December 20, 2023
When Dr. Paul Joseph Scalise first arrived at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital six years ago, he could tell there was something different about his new environment.
“I have practiced at multiple hospitals in various settings throughout my career—they all have a certain feel,” shared Dr. Scalise, a pulmonary critical care physician, vice president of medical affairs at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, and a Charlotte Hungerford Corporator. “However, Charlotte Hungerford was different—this hospital had the feeling of neighbors caring for neighbors. The caregivers know both the community and the patients and I felt very comfortable here early on.”
Being a resident of West Hartford, the northwest Connecticut community was not his own—and yet he immediately felt like a welcome part of it. According to Dr. Scalise, it was the convivial embrace and the strong characteristics of a close-knit community that inspired him to make a substantial philanthropic gift to help fund the hospital’s da Vinci surgical robot system.
“This region supports and relies on our hospital—and so it was really important for me, as a physician leader, to show we are here to support them as well,” said Dr. Scalise. “Actions like this can go a long way and it shows that we are committed to both the organization and the people we serve.”
The da Vinci surgical system is the next generation of surgery, bringing maximum precision to minimally invasive surgery. This leading-edge system would greatly enhance surgical capabilities at Charlotte Hungerford by allowing complex procedures to be performed less invasively—providing patients with quicker recovery times, better outcomes, and fewer complications. Once in service, the technology would be the first of its kind in all of northwest Connecticut.
“In my mind, our goal is to be the medical center of northwest Connecticut,” shares Dr. Scalise. “The community has high expectations for us and they want Charlotte Hungerford Hospital to meet their needs. I feel we owe it to the people of this area to provide the da Vinci technology and that is what motivated me to make this donation.”
“Having someone trust you with their health is the greatest privilege in the world,” he continues. “This is my way of saying thank you for that privilege and to show our patients that we are invested in you and the future of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.”
“Dr. Scalise has been a remarkable physician leader for Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and we are very thankful for his years of service and his philanthropic support of the da Vinci surgical system,” said John J. Capobianco, SVP, Northwest Region, Hartford HealthCare. “This system will attract additional high-quality physicians to our hospital and eliminate the need for local patients to seek advanced surgical care outside of our region by bringing these capabilities closer to home.”
“Dr. Scalise’s philanthropic investment is a powerful and heartening representation of our colleagues’ commitment to the health and healing of our community,” said Debbie Bender, Senior Philanthropy Officer at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. “Philanthropic support allows us to sustain our excellence and look ahead to the future medical and social needs of this region. We are grateful to Dr. Scalise and other members of our hospital family who contribute to our efforts through Colleague Giving.”
To learn more about philanthropy opportunities or Colleague Giving at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, visit our Colleague Giving webpage or contact Debbie Bender, Senior Philanthropy Officer, at deborah.bender2@hhchealth.org.