Griffin Hospital exercise physiologist from Ansonia honored with caregiver award

At Planetree International conference in Chicago

Griffin Hospital Exercise Physiologist Richard Le Pera, BS,EP, of Ansonia, right, celebrates receiving the 2016 Spirit of Planetree Caregiver Award with Eunice Lisk, MS, director of Griffin Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Todd Liu, vice president of Accountable Care and Griffin Hospital General Counsel. /Contributed photo

DERBY – Griffin Hospital Exercise Physiologist Richard Le Pera, BS, EP, of Ansonia, was recently honored with the Spirit of Planetree Caregiver Award at the 2016 Planetree International Conference in Chicago.

The Caregiver Award recognizes Le Pera’s commitment to both Planetree’s and Griffin Hospital's patient-centered approach to providing care. 

In approximately two years as a member of Griffin Hospital’ Cardiac Rehabilitation service, Le Pera has become an essential member of the staff and manages the hospital’s weight loss exercise and free smoking cessation programs. He is respected by co-workers for his attention to detail and commitment to teamwork.

His friendly demeanor and focus on health education is appreciated by his patients and has earned him many compliments on his care.

“The Spirit of Planetree Award Ceremony is always a highlight of our annual conference,” said Planetree President Susan B. Frampton. 

“At the heart of the Planetree model are the human interactions between patients and caregivers. With the Spirit of Planetree Awards, we celebrate individuals like Ricky who, with their compassion, empathy, and simple human kindness, are improving the patient experience, and that is most definitely worthy of recognition."

About Planetree
Founded in 1978 by, Angelica Thieriot, a San Francisco patient who endured a traumatic healthcare experience, Planetree is an internationally-recognized not-for-profit organization that partners with health care providers around the globe to advance patient-/resident-centered approaches to care. 

Planetree has been at the forefront of the effort to personalize, humanize, and demystify the healthcare system for more than 30 years. With its model of patient-/resident-centered care being implemented in a diverse range of hospitals, continuing care facilities, outpatient clinics, and consumer health libraries across North America, Canada, Brazil, The Netherlands and Japan, Planetree is demonstrating that patient-centered care is not only an empowering philosophy, but a viable, vital, and cost-effective model of care.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.