It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of David S. Im, M.D., as the new 9C MPLAN (“Medical Directors Partnering to Lead Along with Nurse Managers”) Medical Director effective January 1, 2021. In this role, Dr. Im will provide clinical and operational leadership to 9C (Michigan Medicine's Adult Inpatient Psychiatry). He will partner with Karen Hilderbrand, MSN, BSN, RN-BC, Clinical Nursing Director of Psychiatric Nursing, to lead the unit in implementation of strategies to ensure optimal clinical care, improve access, and provide strategic vision for the unit.
Dr. Im received his M.D. in 1995 from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing his general psychiatry residency here in 2000 where he served as Chief Resident in his final year. Deciding to stay with the University of Michigan, he spent the next three years completing a Fellowship in Child Psychiatry (2002) and a Fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry (2005). After training, Dr. Im took an appointment from 2003-2018 as a staff psychiatrist for the State of Michigan’s Center for Forensic Psychiatry. Over the course of the last 10 years, he has been able to progressively advance into various leadership roles, including Director of the Center for Forensic Psychiatry. In 2019, he decided to return to the academic medical center setting and we were fortunate enough to recruit him back to Michigan Medicine. He currently serves as Assistant Medical Director of 9C and also consults on faculty issues for the Office of Clinical Affairs.
Dr. Im has a strong specialty and sub-specialty psychiatric foundation, which has positioned him well for practicing in a multidisciplinary role. He is triple boarded in general psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry, giving him a unique perspective on the mind-body dyad, the patient-doctor relationship, and the psycho-cultural dynamics of healthcare delivery.
Current Medical Director Dr. Laura Hirshbein has agreed to stay in the position until December 31, 2020. Laura has served with distinction and diligence in this role since October 2013 and we thank her for her tremendous dedication to our patients, staff, and department.
Dr. Im brings years of clinical expertise, a strong administrative background, and a passion for excellence in teaching to this role. We look forward to his leadership. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Im on his new appointment.
Sincerely,
Gregory W. Dalack, M.D.
Daniel E. Offutt, III Professor & Chair
Lisa S. Seyfried, M.D.
Service Chief, Adult Hospital Services
