Kienle Center for Humanistic Medicine presents 2022 Humanitarian awards

Penn State College of Medicine’s Kienle Center for Humanistic Medicine, part of the Department of Humanities, honored three health care professionals and a medical student with 2022 Humanitarian awards.

“We are proud to bestow these awards to very special individuals who provided humanitarian care and who exhibit extraordinary empathy in our health care settings,” said Kienle Director Claire de Boer. “Each of these awardees has made an honorable impact by compassionately providing care that is inclusive and sensitive to diverse communities.”

The awards recognize professionals who demonstrate a commitment to humanitarian service. Kienle’s mission is to cultivate empathy and compassion in health care. Nominations for the awards highlight the distinct personal and altruistic nature of the nominees.

Winners:

Mary Louise Witmer Jones Resident Humanitarian Award: Dr. Michael Cannizzaro, emergency medicine resident, Hershey Medical Center

“From day one of training, Dr. Cannizzaro has demonstrated outstanding compassion and care for the patients in the emergency department,” wrote Cannizzaro’s nominator. “He sits down with each of them, provides empathy and really makes them feel seen regardless of their presenting complaint or socioeconomic background. He acknowledges everyone in the room and engages with family members allowing them to feel part of the care team.”

Mary Louise Witmer Jones Resident Humanitarian Award: Dr. David Morrell, general surgery resident, Department of Surgery, Hershey Medical Center

“Dr. Morrell is fluent in Spanish which has allowed him to more personally deliver care to those whose native language is not English,” wrote his nominator. “He has made himself available – even when busy with other tasks – to help and comfort patients who might benefit from verbal communication in their native language.”

Nurse’s Humanitarian Award in Honor of Dr. Lawrence F. Kienle: Jennifer Coolbeth, clinical case manager, Pediatric Complex Care, Hershey Medical Center

“Jennifer has been a cornerstone in developing a respite care program within the Amish community, where she trains caregivers of the children with complex care needs,” wrote her nominator. “Jennifer’s commitment to and compassion for her patients is inspirational.”

Joseph and Mary Caputo Scholarship Award: Chandat Phan, MD candidate, Class of 2023

Phan plans to take a gap year starting September as he earned a Fulbright Scholarship in Vietnam to film a documentary series about traditional Vietnamese medicine. “Chandat’s aspiration to become a physician-documentarian is quite rare, and reflects his underlying compassion and humanity,” wrote a supporter in a letter. “Physician-storytellers serve an increasingly important and unique role in society.”

For more information and to read about recipients’ reactions, visit sites.psu.edu/kienlecenter.

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