Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point Nurses Honor Physician with Annual Award

Sudhish-Chandra-St-Raphael-AwardSudhish Chandra, M.D., pauses while thanking attendees at this year’s presentation of Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point’s St. Raphael Award, which took place in the Doctors Lounge on Dec. 16. The honor, presented since 2005, recognizes physicians who have improved patient care through the nurse-doctor relationship.

Chandra, a neonatologist, has been medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit since it opened two years ago and has been with Franciscan St. Anthony Health for eight of his 25 years in the profession. Chandra said the award was not about him, but about the teamwork he enjoys in his unit.

The honor was presented by Jessica Snyder, R.N., who chairs the hospital’s Performance Improvement Council-Shared Decision-Making. Among numerous accolades she said Chandra received from nominating nurses were: “He greets everyone by name and with a smile every day, listening to what we have to say, acknowledging concerns and suggestions and showing us his confidence and respect. There is not a day when he isn’t teaching us something new. At every opportunity (even at 3 a.m.) he helps us learn whatever the topic or situation is about. He promotes unity among our staff and encourages teamwork.”