"What do you think the big announcement could be," Jenna asked as they walked into the lecture hall.
"I know," Annie smirked.
"What is your family up to now," Julia asked.
"You'll see," Annie giggled.
"What do you know," Jenna asked.
"I can't say," Annie said.
They found seats with a bunch of other residents.
Bailey took the podium, "good morning ladies and gentlemen. I have a couple of announcements today before we begin. The first is that effective January first I will be stepping down as Chief of surgery. For the next few months Dr Teddy Altman will act as my deputy Chief of surgery while she learns the role here. I couldn't think of a better person to take on the role of Chief of surgery than dr Altman. Her background running hospitals for the military is invaluable to this role. I am aware of several changes to how we operate that she will be bringing in in the coming months. Please welcome your new Chief of surgery Dr Theodora Altman."
The room sounded with applause and several calls of "go mama Altman" from the fourth year residents.
Teddy took the podium, "good morning everyone I know most of you know me and I've had the pleasure of working with many of you over the last few years. I've worked in many hospitals and roles in my career but Grey Sloan is home. This is where I've worked with some of the most amazing people, raised two generations of residents the first of whom are now attendings and department heads and my second group are now my go to senior residents. As dr Bailey said this will be a gradual transition that won't fully take effect until January first. I'm looking forward to learning the nuances of the role here at Grey Sloan over the next three months. I do have some changes I'm going to work with Dr Bailey to begin implementing right away. The first being that all fellowship, resident and intern schedules must be cleared by me prior to their publication. We have had ongoing challenges for the past three years with poor scheduling for these groups and I'm going to take immediate action to correct it. Also over the next few months I intend to meet with all of you one on one to get to know you and where you see our strengths and weaknesses as well as what you need to be most successful, I will be emailing out a calendar please sign up for a time without me having to come look for you. Department chiefs I encourage you to meet with your entire department including residents to come up with a plan for the next 12 months of how you're going to grow including what you need for funding. At this time I would like to introduce to you your new deputy Chief of surgery who will also be starting January first Dr Meghan Hunt."
"Meghan," Josh whispered, "I thought she'd name Owen."
"He hated being Chief and she'll want him where he is in trauma," Annie said, "he was Chief when we were in med school. He didn't like the admin side."
"Thank you Chief Altman," Meghan smiled joining Teddy, "now we have a better way of distinguishing between our two Altman's. I'd like to be the first to say congratulations to the new Chief. I'm also excited to be joining Teddy who has been my best friend and sister for many years in leading this hospital. While Teddy meets with the doctors on staff I will be meeting with the nurses and other staff to get a lay of the land. I am very excited to be taking on this new role."
Bailey returned, "over the next few weeks please come to any of the three of us. Residents you need copies of your time sheets to Dr Altman by the end of the day for the last two months including your OR logs. We also have a lecture today from Dr Webber for all residents so residents are asked to stay where they are. The rest of you are free to go."
Annie turned to her friends, "I told you it was good news."
"How long have you known," Julia asked.
"Since June," Annie laughed.
"And you didn't say anything," Cassidy asked.
"It wasn't mine to say," Annie replied.
"You okay with this," Jenna asked.
"It's fine," Annie replied, "you heard her. The first thing she wants to do is work out our schedule problems. Maybe actually do 80 a week and be home at the same time as my husband."
"You still like that word too much," Cassidy laughed.
"Leave my wife alone," Josh joked.
"You've been married a few months now give it up," Jenna teased.
"You don't live with them," Duncan laughed, "this is nothing."
"Your welcome to move out if you don't want to live with newlyweds," Annie teased, only half joking.
"I'm just saying you're a bit much at home," Duncan replied.
"Get used to it," Josh said, "I can kiss my wife anytime I want."
"Not when I'm in surgery," Annie teased.
"We get it you're in love and happily married," Jenna replied, "now you need to help me get that hot brother of yours."
"Sadly still with Becky," Annie rolled her eyes, "and he's stationed in Edmonton Alberta."
"You hate Becky," Jenna said, "and Chris is hot."
"A that's my brother so gross," Annie laughed, "B his Canadian. Yes I have dual but only because I was born in Texas. Both his parents are Canadian."
"We'll work it out," Jenna replied, "still doesn't solve why you hate Becky."
"I went to high school and youth group with her," Annie replied, "she was dumb as a box of rocks then and worse now. She's lazy and just wants to get married and have babies."
"But they are not married," Jenna said.
"Thankfully," Annie replied, "he's thinking about breaking up with her before his medevac course."
"Medevac, what does he do? I know he's in the air force," Duncan said.
"Helicopter pilot," Annie replied, "pretty good pilot I think. He wants to learn the medical side of medevac."
"You're okay with this," Julia asked.
"It's probably safer to do medevac then the other helicopters. And that he's interested in the medical side is cool," Annie replied, "it doesn't worry me as much as it would other people. Mama and uncle Owen have explained a lot of it to me. They have surgeons as good as mama and uncle Owen out there if something happens. But Chris is a good pilot, he'll be fine."
Owen stepped up to the podium to begin his lecture on trauma and the importance of completing their trauma hours and certifications.
Owen met Teddy in the pit after his lecture, "congratulations chief."
"Owen we've already talked about this," Teddy replied.
"But now it's official," Owen laughed.
"It is," Teddy beamed.
Owen picked her up , "I'm proud of you Altman."
"Owen Hunt put me down," Teddy giggled.
"Chief Altman has a nice ring to it," Owen smiled.
"I like this title," Teddy agreed, "I'm going to insist on it being used."
"The fourth years were excited," Owen replied.
"Chief is so much better than mama," Teddy smiled, "but they do that out of love for me."
"They love you," Owen said, "but you also feed them."
"I'll have to keep it fair now," Teddy replied.
"We can still see Annie's friends," Owen said.
"We will," Teddy smiled, "but unless one of those girls gets married theres no big celebrations for them for a while."
"Annie and Josh are the only couple," Owen laughed.
"That group doesn't date. I don't get it," Teddy said, "they've been our lowest drama group of residents. Especially thinking of the grey, Karev and yang years."
"Only one couple, none of them tried dating attendings," Owen laughed, "they keep their heads down and work."
"Not all," Teddy replied, "Annie's group works hard the rest float behind them. As I said all schedules now go through me. I am getting to the bottom of this once and for all."
"Really," Owen said.
"I've been begging Bailey to let me do this for three years," Teddy replied, "it's wrong and I'm getting it fixed."
"So chief when do I meet with you about my department," Owen asked.
"I was thinking about my office maybe now," Teddy giggled, "or we can wait and discuss it with some wine after dinner."
"Incoming trauma 10 minutes out," a voice yelled.
"That will have to be tonight then chief Altman," Owen smiled before giving Teddy a quick hug and a gentle peck.
Annie walked into the pit, "incoming heart attack."
"Pretty causal there," Teddy said.
"I have 8," Annie replied, "will be in the ambulance bay when they arrive. Congratulations mama."
"Thanks sweetheart," Teddy replied.
"It's my week to do Sunday dinner. Can we celebrate then," Annie asked.
"Owen and I are tonight," Teddy smiled.
"I'll do something fun. Roast chicken," Annie suggested.
"I'd like that," Teddy smiled, "can I bring anything?"
"No we're celebrating you," Annie replied, "dessert request?"
"No go deal with your heart attack," Teddy commanded.
"No attending," Annie smiled, "I like this."
"I'm here if you need me," Teddy smiled, "run it."
Annie ran to meet the ambulance directing interns as she went. Teddy noticed the interns had to be asked two or three times to do what was asked. She couldn't decide if it was Annie's leadership or the group of interns.
"When I say to do something you do it now," Annie commanded.
"He's not critical," the intern snapped.
"He's coding," Annie called, she smacked the code button.
Annie ran the code while the interns stood back.
"Either help me or get out," Annie roared.
"What do you need dr," Teddy asked, waking in.
"My interns doing what they're told," Annie snapped, "he's coded once. I want a chest xray and the portable ultrasound."
"You heard her," Teddy snapped.
The interns left.
"They've been here how long and still can't do a code," Annie snapped.
"You didn't give enough leadership," Teddy said, "take them to the lab and practice it with them. That should be second nature for them."
Annie ordered her interns to do the tests she needed.
"We're going to the OR," Annie replied, "those arteries are so blocked I need to do this open."
"Why," Teddy asked.
"The coronary artery is blocked. I want to do a CABG," Annie replied.
"Let's go then," Teddy replied.
"Book an OR," Annie demanded, "call the bloodbank and get me as much O neg as you can."
Annie looked at the interns there was one that had helped with the code, "Plant your scrubbing in. The rest of you post and pre ops, then go see Josh Riggs in the pit."
"You're getting your husband to babysit again," an intern asked.
"Dr Altman may I scrub in," another intern asked.
"No," Teddy replied, "you disrespected your resident and were useless during the code. Maybe you can earn it back."
"You have my pre and post ops," Annie replied, "and you're on scut."
"Scut," the intern gasped.
"You heard me," Annie replied, "go and study your code protocols when you're done."
Annie ran the patient to the OR and scrubbed in while the intern did pre op.
"Chief mama," Annie said while they scrubbed.
"Chief Altman," Teddy replied, "and everyone will use it."
"Really," Annie asked, "Bailey is Doctor."
"Because it's a title or a rank I respect that," Teddy said.
"Bragging rights," Annie asked.
"I earned this," Teddy smiled.
"You did," Annie replied, "it's what you did in Germany. You loved that."
"I did," Teddy agreed, "making real change and moving the hospital forward influencing the direction."
"What else do you have planned," Annie asked.
"Fixing the hours issues first," Teddy replied, "then you'll see. I need to meet with each department and doctor. I need to see where people are at before I bring in my ideas. I made big changes in Germany but I got people on my side first."
"Did you mean it about residents being included," Annie asked.
"Yes you will have a proper meeting with me," Teddy replied, "in my office
"Really," Annie asked, "we talk all the time."
"I have a formal list of questions we need to discuss," Teddy commanded.
"Really an office meeting," Annie groaned.
"No favoritism," Teddy said, "I have to be completely impartial."
"Really," Annie complained.
"Yes and we will discuss your lack of leadership," Teddy said, "you are going to step it up."
"I'm trying," Annie replied.
"No more trying Annie it's time to do it," Teddy commanded, "now I'm going to watch you do this surgery. You don't need me for it."
"I can do this," Annie agreed as she approached her patient.