Physicians Interactive Chairman and CEO Donato Tramuto Honored with Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award

NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of his three-decade commitment to creating social change through the advancement of healthcare and human rights across the globe, last night Donato Tramuto, the CEO and Chairman of Physicians Interactive (PI), was honored with the 2014 Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

Tramuto was one of four recipients of this prestigious award. He stands in good company as the other three honorees in 2014 were former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton, Academy Award winner Robert De Niro and Grammy Award winner Tony Bennett. Past honorees include President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Grammy Award winner Bono and Academy Award winner George Clooney.

"While this award was given to me as an individual, I accept it on behalf of all the people at the business and philanthropic organizations I have had the privilege of leading, without whose contributions I wouldn't be standing here today," said Tramuto. "I am humbled by their dedication and commitment to helping me make the world a little better for so many. As Senator Kennedy said, 'Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events.' Those words inspired me as a child attempting to overcome my own disabilities, and they continue to inspire me today. I am honored to be recognized for trying to live up to Senator Kennedy's ideals."

The RFK Ripple of Hope Award recognizes leaders of the international business, entertainment and activist communities who demonstrate an unmatched commitment to social change. Honorees reflect the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy's passion for equality, justice and basic human rights. It was created to honor ideals Senator Kennedy cited in a speech at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, in 1966:

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice," Sen. Kennedy said that day, "he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." 

Tramuto's personal challenges with severe hearing loss in his youth, and later the tragic death of his sister-in-law during childbirth, drove him to improve healthcare with affordable, accessible solutions.  Because of his own disability, he has made it his personal commitment to help those who have had significant challenges in their lives.

"Donato has been a relentless advocate throughout his career in addressing needs across the globe," said Kerry Kennedy, the late Senator's daughter and President of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. "For more than 30 years, he has demonstrated the passion for making the world more just through his philanthropic and business initiatives that reflect my father's ideals. From his work on HIV/AIDS education to his founding of The Tramuto Foundation and Health eVillages, Donato's leadership in making the world a better place has been inspiring and embodies the values my father held."

At Physicians Interactive, Tramuto has worked tirelessly to use digital communications to improve connections and build trust between physicians and life sciences companies in order to improve healthcare processes and positively impact patient outcomes.  Tramuto also led the way in developing many key healthcare programs, including the first HIV/AIDS Arthur Ashe workplace education program in 1991, followed by the launch of a national HIV Provider Network focused on comprehensive disease management. 

In 2001, he founded The Tramuto Foundation following the September 11 terrorist attacks in honor of two close friends and their 3-year-old son who were on United Flight 175, the second plane to hit the World Trade Center. The Tramuto Foundation provides educational grants to youths with unique challenges to help overcome adversity and build the confidence necessary to achieve personal excellence.

Over the last 13 years, The Tramuto Foundation provided financial assistance to several individuals, families and programs in need. It provided funding to rebuild the home of a Hurricane Katrina family with a special needs child; a full sponsorship grant to teach English to an entire Cambodian village; the support of an Emergency Healthcare Services program with an AIDS/HIV center; the installation of advanced technology at a Maine playhouse to allow the hearing impaired to enjoy the performances; and the funding of high school education of four young adults in need through a partner organization in Kenya.  Recently, the Foundation also announced the approval of four five-year grants to address gaps in healthcare and education around the globe.

In 2011, following the devastating effects from the earthquake in Haiti, Tramuto and Physicians Interactive partnered with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights to create Health eVillages, an effort to "heal-the-villages" both in Haiti and around the world. Today, Health eVillages provides handheld devices, such as smartphones, iPod Touches and iPads, preloaded with specialized medical reference content and clinical decision support tools powered by the Omnio medical app, to clinicians in the most challenging clinical environments worldwide.

In October, as concerns about the spread of the Ebola virus grew, Tramuto established the Health eVillages Collaborative Coalition to give healthcare professionals around the world free access to information and timely updates on the disease through the Web and mobile applications. Its goal is to educate clinicians on safe preventive practices, treatment, and to educate the public/patients to reduce some of the unwarranted panic surrounding the virus.

About Physicians Interactive

Headquartered in Reading, MA, PI aspires to use the power of worldwide networks of healthcare professionals and life sciences companies together in ways that will change the practice and business of medicine for the better. PI's value proposition is to offer the life science industry a low-cost, virtual, multi-channel marketing approach that can be used to supplement currently promoted products, as well as non-promoted and orphaned products, that deliver benefits to physicians and patients. A key focus is providing services that fit into physicians' and healthcare professionals' daily workflow at the point-of-care when they make diagnosis, treatment and prescribing decisions. PI is a subsidiary of Merck & Co, Inc.  More information can be found at www.PhysiciansInteractive.com.

Media Contact:
Tim Boivin
Amendola Communications for Physicians Interactive
224.209.6495
[email protected]

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SOURCE Physicians Interactive

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