Many congratulations to Frank Licciardi, distinguished DFF board member and Chair Emeritus of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s (MSK) Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality (PFACQ).  He is one of the 2020 recipients of the United Hospital Fund’s Excellence in Health Care Award, which honors the extraordinary leadership of individuals whose work improves quality of care, patient safety and the patient experience. Mr. Licciardi is the first patient advocate from any healthcare facility to receive this award.

Honorees are selected for their vision and accomplishments by participating hospital systems, long-term care facilities, home care organizations and independent practice associations from across the greater New York metropolitan region. The recipients were recognized on July 13, 2020 at United Hospital Fund’s second annual Tribute to Excellence in HealthCare event, which was held virtually.

PFACQ is an established partnership consisting of current or former patients, family members. caregivers and clinical and administrative MSK leadership and staff. Together, they work to ensure that the patient and family voice is heard and integrated into all MSK projects, processes and committees with the goal of providing the highest-quality patient and family-centered care.

As a relatively young man, Mr. Licciardi was diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and underwent intensive treatment at MSK. After completing treatment, he began volunteering at MSK as part of the Patient-to-Patient counseling program. He then helped with the development of PFACQ and was named Chair in 2018. In addition to his role as Chair Emeritus, he serves on the Hospital Quality Assurance Committee and Data Governance Committee and was an inaugural member of the Teleoncology Steering Committee.

In his PFACO role, Mr. Licciardi has focused on improving communication about end-of life issues, smoothing transitions from acute treatment to monitoring and developing instructive videos for new patients. He also remains willing to talk to any new patient who is about to undertake the arduous challenge of cancer treatment.

Mr. Licciardi has served as a tireless advocate for patients, their loved ones and MSK’s front-line staff. He also increasingly has become a voice for patients nationally as a member of various PFACQ groups across the country. Mr. Licciardi has had an enormous impact on countless patients and families and has continued to develop the central role of the patient and caregiver in the treatment of cancer at MSK.

We honor him on this well-deserved recognition.