SHM’s North Bay Chapter, founded in 2024, was born out of a desire to restore connection after the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter covers an area of California that is north of San Francisco and Sacramento, up to the Oregon border, and currently has about 45 members.
Dr. Razavi
“My vision was to have a space for hospitalists to come together outside of work to socialize, network, and participate in educational activities while enjoying good food,” said Behzad Razavi, MD, FACP, CPE, SFHM, who chairs the chapter and is the hospitalist program director at Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center, a 208-bed community hospital in Napa, Calif. He’s also the regional associate medical director of Hospitalist Programs at Providence Medical Network in northern California.
“I witnessed a lot of burnout during the pandemic, and envisioned a chapter that would offer a safe space for hospitalists to socialize with others and discuss current challenges,” Dr. Razavi said.
As in a startup, Dr. Razavi said a lot of motivation, energy, and hope went into forming the chapter. “As a new chapter, we aren’t bound by any expectations and can design meetings and activities that fit members’ needs and local culture,” he said.
The new chapter has faced a few challenges, however. Unlike the other four SHM chapters in California, North Bay is a non-academic chapter and not affiliated with a university.
The absence of an academic affiliation has made sponsorship more challenging. Sponsors play a critical role in covering meeting expenses, from speaker honoraria to venue and food costs. Without consistent institutional backing, the chapter has had to be resourceful. At times, gatherings have been held in local restaurants, where conversations became the central feature rather than a formal presentation, or held in a hospital conference room to forgo a venue cost.
Thus far, Dr. Razavi has found pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, health systems, local wineries, and a malpractice insurance agency to serve as sponsors.
Another logistical challenge stems from the chapter’s large coverage area of more than 20 counties, which makes it difficult to plan events that are convenient for all members. To address this, the last two chapter meetings offered a virtual attendance option. In addition, the chapter is exploring a geographic rotation calendar so that more hospitalists across the region are given opportunities to attend.
Looking ahead, the chapter has identified several strategic priorities, including expanding membership, securing engaging speakers for every gathering, and maintaining a welcoming, dynamic atmosphere.
Its first presentation focused on the future landscape of healthcare. Participants explored the expanding roles hospitalists play in leadership, quality improvement, research, and system-wide change management.
At another meeting, a speaker presented a fun exploration of medical myths—debating whether “beauty sleep” has scientific merit and humorously investigating which specialties consume the most coffee in hospital settings.
Discussions have also delved into pressing clinical matters, such as strategies to reduce hospital length of stay, initiatives to lower sepsis mortality rates, and the broader ways hospitalists can influence the trajectory of inpatient care.
A future presentation in 2026 by a malpractice insurance carrier will examine current trends in the liability landscape of hospital medicine and offer practical guidance on risk mitigation.
As the chapter’s leader, Dr. Razavi said he loves bringing people together and using the opportunity to build a larger hospitalist community where attendees can learn from each other or from speakers.
Dr. Razavi believes that chapter members benefit by being part of a larger hospitalist community. “We try to mix professional networking opportunities and educational programs with a fun atmosphere and activities, such as having a raffle at the end of each meeting,” he said. “This approach has helped us to build a community that feels supportive, approachable, and truly ours.”
To engage members, functions are designed to feel welcoming, useful, and informal. “Events are simple, social, and relevant, which makes it easier for people to show up and connect,” Dr. Razavi said. Decorations and background music set a relaxing mood.
Events offer a mix of practical education in a social setting to help members feel comfortable sharing ideas. As a small chapter, everyone is given the chance to participate in the chapter’s direction and have a leadership role if interested.
The chapter also aims to include service-line hospitalists and others in related professions, such as palliative workers, allied health providers, and hospitalist program administrative support staff. They’re invited to meetings and are offered discounted SHM membership rates. By broadening its circle, the chapter recognizes that hospital medicine is inherently collaborative and that a stronger community benefits all who contribute to inpatient care.
“We want to make sure that everyone has a good time and spreads the word about our chapter,” Dr. Razavi said. In that spirit, the chapter continues to grow—not only in numbers, but in purpose—cultivating a professional home that feels supportive, fun, and inclusive.
Karen Appold is an award-winning journalist based in Lehigh Valley, Pa.