Padageshwar Sunkara

Board-certified physician executive and informatics leader with a proven record of designing, launching, and scaling innovative care models.

Associate

Professor of Medicine and Medical Director, Hospital at Home, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Expert in Epic Systems, AI-driven clinical operations, and quality improvement. Recognized for transforming care delivery, optimizing workflows, and leading multidisciplinary teams through complex change.

Medical Director, Claims Adjudication and Payment Integrity (CAPI) - Humana

(2026-01)

• Lead and collaborate with a team of clinicians, nurse auditors with claims management
• Oversee DRG adjudications, Short stay and Readmission related workflows

Medical Director, Hospital at Home - Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist / Advocate Health

(2020-01 - 2025-12)

• Led team of 50+ clinicians with CMS waiver Hospital at Home (HaH) program implementation
• Designed, implemented, scaled, innovative outpatient HaH pathway with over 37,000 patient encounters
• Principal Investigator for AI/LLM clinical documentation efficiency and workflow optimization

Physician Leader, Clinical Informatics & Analytics - Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist / Advocate Health

(2017-01 - 2025-12)

• Drove EHR optimization, analytics, and digital transformation for Hospital Medicine with over 120 clinical FTE
• Epic AI Integration Leader: Implemented NLP and AI tools to streamline clinician workflows across a multi-hospital system
• Led informatics/data analytics for NIH- and foundation-funded trials (NEST, SMART-BP, REACH-IT)

Medical Director, Hospital Medicine Units - Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist / Advocate Health

(2016-01 - 2021-12)

• Directed multiple units, supervised 10+ physicians/6+ APPs, and led QI initiatives (PATH, PROC, standardized handoffs)

Medical Director, COVID-19 Respiratory Care & Observation Units - Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist / Advocate Health

(2020-01 - 2021-12)

• Led pandemic response and operational protocols for respiratory care units

Medical Director, Observation Unit (8-Reynolds) - Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist / Advocate Health

(2018-01 - 2020-12)

• Established and managed a second-level observation unit, optimizing patient flow and care for observation status patients

Adjunct Associate Professor, Internal Medicine - Wake Forest University School of Medicine

(2026-01)

Associate Professor, Internal Medicine - Wake Forest University School of Medicine

(2023-01 - 2025-12)

• Developed curricula in Hospital at Home, Clinical Informatics, and Hospital Medicine
• Led QI and research initiatives, mentored trainees, and delivered national/international presentations

Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine - Wake Forest University School of Medicine

(2017-01 - 2023-12)

Chief Medical Resident, Internal Medicine - Albert Einstein College of Medicine / SBH Health System

(2014-01 - 2015-12)

• Managed 82 residents, designed teaching curricula, and led QI projects

Master of Management in Clinical Informatics - Clinical Informatics - Duke University School of Medicine (2018-01 - 2018-12)

MD - Medicine - Albert Einstein College of Medicine / SBH Health System (2015-01 - 2015-12)

MBBS - Medicine - Osmania Medical College (2009-01 - 2009-12)