September 8, 2026
Hartford HealthCare celebrated the opening of the John J. Capobianco Medical Education & Care Center, honoring a transformative healthcare leader while reinforcing the system’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality care in northwest Connecticut.
Named in honor of John J. Capobianco, who served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital until his passing in July 2025, the Center will serve as the home of the hospital’s Rural Residency Program.
“Our Rural Residency Program was first conceptualized by John and will play a vital role in bridging the healthcare needs of local communities with the development of future family medicine and psychiatry professionals in northwest Connecticut,” shared Paul Scalise, MD, President of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and the Northwest Region.
“We are very grateful to our longtime friends and partners, the Prenoveau Family and PAC Group, for making a generous $1 million gift to establish the Capobianco Center and allow us to continue stewarding the legacy of a visionary leader and friend who transformed healthcare in this region.”
The dedication ceremony also highlighted Capobianco’s enduring impact on colleagues through the presentation of the inaugural John J. Capobianco Healthcare Excellence & Education Scholarships, which were awarded to Cody Esbjerg and Grace Wolcott.
Established to support continuing education and professional development opportunities for Charlotte Hungerford colleagues, the scholarships are funded through philanthropic support to the John J. Capobianco Healthcare Excellence & Education Endowment Fund.
“John Capobianco was a compassionate and supportive leader, mentor, and friend, who empowered his colleagues to reach their full potential and fostered an environment where every team member could grow, learn, and excel,” said Debbie Bender, Director of Philanthropy.
“John’s endowment preserves and strengthens our culture of excellence and honors his unwavering commitment to his colleagues and providing exceptional care for the communities we serve.”
If you, your company, or your organization is interested in supporting Charlotte Hungerford’s mission, explore our Ways to Give or contact a member of our Philanthropy Team.
