Scott Allen

Chief Medical Officer, Hospital Administration

UConn John Dempsey Hospital

When we contemplate what it means to be a “Healthcare Hero,” one name comes to mind for John Dempsey Hospital. Dr. Scott Allen, an internal medicine physician by training, and a member of our medical staff since 1994, embodies the term. Scott serves as our Chief Medical Officer and was previously our Chief Quality Officer. What qualifies Scott as a Healthcare Hero is how he continually assesses the intersecting and overlapping processes that reach our patients to ensure the highest quality care is provided. The term hero is typically associated with having great strength or ability. Sometimes it refers to one who is admired for brave acts or courage. In healthcare, it can be daunting when concerns arise related to patient safety, especially if that care is provided by a clinical expert in a field different from one’s area of specialty. Scott is not afraid to ask tough questions, stop the line, and is always available to collaborate on a workable solution. Scott also understands that to provide optimal care for our patients, we must also ensure that we are caring for ourselves and our colleagues as well. Scott is not afraid to reach out to a physician or nurse colleague to make sure they are all right following a significant event. He understands that the culture of suppressing emotions and being stoic can be harmful to well-being, and well-being is important to staff and patient satisfaction, which leads to improved patient outcomes. When it takes courage to change the status quo, that is our definition of a hero, and when that occurs in healthcare, that is the definition of a healthcare hero. Dr. Scott Allen works every day to change the status quo, and thus he is John Dempsey’s definition of a Healthcare Hero!

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