Webinar – Compassion in Oncology: A Powerful Antidote to a Patient’s Negative Emotions
The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) Presents “Compassion in Oncology: A Powerful Antidote to a Patient’s Negative Emotions,” a webinar featuring Dr. Michael Crain and Claudio Pannunzio from The Patient is U. Their presentation explores the concept of “Empathy + Action = Compassion” and shares the benefits of compassionate care.
Compassionate care engenders three key meaningful results:
Cancer patients who educate themselves about their condition, medical intervention options, and potential outcomes are able to ask informed questions and make better decisions. Open communication and mutual respect between patient and caregiver foster a compassionate health care relationship. Care is at the heart of compassionate health care. It embodies the emotional connection, personalized attention, and holistic approach that are essential for creating a healing and supportive health care experience for patients.
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will know that compassion is the driving force behind every interaction and decision in compassionate health care. It creates a supportive and healing environment where patients feel cared for, respected, and valued as individuals, fostering better physical, emotional, and psychological outcomes. Compassion in health care has a positive influence on cancer patients’ self-compassion for their future functioning, in terms of depression, anxiety, fatigue and hope.
After the presentation, NCCS CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso conducts a Q&A with Dr. Crain and Mr. Pannunzio featuring questions from our audience of survivors and health care professionals.
Watch the full video below or watch on YouTube.
About The Speakers
Michael Crain, MD has been working in healthcare for 40 years, with a focus on disease prevention & early detection. Throughout his life as a Radiologist, his personal motto was “It’s all about the patient”. He was kind and compassionate to all. In 2010, he became Radiology Chairman at Middlesex Health and worked tirelessly to be sure that all patients throughout the hospital system were treated with kindness & compassion. Dr. Crain treated the staff with kindness & respect, and expected that the staff do the same with the patients & each other. He ensured that there was ample staff to answer the phones and care for the patients. Patients were welcomed to speak with the radiologists and offered immediate reads on exams, especially important for screening mammogram patients. Dr. Crain was always available for consultation & questions from patients & healthcare workers. In 2010, he also become the CEO of his radiology group, Radiologic Associates of Middletown, and insisted that all people get access to necessary healthcare, without regard to their insurance or ability to pay for their exams. He developed discounted fee schedules and free screening programs, especially important for the underserved and veterans in the community.
Dr. Crain’s vision into the future has helped many patients throughout the years. As a young radiologist in 1989, he started the 3rd MRI service in Connecticut, and was Chief of MRI from 1989-2000. As Chairman & CEO, he developed many programs including Lung Cancer Screening in 2012, Prostate Cancer Imaging & Targeted Biopsy in 2014, Pancreatic Cancer Screening in 2016 and Liver Cirrhosis Screening in 2018. In 2020, he was elected to be the President of the Radiological Society of Connecticut and worked to help keep medical offices & patients safe during the Pandemic. In 2023, he was honored by becoming a Fellow of the American College of Radiology for the work that he has done throughout his career.
Dr. Crain’s compassionate attitude was noticed by Dr. Lee in 2017, and his private office, Guilford Radiology was honored with the first TPIU Halo Award. In 2018, Dr. Crain was invited to join the TPIU Board of Directors & become the President & Executive Director. Through TPIU, he is working to ensure that all patients are treated with kindness, respect & compassion.
Claudio Pannunzio, a two-time cancer survivor, is a marketing communications executive and entrepreneur.
He is the 2023 recipient of the CHN Flame of Courage Award for having demonstrated exceptional courage, spirit and determination in the face of cancer and for providing emotional support and making a meaningful impact on the lives of cancer patients, their families and their caregivers.
Claudio is Director of the US Chaplain Corps’ First Responder Division, the US unit trained in Psychological First Aid. As a volunteer with the Cancer Hope Network and Yale-Health Greenwich Hospital, he provides moral and emotional support to cancer patients and their families. He is also founder of Mindful with Cancer–a peer-to-peer support group for cancer patients interested in meditation and mindfulness practices.
He serves on the Board of Directors of US Chaplain Corps, The Patient is U Foundation–a public charity dedicated to foster compassion in healthcare to improve patient outcomes, and TRIFORM–a residential community providing education and training for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
He is President of Twining Vines Zendo–a Buddhist community in the Soto School Tradition and is also a Certified Senior Trainer in corporate-based mindfulness, Certified Consulting NLP & Hypnotherapist, and Certified in Psychological First Aid.
Claudio is a frequent speaker on Mindfulness and Marketing topics at MBA programs of NYU-Stern School of Business, Copenhagen Business School, Long Island University, University of Colorado, University at Albany.
