Hartford HealthCare Social Workers Receive Award for their Dedication to Patients
February 17, 2014
Hartford, CT - Hartford HealthCare social workers Charmain Ali and Hillary Keller, who work on behalf of cancer patients at Hartford Hospital, have been awarded the first-ever Advocacy Award from the Connecticut Sports Foundation.
“We are extremely proud of Charmain and Hillary and the exemplary work they do every day on behalf of our patients,” said Donna Handley, vice president of operations for the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute.
“They are richly deserving of this recognition.”
Ali and Keller were recognized at the Foundation’s annual Celebrity Dinner at Mohegan Sun on Feb. 7. The Foundation, which provides financial support to cancer patients across the state, praised the social workers for their tireless dedication on behalf of cancer patients at HHC. The Advocacy Award is intended for those who have a long history of partnering with the Foundation to make sure cancer patients in the greatest need are being assisted.
“It has been my great pleasure to have worked with Hillary and Charmain for many years; they are perfect examples of what an oncology social worker should be,” said Jane G. Ellis, president and executive director of the Foundation. “They stand out for their exceptional professionalism, compassion and attention given to each and every oncology patient that they refer to CSF. Cancer patients, at a critical time in their lives, are so fortunate to have them working on their behalf. They have set the bar extremely high for the award selection process in the future."
About Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute
The Hartford HealthCare Cancer (HHC) Institute is part of the HHC system, which includes a major tertiary/quaternary teaching hospital; four community hospitals; a large primary care physician practice group; a regional home-care system; rehabilitation services; a behavioral health network; senior health services, including skilled-nursing and assisted-living facilities; and a statewide clinical laboratory operation. HHC treats more than 6,000 new cases of cancer annually. The HHC Cancer Institute was established to deliver high-quality, standardized, multidisciplinary and coordinated care to all HHC cancer patients, no matter where in the HHC system a patient receives care.
Photo Above: L-R: Charmain Ali, social worker, Hartford HealthCare; Rebecca Lobo, Hartford Hospital Board of Directors; Hillary Keller, social worker, Hartford HealthCare