For Immediate Release
October 29, 2008
CONTACT: Julie Jette
Tufts Medical Center
617-636-3265
jjette@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
Maeve Mullally
March of Dimes
617-217-1766
maeve@wellpr.com
March of Dimes to Honor Tufts Medical Center President & CEO Ellen Zane with 2008 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Humanitarian Award
Award recognizes Zane and Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center’s exceptional work in infant health
Boston, MA -- Ellen Zane, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children is the 2008 recipient of the March of Dimes Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Humanitarian Award, it was announced today. Named for the organization’s founder, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the award is the March of Dimes’ most prestigious and is bestowed annually to the individual and organization making the greatest strides to improve the health of babies in . Zane will receive the award at a gala in her honor on Saturday, November 8.
Under Zane’s stewardship, for Children at remains one of the Commonwealth’s preeminent centers for pediatric care. The Division of Newborn Medicine treats critically ill babies in one of few Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). The NICU at Floating Hospital boasts a team of exceptionally qualified and compassionate professionals who work tirelessly to improve the lives of the tiniest patients. In addition, these doctors and nurses work closely with the March of Dimes to provide support for families with children in their care.
“It is a tremendous honor to receive this year’s Franklin Delano Roosevelt Humanitarian Award,” said Zane. “Quality and compassion are our guiding principles at for Children. At we strive not only to treat every child as our own, but to treat every family as a partner in their child’s care. We are grateful to the March of Dimes for working with us in this mission through their wonderful family programs in our NICU.”
As part of a national program to support families with children in a NICU, the March of Dimes provides trained Family Support Specialists to hospitals all over the nation. At Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, Family Support Specialists offer a helping hand and an open ear to parents navigating an often difficult and distressing time.
“We are delighted to honor Ellen with the 2008 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Humanitarian Award,” said Ed Doherty Massachusetts Director of the March of Dimes. “Under her leadership, Floating Hospital for Children continues to be a great example of the kind of committed and compassionate care that is so vital to the lives and futures of babies in Massachusetts.”
About Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children
Tufts Medical Center is an exceptional, not-for-profit, 451-bed academic medical center that is home to both a full-service hospital for adults and Floating Hospital for Children. Conveniently located in downtown Boston, the Medical Center is the principal teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine. Floating Hospital for Children is the full-service children's hospital of Tufts Medical Center. Floating Hospital offers a comprehensive range of services from prevention and primary care to the most sophisticated treatment of rare and unusual conditions. The hospital’s focus and mission every day is to improve the lives of children and their families. At Floating, each child is treated as our own.
About The March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003 launched a five-year campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit www.marchofdimes.com.