Penelope Dennehy, MD
Penelope Dennehy, M.D.

The Rhode Island Hospital medical staff awarded the 2017 Hamolsky Outstanding Physician Award to Penelope Dennehy, M.D., director of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, the pediatric division of Rhode Island Hospital. The esteemed researcher, has advocated for causes ranging from childhood immunization to participation in clinical trials over her 35-year career. 
 
“We are extremely fortunate that Dr. Dennehy has chosen to devote her career to Rhode Island and Hasbro Children’s hospitals. She has distinguished herself as a committed professional with outstanding scholarly credentials, and as a fabulous person and clinician who has spent countless hours and effort in support of patients and colleagues alike,” said Pamela Harrop, M.D., FACP, immediate past president of the Rhode Island Hospital Medical Staff Association and a Lifespan board of director, who nominated Dennehy for the distinction.
 
A resident of Barrington, Dennehy is also a professor of pediatrics and chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Her primary areas of research include the study of viral gastroenteritis and viral respiratory diseases. 
 
A past president of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and past secretary of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Dennehy has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, written book chapters and presented numerous abstracts at both national and international venues. She is currently board member and secretary for the World Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.
 
Dennehy earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Rhode Island Hospital. She completed a combined pediatric-medical infectious diseases fellowship at Children’s Hospital Medical Center-Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. In 1982, she joined the faculty at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital, where she served as founder and director of the diagnostic virology laboratory and attended on both the adult and pediatric infectious diseases services.
 
The Hamolsky Outstanding Physician Award is presented each year to a physician who has made exceptional contributions to medicine, medical education and research, has demonstrated leadership, and has been an exemplary role model.
 
The award honors Milton Hamolsky, M.D., who was a leader, pioneer in education and role model in patient care. An endocrinologist, Hamolsky came to Rhode Island Hospital in 1963 and served as the first full-time physician-in-chief. He was also the retired chief administrative officer of the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline and a pioneer of medical education in Rhode Island.
 

Elena Falcone-Relvas

Senior Public Relations Officer
Bradley Hospital & Hasbro Children's Hospital
401-444-6863
[email protected]