Spike Lipschutz, MD, Physician Partner in Care Award; Christine Rae, RN, Helen Meehan Award; Rabbi MJ Newman, Partner in Care Award
Greenwich, CT (May 17, 2022) – Christine Rae, RN, has been honored as Greenwich Hospital’s “Nurse of the Year” with the Helen Meehan Award for Excellence in Nursing that is given annually to a nurse who demonstrates excellence in nursing practice, teaching and leadership.
As nurse manager of the Intensive Care Unit, Rae was honored for her role in keeping patients and staff safe during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ICU tripled in size during that time to accommodate the growing number of seriously ill patients.
“At no time during the pandemic did you lose faith. You were an example for all of us. You made us a better organization, profession and community,” Diane Kelly, DNP, RN, president, told the audience at the annual Ceremony for Excellence in Nursing on Wednesday.
“The last two years were an incredible test to our resiliency,” said Rae, who lives in Norwalk. “The way we navigated the challenges and supported each other demonstrates that each one of our accomplishments is gained through the support of others. I am honored to receive this award particularly because there is so much amazing talent and dedication in our hospital.”
Also at the ceremony, Spike Lipschutz, MD, received the Physician Partner in Care Award for his long-standing commitment to the hospital and the field of medicine. A physician for more than five decades, Dr. Lipschutz is vice president of Medical Affairs and chairs the hospital’s Staff Wellness committee.
Rabbi MJ Newman, chaplain of the Palliative Care program, received the Partner in Care Award for comforting patients and their families, as well as supporting staff through the prolonged COVID-19 crisis. Rabbi Newman initiated the Circle of Hope support initiative after sensing anxiety among the workforce, particularly nurses, during the pandemic.
Anna Cerra, DNP, RN, chief nursing officer, commended nurses for their ability to confront the challenges posed by the pandemic with grace. “Nurses have always been and will continue to be a global force for good,” she said.
Greenwich Hospital is a member of Yale New Haven Health. Greenwich is a 206-bed (includes 32 isolettes) community hospital serving lower Fairfield County, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York. It is a academic affiliate of Yale School of Medicine. Since opening in 1903, Greenwich Hospital has evolved into a progressive medical center and teaching institution representing all medical specialties and offering a wide range of medical, surgical, diagnostic and wellness programs. Greenwich Hospital is recognized throughout the healthcare industry as a leader in service and patient satisfaction excellence. Greenwich Hospital has the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the nation’s highest honor of nursing excellence. www.greenwichhospital.org
New Haven, CT (May 15, 2025) – On May 27, the Yale New Haven Health (YNHHS) Center for Health Care Innovation will host the Health AI Championship, a premier competition designed to showcase groundbreaking applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The competition invited innovators from health systems and hospitals across Connecticut to develop AI-driven solutions that address critical challenges in patient care and healthcare operations.
GREENWICH, CT (May 7, 2025) – Greenwich Hospital hosted its annual Nurses’ Day Celebration, recognizing the achievements of the hospital’s staff members who exemplify what it means to go above and beyond to serve their patients, help their coworkers and better the community. There were four awards presented at the ceremony: the Partner-in-Care Award, the Physician Partner-in-Care Award, the COLLABORATIVE Award and the Helen Meehan Award – also known as the Nurse of the Year Award. All honorees were nominated by and voted on by hospital staff
Greenwich, CT (May 1, 2025) – Greenwich Hospital has earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety, achieving a top score for the Spring 2025 report.
