Lakshmi Vaidyanathan, MD, is the winner of the 2012 Arthur B. Cecil, Jr., MD Award for Excellence in Healthcare Improvement. Dr. Vaidyanathan was chosen from among five nominees for her work in developing a palliative care program for Shore Health System. Palliative care is a coordinated approach of physical, emotional and spiritual care with the goal to relieve suffering for patients with advanced illnesses.
The Cecil Award for Excellence in Healthcare Improvement is named for Arthur B. Cecil, Jr., MD, a surgeon who practiced at Memorial Hospital from 1950 until 1988. The award was established to recognize Dr. Cecil's commitment to using grand rounds to share the latest developments in the field of medicine.
Dr. Cecil's son, Arthur Cecil, III, presented the award to Dr. Vaidyanathan on October 18 at a special ceremony at the Tidewater Inn in Easton. Mr. Cecil, who serves on the Shore Health Patient Quality and Safety Committee, says, “Tonight we pay tribute to everyone who provides patient care at Shore Health. This award is one of many ways that Shore Health recognizes the teams of people who are committed to caring for patients.”
Rosa Mateo, MD, and Paul Monte, MD, were finalists for the Cecil Award along with Dr. Vaidyanathan. Dr. Mateo, an infectious disease specialist, was cited for her role in eliminating healthcare associated infections through the Target Zero initiative. Dr. Monte, a specialist in hospital medicine, was cited for leading the venous thromboembolism risk assessment and prophylaxis initiative.
The other 2012 Cecil Award nominees were cardiologist Scott Friedman, MD, and pediatrician Elizabeth Wroth, MD.
