David E Willens, MD, MPH, FACP

Title

Division Head, Academic Internal Medicine

Biographical Statement

Dr. Willens is a Metro Detroit native and also grew up in beautiful Northern Michigan. He has experience in urban internal medicine practice, medical education, population health, and health systems research. He completed Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2007, Emory University Primary Care Internal Medicine residency in 2010, and both a fellowship in healthcare quality improvement through the Veterans Administration and a masters of public health from Vanderbilt University in 2012. He specializes in team-based care for chronic and complex diseases, and medical education of quality improvement. Joining the Henry Ford Hospital Faculty in 2012 as an Associate Program Director, he became the division’s Director of Ambulatory Quality and Medical Education. He led the development of an innovative ambulatory care and education model, which was featured in a congressional whitepaper by the US Department Of Health & Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (https://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/systems/primary-care/workforce-financing/case-example6.html). In 2017 he became the Division Head of Academic Internal Medicine. He is passionate and committed to its continued growth as a leader and innovator in clinical care, population health, medical education and research.
In his spare time you can find him with his family and friends, hiking or jogging, or finding dining adventures.

Care Philosophy

To improve my patient's wellness, I look at the whole patient - body and mind. I try to give my patients the information and advice they need to be in the driver's seat of their health.
As an internal medicine physician, I focus on helping patients live better lives by managing their chronic diseases (like hypertension and diabetes) and preventing future illnesses. My patient care is guided by my experience as a specialist in population health and quality improvement.
I work with teams of resident doctors, nurses, medical assistants, health psychologists, social workers, and community health workers. All of us use our strengths to care for the patients we share.

Awards & Honors:

• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society
• Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society