Benjamin Whitfield, DO

Meet Benjamin Whitfield, DO

Board-Certified Hospitalist Bringing Medical and Social Work Training to Your Hospital Care in Santa Fe

Dr. Benjamin Whitfield is a board-certified hospitalist at CHRISTUS Health in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and he brings an uncommon combination of training to that experience. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. He also holds a Master of Social Work a background that gives him formal training in the psychosocial dimensions of patient care, including how your living situation, support system, and emotional well-being shape your recovery. At CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, he manages the care of adult patients admitted to the hospital, coordinating their diagnosis, treatment, and safe transition home.

Career at a Glance

• Board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Master of Social Work formal training in psychosocial assessment, behavioral health, and patient advocacy
• Family Medicine residency at East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, TN)
• Hospital-based practice available 24/7 at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center

Clinical Role

Dr. Whitfield practices hospital medicine at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe. As a hospitalist, he is the physician responsible for your care during a hospital admission from initial evaluation through treatment, daily rounds, specialist coordination, and discharge planning. His family medicine training gives him the clinical range to manage multiple conditions simultaneously, which is essential in the hospital setting where patients often present with overlapping medical problems. His osteopathic training adds a whole-body perspective to how he evaluates and treats each patient. He is trained to consider not just the medical facts of your case, but the practical realities, your support at home, your ability to follow a care plan after discharge, and the social factors that affect how well you heal.

He provides hospital-based care for conditions such as:

• Heart failure managing fluid balance, medications, and monitoring during acute episodes
• Chronic lung disease and COPD: treatment of flare-ups requiring hospitalization, including chronic bronchitis exacerbations
• Atrial fibrillation: heart rhythm management and evaluation during inpatient stays
• Pneumonia and respiratory infections: diagnosis and treatment when illness requires hospital-level care
• Intestinal diverticulitis: management of acute abdominal infections that need inpatient treatment
• Complex medical admissions: conditions requiring coordinated workup, multiple specialists, and close monitoring
• Discharge planning and care transitions: ensuring patients are medically ready and practically prepared to go home safely

What You Can Expect from Care with Dr. Whitfield

Patients describe Dr. Whitfield as a hospitalist who takes the time to assess the full picture, not just the most obvious problem. His reviews highlight a physician who listens carefully to patients and families, refuses to give up when a diagnosis isn't straightforward, and communicates clearly during daily rounds. He approaches your hospital stay with an awareness that healing doesn't happen in isolation: it depends on understanding, support, and a plan that makes sense for your real life, not just your chart.

You can expect:

• A thorough assessment of your full health situation, not just the condition that brought you to the hospital
• Clear explanations of your diagnosis, treatment plan, test results, and next steps during daily rounds
• A physician who listens to your concerns and your family's observations before making clinical decisions
• Coordination with specialists, nurses, social workers, and your primary care physician throughout your stay
• Thoughtful discharge planning that accounts for your medical needs, your home situation, and your follow-up care