Donato Tramuto of Ogunquit has been selected as one of four recipients of the 2014 Ripple of Hope Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights for his commitment to social change in advancing health care and human rights.

Tramuto, the CEO and chairman of Physicians Interactive Inc., will be honored along with former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro and Grammy Award winner Tony Bennett.

The Ripple of Hope Award honors leaders of the international business, entertainment and activist communities who are committed to social change.

“I am humbled to receive this award on behalf of all the teams at the great business and philanthropic organizations that I have had the privilege of leading,” Tramuto said. “As a young child battling a disability, I was inspired by Senator Kennedy’s dedication to equal and human rights for all, and I have tried to live by those principles throughout my life. It is with great pride that I accept this award.”

Tramuto was driven to improve health care with affordable and accessible solutions after experiencing severe hearing loss as a child and later by the death of his sister-in-law during childbirth. At Physicians Interactive, Tramuto used digital communications to improve connections and build trust between physicians and life sciences companies in order to improve health care processes.

He also led the development of health care programs, including the first HIV/AIDS Arthur Ashe workplace education program in 1991 and the launch of a national HIV provider network focused on comprehensive disease management. In 2001, he founded The Tramuto Foundation in honor of two friends and their son killed on Sept. 11. The foundation provides grants to children with unique challenges.

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“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 RFK Center for Justice and 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.”

Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:

ggraham@pressherald.com

Twitter: grahamgillian

 


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