From Shakespearean scholar to chief of staff: Doctor returns to serve hospital he was born in
Christopher DeAngelis, D.O., internal medicine, said he took a “circuitous route” to where he is today.
He studied Shakespeare at the University of Oxford in England; earned a Bachelor of Arts in English language and literature in Georgia; interned at CNN; worked in the family’s construction business; and ultimately received his medical degree in Chicago.
All of this led him right back to his birthplace: Corewell Health Trenton Hospital, where, in 2024, he was elected as chief of staff for a three-year term.
It’s a turn of events he never expected and sometimes can’t believe.
"As chief of staff, let me start by saying there's no greater honor than to be elected by one's peers to represent them,” he said. “I consider this a pinnacle of my career. After all, I was born at the same hospital where I now serve!”
Dr. DeAngelis has been practicing for more than 25 years. As an osteopathic physician, he aims to form long-term relationships with his patients for overall good health.
He lives, works and raises his family in his downriver community, which has supported him through the good and bad. He has raised four children in the community, but also lost his wife to breast cancer in 2013.
At that time, he stepped back from hospital commitments outside serving patients. But last year, colleagues encouraged him to run for chief of staff.
“In some respects, this is a rebirth for me as well,” he said. “Bringing me back to be involved with our medical community.”
His role as chief of staff is to oversee the quality of care, as it pertains to the hospital, and the credentialing of medical staff. It also includes chairing the hospital’s monthly medical executive committee and biannual medical staff meetings.
As part of his duties, Dr. DeAngelis rounds at the hospital daily and fields many calls and emails from physicians and administrators. Since taking the position, he’s committed to an open-door administrative day in the medical staff office each week.
“My position also means acting as booster or ‘cheerleader’ for our hospital as well,” he said. “I'm particularly excited about promoting things that we do exceptionally well, like acting as a regional trauma center or offering excellent pulmonary and cardiac rehab programs. We really do excel in so many ways including our cardiac, critical care, obstetrics and oncology areas of expertise, to name only a few.”
“The more we develop locally, the more our community benefits," he added.