Keck Medicine of USC recently honored health care employees who have exceeded the expectations of patients and families through exceptional care.

The USC Choi Family Awards for Excellence in Patient-Centered Care recognize nurses, residents, physicians, non-clinical staff and departments for demonstrating patient-centered care, compassion and excellence.

The 2018 winners were:

  • Department: 4 South Cardiovascular Thoracic Intensive Care Unit, Keck Hospital of USC
  • Non-nurse staff: Brenda Capobres Villegas, MS, speech language pathologist
  • Nurse: Raffi Boghossian, RN, director of nursing, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
  • Physician: Antreas Hindoyan, MD, cardiovascular medicine
  • Resident/Fellow: Stephanie Cho, MD, psychosomatic medicine (fellow)

    Henry Choi, left, and Queence Choi are seen with Tom Jackiewicz before the Choi Awards on May 2 in Los Angeles. (Photo/Don Milici)

In 2016, the Choi family gave a generous gift to Keck Medicine after a family member received exceptional care from Keck Hospital of USC physicians, nurses and staff. The awards are part of the USC Choi Family Excellence in Patient-Centered Care Endowment, which provides funding for a patient advocacy program and education and training focused on patient-centered care, empathy and compassion.

“Patients are at the heart of everything we do here at Keck Medicine,” explained Rod Hanners, COO of Keck Medicine of USC and CEO of Keck Medical Center of USC. “Our partnership with the Choi family ensures that the Keck culture of service will be supported now and long into the future. We are recognizing individuals and teams with exceptional compassion, empathy and advocacy for our patients and families.”

Each awardee received $2,000, along with an additional $2,000 for their department to be used for programs, training and activities that support patient-centered care. The recipient’s names will appear on a perpetual plaque installed at Keck Medical Center of USC.

— L. Alexis Young