Charanya Sivaramakrishnan, MD, ICU medical director, Respect Award
Seeing her mother through cancer taught this Vancouver critical care doctor to honor patient dignity.
As a critical care doctor, Charanya Sivaramakrishnan sees vulnerable patients every day. But it took her mother's cancer diagnosis to bring home the importance of respecting each patient's dignity.
Dr. Sivaramakrishnan serves as Intensive Care Unit Medical Director at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington. Already known for her compassionate care, when her mother was bedridden she learned that giving patients time and space to talk — and truly listening — was the most meaningful way to show up for them.
Seeing how her patients respond to adversity gives Dr. Sivaramakrishnan faith in humanity. “When folks are really vulnerable, they’re actually far more kind, courageous and accepting than we think people are,” she says.
This deep respect for patients and belief in humanity's goodness is why Dr. Sivaramakrishnan is the recipient of PeaceHealth’s 2025 systemwide Mission and Values Award for Respect.
The Mission and Values Awards are PeaceHealth's highest honor. They recognize caregivers for living PeaceHealth’s Mission and Values of Social Justice, Stewardship, Respect and Collaboration.
Learn about the other 2025 award honorees:
- Overall Award: Floralyn Rodriguez, laundry/linen attendant, PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center, Alaska
- Collaboration Award: Megan Massey, child life specialist, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, Springfield, Oregon
- Stewardship Award: Jeremy Weintraub, supply chain contracts manager, PeaceHealth Shared Services Center, Vancouver, Washington
- Social Justice Award: Gabriela Fuentes, MA, PeaceHealth Cordata Clinic, Bellingham, Washington
