD, one of the physicians who make Inova standout

Recently, Inova was named a top hospital by the prestigious U.S. News and World Report, coming in at No. 1 in the Washington, D.C., metro area. The report also noted that Inova is nationally ranked in gynecologic care and is also high performing in numerous clinical and surgical areas. What’s it like to work at a top hospital? We asked Gaylord Scott Rose, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute and the Mid Atlantic Gynecologic Oncology and Pelvic Surgery Associates.

Q: What led you to join Inova?

Dr. Rose: In a way, Inova joined what I was doing. I was in the military for 24 years and did my obstetrics and gynecology residency at Tripler Army Medical Center before doing a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of California Irvine. From there, I was running a fellowship training program at Walter Reed and our fellowship program merged with Inova Fairfax. I was very interested in continuing that blend of academic work with clinical private practice, and Inova offered that opportunity.

At that time, I had other options in terms of where I could take my career, but I really appreciated the way that Inova was just as dedicated as I was to educate the next generation of physicians. They’re very tuned into trying to create more leaders in the field of gynecologic care, so it’s not surprising that they received such a top ranking.

Q: In addition to supporting its physicians, what else makes Inova stand apart for you?

Dr. Rose: Inova provides very patient- and family-centered care. That’s incredibly important for the patients I treat because I deal with cancer, and that necessitates caring for a patient’s family as well. This is a very stressful, disruptive and emotionally difficult time for patients and their families. So, as a provider, I want to do everything I can to give them a positive experience in the midst of a challenging time. Inova puts the patients first, so it makes it easier to do that. Not every healthcare institution does that. But here, it’s the top priority.

Q: Likely, there’s no typical day for you, but what do you tend to do the most?

Dr. Rose: Well, we’re surgeons, so we’re in the operating room for large portions of the day. But in terms of other events, I spend a good deal of time talking with patients and their families. Sometimes, I don’t get out of surgery until the evening, but even then, I make my rounds because it’s important to have that connection. And I don’t mean just for the patients, it’s important for me, too, because oncology can be challenging for the doctors and nurses as well. Spending time listening to each other, laughing with one another, feeling emotional attachments, it’s all part of establishing relationships that show you care.

What’s crucial to note about Inova is that, as oncologists, we see a patient from diagnosis all the way through their treatment and beyond. They don’t shuffled from doctor to doctor, so that one is doing the diagnosis and another is doing the surgery and another is talking to them about chemotherapy. My patients see me for all of that, and that type of consistency is comforting. They know I’ll be here for them, no matter what, and Inova provides the opportunity to offer that. That’s what makes it a world-class place.

Learn more about the Inova Schar Cancer Institute.

RELATED: U.S. News & World Report Names Inova Fairfax Medical Campus #1 Hospital in DC Area