Hematologist/oncologist Ajeet Gajra MD will receive the annual Anita Award from Hospice of Central New York in a ceremony in early December. Gajra is an associate professor of medicine at Upstate who directs the fellowship in hematology/oncology.
In the letter nominating Gajra, he was recognized for his compassion and commitment to his patients, along with his efforts to teach fellow physicians, healthcare professionals and students about the importance of patient understanding and support when facing a life-limiting illness.
The Anita Award was established at Hospice in 1998 by friends and family in memory of Anita Stockman to heighten awareness of the importance of physician communication. It is presented annually to a physician who communicates honestly and sensitively, who respect patient decisions and remains actively involved with the patient in his or her final journey. Nomination letters come from members of the Central New York community.
Some previous winners of the Anita Award include Jacqueline Bays MD, Michael Glowaski MD, Phillip Kaplan MD, Joel Potash MD, David Sadowitz MD, Anthony Scalzo MD, Jesse Williams MD, Benny Wong MD, Jonathan Wright MD and the Department of Radiation Oncology at Upstate.
Listen to Dr. Gajra’s interview about lung cancer.
Listen to Dr. Gajra’s interview about cancer care for seniors.
