The Kienle Center Humanitarian Awards recognize individuals who demonstrate empathy and compassion and have a commitment to humanitarian service.  This years nominations for the awards highlight the distinct personal and altruistic nature of the nominees. We congratulate our award recipients, listed below.

2022 Mary Louise Witmer Jones Resident Humanitarian Award:

Michael Cannizzaro, DO
Emergency Medicine Resident

“I am surrounded by friends and colleagues in the emergency department who remain compassionate while persevering through such a challenging time in healthcare. Being nominated for this award gives me pride, knowing that I am embodying what our team represents.” – Dr. Cannizzaro

“From day one of training, Dr. Cannizzaro has demonstrated outstanding compassion and care for the patients in the emergency department. 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. He is also very skilled in determining the patients’ expectations and aligning them with the capabilities of our department.” – Nominator

2022 Mary Louise Witmer Jones Resident Humanitarian Award:

David J. Morrell, MD
General Surgery Resident

“The ongoing pandemic has stressed all of us and healthcare has been especially impacted through high patient volumes and decreased staffing. Under that strain, taking the time to provide humanistic care to our patients has become both more important and more challenging to provide. In particular, finding the time to talk with our patients in their native language is difficult but extremely rewarding as we see their relief at the ability to communicate freely. In this effort, our interpreter colleagues are key partners. I am extremely flattered and honored to be the recipient of this award. The ideals of humanistic care that this award recognize are critical in the care of our patients and receiving this award strengthens my drive to live up to those ideals.” – Dr. Morrell

“Dr. Morrell is, simply stated, a superb physician. He possesses a keen and sharp scientific mind, a warm and sincere empathy toward patients and their families, excellent and carefully honed technical skills, a desire to teach, an exquisitely professional approach to colleagues, and a leadership style that is both supportive and directive at the same time.

“He is fluent in Spanish which has allowed him to more personally deliver care to those whose native language is not English.  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.” – Nominator

Nurse’s Humanitarian Award in Honor of Lawrence F. Kienle, MD:

Jennifer Coolbeth, RN, BSN
Clinical Case Manager
Pediatric Complex Care

 “It is an honor and privilege to be part of such a wonderful outreach.  Penn State’s endorsement of Hands2Care, a respite care program for medically fragile children and adults in the Lancaster County Old Order Amish community, has resulted in an improved level of trust between members of this community and our organization.  My continued involvement would not have been possible were it not for the support, guidance, and encouragement provided by my peers and administration.  I am truly grateful.” – Jennifer Coolbeth

 “Jennifer takes time listening to the patients and provides compassionate care, for which she is admired not just by the providers but also by our patients and their families. She has also been a very important component of the pediatric complex care program. I am sure the life of the Complex Care Providers would have been miserable without Jenny being there. Additionally, she 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.  Jennifer’s commitment to and compassion for her patients is inspirational. I can say with confidence that work would have been impossible without her help and I can think of no one more deserving of this honor.” – Nominator

2022 Joseph and Mary Caputo Scholarship Award:

The Joseph and Mary Caputo Scholarship Award is designed to support Penn State College of Medicine students who show promise as future physicians who will focus on delivery of humanistic care.

Chandat Phan
MD Candidate, Class of 2023

“When my father escaped a war-torn Vietnam, he told me that amidst all of the devastation, the only time he felt safe was when my family finally reached a refugee camp and saw a doctor wearing a white coat. That doctor was a beacon of hope. Now that I am in medical school myself, I am working to develop into a culturally competent and humanistic physician, just like the doctor who looked after my family when we needed them the most.” – Chandat Phan

Chandat plans to take a gap year starting September as he earned a Fulbright Scholarship to create a documentary film series based in Vietnam about traditional Vietnamese medicine.

“Chandat’s aspiration to become a physician-documentarian is quite rare, and reflects his underlying compassion and humanity. Physician-storytellers serve an increasingly important and unique role in society.”  – Letter of support

Kienle Director, Claire de Boer says, “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. Each of these awardees has made an honorable impact by compassionately providing care that is inclusive and sensitive to diverse communities.”