Monica Grazziutti, M.D., a UAMS hospitalist, receives the Helen May Compassionate Care Award from UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., (left) and Richard Pierson, vice chancellor for clinical programs (right).

This year’s recipient of the UAMS Helen May Compassionate Care Award is Monica Grazzuitti, M.D., a hospitalist at the UAMS Myeloma Institute. The award was presented May 10 at the Third Annual Circle of Excellence Awards ceremony.

In describing Grazziutti, nominators wrote, “She provides to her patients an exemplary model of care, one in which the patient is at the center of everything, where no decisions will ever be made without the patient’s primary interest in mind. Day in and day out, she goes way and beyond above the call of duty and is not afraid to shake the boat, when needed, on behalf of her patients.”

The award was established in 2003 in memory of Helen May, who died in 2001 after working at UAMS for 11 years. Nominations are submitted by peers, supervisors, physicians, patients and patient family members. Criteria for the award are the service standards of safety, respect, excellence, image and efficiency.