Emory Hillandale Hospital
Investing in What Matters Most
A great community deserves a great hospital. This is why the team of employees at Emory Hillandale Hospital are so dedicated to the work we do here in DeKalb County, Georgia.
Emory Hillandale Hospital joined Emory Healthcare in 2018, bringing together the innovation of an academic medical center and a high-quality, deeply rooted community hospital. Since then, we’ve continued our dedication to finding new ways to provide you with the very best family-centered care.
One recent example is the expansion of our intensive care unit and emergency department. The $12 million project was funded by DeKalb County, with leadership from county commissioners and DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. We’re grateful to them and the Emory Healthcare Board—particularly Board Member Greg Levett—who played critical roles in bringing this project to life.
But it’s not all about our high-tech innovation and renovated spaces. What really makes our hospital shine are the physicians and employees who bring their best to work every day.
In this video series, we’ll introduce you to some of these special people as they share how Emory Hillandale is making a difference in DeKalb County and beyond.
We think you’ll agree that Emory Hillandale Hospital is more than a health care organization. We’re a vital community member you can count on now and in the years to come.
Learn More About Our Investment in Our Community
Emory Hillandale Hospital is expanding thanks to a recent grant from DeKalb County. Learn more about recent improvements at Emory Hillandale Hospital and sign up for the Emory Health Source newsletter.
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A Front-Row Seat to the Transformation
Jen Schuck, Chief Executive Officer
When DeKalb County commissioners gave Emory Hillandale Hospital $12 million in 2022, it was more than a gift. It was an investment in our community’s future.
Fast-forward two years, and you can see we’ve put those funds to good use. Today, our redesigned emergency department has additional triage and exam rooms, advanced imaging technology and an expanded waiting area. And our new ICU is nearly twice the size of our previous one. That means more patients can stay here, close to home, when they need care.
Seeing this transformation up close has been exciting for Jen Schuck. As the hospital’s chief executive officer, she’s worked closely with other Emory Healthcare leaders, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond and county commissioners to make it happen. “This project reflects our shared commitment to providing the care we know our community needs,” she says. “I couldn’t be more thankful for the county’s support and partnership as we continue to do great things at Emory Hillandale.”
“Without Emory Hillandale Hospital here, folks have to travel quite a distance to get to the next nearest hospital.”
Emory Hillandale Hospital is a Gem
Edna Brisco, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer
Many of our devoted employees don’t just work here. They live in Lithonia and other nearby communities. And some, like Chief Nursing Officer Edna Brisco, have been at Emory Hillandale for many years. One quality our employees share is that their dedication comes from the heart.
“All of us are working really hard to ensure our patients receive the care they deserve,” says Edna, who started working at Emory Hillandale in 2005. “Teamwork is extremely important, and I feel Emory Hillandale has found its way. We have an amazing team of folks who understand how to function as a unit.”
Edna is often inspired by her nursing colleagues, who seem to put a little extra love into all they do. “Our nurses are kind and compassionate and truly invested in ensuring that patients receive the care you want for your mom, your dad, your grandparents, someone you love. That’s important to me.”
“Investing in our people and having the resources, technology, and all the latest and greatest out there is very important for us because we want to make sure that we provide our patients with the very best of care.”
A Culture of Caring
Eva Williams, Unit Director, Emergency Department
Eva Williams knows that a close-knit team can make all the difference in patient care. That’s why, on a sunny day, you might find her outside at the grill, flipping burgers for a staff get-together.
“We are building a great culture and ensuring that new team members understand how important teamwork is to our culture,” says Eva, unit director for the Emory Hillandale emergency department. “We also want to make sure people feel welcomed and engaged. So we sometimes have great potlucks, or the unit leaders will cook breakfast for everyone. It’s a way to get to know one another.”
Buffalo wings and brownies aren’t the only items on the menu. These gatherings help build a culture of camaraderie and trust. As Eva says, “The greater the culture of your unit is, the better care patients will receive.”
“Just to see the investment, hard work and heart the team pours into our unit makes me very proud.”
A Long-Standing Commitment to High-Quality Care
Theodore Anuebunwa, MD, Internal Medicine
Dr. Theodore Anuebunwa has seen “tremendous changes” at Emory Hillandale since joining the medical staff in 2013. The most recent were updates to our intensive care unit (ICU) and emergency department (ED) in 2023. We added three ED treatment rooms, replaced critical imaging equipment, and renovated and doubled the size of our ICU.
What hasn’t changed over the years is our commitment to high-quality care. Dr. Anuebunwa, a hospitalist, sees that commitment in action every day. “We talk to each other. We help each other out and discuss how to improve the care,” he says. “Everybody’s working and discussing how best to help the patient get a good hospital stay and discharge home safely.”
Dr. Anuebunwa is proud of Emory Hillandale’s transformation. And he’s excited to be part of whatever comes next.
“I think it’s important for every community to have someplace to get good health care.”
“I’ve Never Said, ‘It’s Not My Job.’”
Craig Greene, Operations Manager, Public Safety
Public Safety Shift Supervisor Craig Greene follows a set routine at Emory Hillandale Hospital. But every day is different. He rounds each floor to check in with nurses and responds to calls from various departments needing assistance. He patrols the parking lot and other public areas to look for safety hazards. Craig also escorts patients into the building and directs them to their destination.
Some days are non-stop. Every day is rewarding. Craig says he is proud of his work because it helps employees, patients and visitors feel safe and secure. “We’re a community for all DeKalb County and for Lithonia,” he says. “We want them to know, ‘Hey, you’ve got a home here. We’re going to take care of you. We’re going to treat you right.’”
“As I always say, ‘There’s no ‘I’ in team.’ I help anybody out the best way I can. I’ve never said, ‘It’s not my job.’”
Living Out Our Values Through Community Service
Janikqua Cutno, Director, Violence Prevention Program
Janikqua Cutno is a social worker who is passionate about connecting people to each other and the resources they need to thrive. Working at Emory Hillandale Hospital gives her opportunities to do that every day.
Janikqua leads a program whose mission is to curb gun violence in our communities. Funded by a $1 million grant from the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, the program focuses on prevention, intervention and healing. If successful at Emory Hillandale, we hope to share it with other cities and health care systems.
Collaboration is essential, Janikqua says. She works alongside leaders at Emory Hillandale and other community organizations. Together, they ensure the program reflects values and priorities that are important to everyone. That’s what being a partner is all about.
“There’s not a single person that I’ve encountered at this hospital that is not willing to help, is not willing to support, is not willing to pitch in even where their role doesn’t require it.”
Here When You Need Us
Ovid Barrow, MD, Hospital Medicine
We hope you never need to visit our newly reimagined emergency department (ED). But it’s reassuring to know that our expert physicians and staff are here to help if a medical crisis arises.
If you need us, we’ll ensure you have what you need to heal. That might mean asking a specialist to see you in the ED, transferring you to an inpatient bed or sending you home with detailed care instructions to keep you safe.
“I love to teach, especially in my community, where I can educate people and help them avoid coming to the hospital or returning after an ED visit,” says Ovid Barrow, MD, an emergency medicine doctor at Emory Hillandale. “We don’t see you for one time. It’s not for a visit, but for life.”
At Emory Hillandale Hospital, You are Always Welcome
Sharon Kelly, Patient Access Representative
Sharon is one of the first people you’ll meet when you come to Emory Hillandale Hospital for surgery. She knows you might be a little nervous. It’s her job to get you registered, answer your questions and put your mind at ease.
The role comes naturally to Sharon. Not just because she’s friendly and knowledgeable. But also because she feels at home at Emory Hillandale and wants you to feel the same way. Sharon lives nearby, and her friends work at Emory Hillandale, too.
“People in the community, I hear them talk; they really love Emory. They feel safe and secure.”
“If you live out here for work, you bring on a more personal touch with folks out here, I think,” Sharon says. “You find employees more willing to help you if you’re having a problem with anything…You feel like you belong here.”
That’s because you do.
The Importance of Listening
Brenda Lencerot, Food & Nutrition Associate
As a food and nutrition associate at Emory Hillandale Hospital, Brenda Lencerot serves visitors throughout her shift at the hospital cafeteria. But for years, she says, she would work with patients in a variety of ways – visiting their floors, talking to them about menu options, and giving advice about their diets.
“I feel like I play a big part in their healing,” Brenda says. Some patients just want to talk for a few moments, especially if their family may not be able to visit that day, and Brenda is happy to listen. She knows these conversations ensure patients feel seen, heard and loved. “It makes me feel better when I can make the patients feel better.”
For Brenda, the more than 28 years at Emory Hillandale has always been a team effort, which she values. And she lives in the community – so she frequently refers her friends and family to the hospital. “Y’all just come on into Hillandale,” she says. The most important thing Brenda witnesses at the hospital every day? “The compassion,” she says. “You don’t wake up and say, ‘I want to go to the hospital,’” she explains, “But Emory Hillandale welcomes you with open arms, and Emory is going to make you feel better.”
“Coming in every day, we’re like one big family. We all have different tasks, and at the end of the day, everybody plays a big part, so it’s like one big team.
A Hospital That Values Employees
Maria Badillo, Environmental Services
Cleaning patient rooms is about more than appearances. It protects patients and families from infection and helps them feel safer.
That’s why Maria Badillo takes her job in environmental services so seriously. She is proud of her work and knows patients appreciate it.
Maria says her manager and teammates value her work, too. When challenges arise, everyone pulls together. At the end of the day, it’s a good feeling to see how much they can accomplish together.
“I think I’ll be at Emory Hillandale for another 10 or 20 years.”
“I Feel Like I’m Actually Making a Difference.”
Quanghuy Vu, MD, Internal Medicine
Dr. Quanghuy Vu’s favorite part of his job is sending patients home after a hospital stay. It’s a reminder that he makes an impact on people’s lives.
As a hospital medicine specialist, Dr. Vu works with many other providers to help patients heal. He describes them not just as colleagues but as family members. “We know each other personally,” he says. “We trust each other, and that just becomes better for patient care.”
Dr. Vu adds that Emory Hillandale Hospital offers endless potential for professional growth. And what better place to grow than with people you respect and enjoy?
What Do Patient Care and Jigsaw Puzzles Have in Common?
Michael Rubin, MD, Medical Director, Emergency Department
Working with people you respect and admire is a good feeling. In the hospital setting, it also results in better care.
That’s something Dr. Michael Rubin, our emergency department medical director, appreciates after eight years at Emory Hillandale. “Everyone works so well together,” he explains. “The head of the intensive care unit, the head of the hospital, general surgery, vascular surgery; we all know each other well. That’s nice because we can work towards that common goal of patient care. It’s really like a family.”
When patients have complex needs, a team approach is critical. In these moments, Dr. Rubin encourages every provider to share their insights. “If you don’t take all those perspectives together, you can’t figure out how the jigsaw puzzle comes together,” he explains. “And when you figure out how to complete the jigsaw puzzle, that’s how you provide the best care.”
Where You Start Your Health Care Matters
At Emory Healthcare, we’re here to help you find the care you need when you need it. As the most trusted health care brand in Georgia, we have more than 3,450 doctors and approximately 500 locations including 11 hospitals, primary care offices and urgent care centers.
When you choose Emory Healthcare, you have access to the benefits of an academic health system. By combining clinical care, education and research, our care team works to provide exceptional patient care, using emerging technologies, extensive resources and innovative therapies.
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