TPIU Compassionate Healthcare Award Bestowed Upon Greenwich Hospital Physician Karen Santucci, MD

Essex, CT — October 9, 2025 —The Patient Is U (TPIU) Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to prioritizing patient-centered care, proudly presented its Compassionate Healthcare Award to Karen Santucci, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Greenwich Hospital, on September 29, 2025.

The award was presented during a well-attended Monday afternoon ceremony at Greenwich Hospital by TPIU Vice Chair Stephanie Paulmeno, DNP, Chairman Claudio Pannunzio, and Strategic Advisor Robin Kanarek, RN.

“We were honored to recognize Dr. Santucci for her exemplary work in pediatric emergency medicine,” said Dr. Paulmeno. “She embodies the compassionate care model we aim to make the standard in healthcare, regardless of specialty or role.”

Dr. K.J. Lee, founder of TPIU and internationally renowned ENT surgeon, also commended Dr. Santucci’s impact and approach to care. “Dr. Santucci’s practice of medicine should serve as a beacon of light for those who follow in the world of medicine,” said Dr. Lee.

Additionally, author and registered nurse Robin Kanarek lauded Dr. Santucci for her transformative leadership. ”Her leadership shows us that compassion is not an accessory to medicine; it is its heartbeat. She doesn’t just treat patients — she truly cares for them—with her mind, body, and spirit, ensuring that every person feels seen, heard, and valued. That level of humanity transforms care into healing.”

In addition to her leadership at Greenwich Hospital, Dr. Santucci serves as Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She is widely praised by patient families for her deep empathy, clinical precision, and ability to comfort even the youngest patients with her warmth, gentleness, and humor. Known for treating every patient as if they were her own child, Dr. Santucci exemplifies the highest standard of compassionate, patient-centered care.

The TPIU Compassionate Healthcare Award honors providers and institutions who uphold the principles of patient-first care, demonstrating a consistent commitment to compassion, empathy, and positive health outcomes.