Meghan Tormay Awarded Compassionate Care Prize At Nantucket Cottage Hospital

Nantucket Cottage Hospital nurse Meghan Tormay was awarded the Seinfeld/Hartmann Prize for Compassionate Medical Care during a ceremony today at NCH.

Tormay was among 14 hospital staff members who were nominated by patients and colleagues for the award, which was founded in 2016 to recognize any hospital staff member who demonstrates compassion and care in their role at NCH.

Tormay, a registered nurse in the hospital’s primary care clinic, was nominated for the award once this year, twice in 2025, and once in 2024. She will receive a cash prize, as well as a custom-designed pin crafted by Jewel In The Sea.

“Meg always goes above and beyond to make me feel seen and cared for,” Tormay’s nomination from one of her patients reads. “She remembers details of my medical history, which gives me so much confidence that I’m having continuity of care. She always, always follows up with me when I call with a concern. She’s often not the person assigned to respond to me, but will still take the time to call me separately to check up and make sure everything is okay. She didn’t just do this one time; she does it often – following up an extra time just to be another listening ear. She has a disposition that never makes you feel like she is checking a box with you; she makes it her problem to ensure you’re doing okay. I’ve had some challenging pregnancies with some very emotional moments, and Meg does an exceptional job of giving me all the information I need, never rushing through her time with me, while also compassionately delivering the information so I am not needlessly worried. She makes people feel heard, supported, and genuinely cared for during stressful and difficult times. Her kindness, patience, and dedication truly make a difference, and she represents the very best of compassionate care.”

The award was created to honor the memory of Dr. Robert H. Seinfeld and former NCH president Dr. Margot Hartmann's leadership, inspired by the compassionate care the Seinfeld family received at the hospital. Judy Seinfeld presented the award to Tormay on Friday, while Hartmann watched from a remote camera.

The other 13 NCH staff members who were nominated for the award and recognized during Friday’s ceremony include:

• Dr. Tiffany Blake-Lamb
• Reese Burns
  
• Kelsey Chase
  
• Dr. Michael Diiorio
  
• Abby Doyle
  
• Claire Fox
  
• Ellen Hope
  
• John Howish
  
• Pam James
  
• Dr. Mimi Koehm
  
• Edwin Mancia
  
• Megan Marks
  
• Dr. Diane Pearl

“This award is a powerful reminder of what we value most as an organization,” NCH president Amy Lee said. “Healthcare continues to evolve at an extraordinary pace, bringing new challenges, new demands, and new pressures for those who care for our patients. Across the country, healthcare teams are being asked to do more with fewer resources, while the needs of our patients become increasingly complex. But through all of that change, one thing remains constant: the importance of how we care for people. Compassion is at the heart of the patient’s experience.”

Disclosure: Nantucket Current editor Jason Graziadei is one of the four members of the Seinfeld / Hartmann Compassionate Care Prize selection committee.