Neil Scannell, DO

Dr. Neil ScannellDecember 6, 1973 to December 6, 2023 WDMS member since: March 28, 1999

Dr. Neil Scannell, 50, died suddenly on December 6 at his home in Worcester. He leaves his parents; Paul W. and Maureen (Lucey) Scannell of Leicester; his brother, Steven D. Scannell and his wife Mary of Holland; his sister, Megan M. Scannell of Southbridge; aunts, Pat Grady of Leicester, Lynne Thurber, and her husband Gerald of Worcester; uncle, Edward Lucey and his wife Nancy of Auburn, and nieces, nephew, and cousins. He is predeceased by his brother Sgt. John D. Scannell in 2010.

Neil was born in Worcester and completed his schooling as valedictorian of Leicester High School. His yearbook pictures named him as an “Individual Most Likely to Succeed”.

Neil did not just succeed, he excelled in every aspect of life and impacted entire communities with his personality. Neil initially studied marine biology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester and quickly realized his passion was healthcare. He went on to earn his Doctor in Osteopathy degree from the University of New England, College of Medicine in Biddeford, Maine. Neil completed his internal medicine training at Saint Vincent Hospital.

In 2005, Neil started as one of the first hospitalists in a dedicated hospitalist program at SVH at a time when hospital medicine was still in its preliminary stages of inception. His remarkable work ethic, his empathic care of his patients, and his warm collegiality made him one of the most beloved figures on the ‘wards’ at SVH. Neil came early and stayed late, often rounding after hours to make sure his patients were well tucked in. Additionally, if anyone needed a day off or called out sick, Neil would unhesitatingly volunteer to work any shift to accommodate their request.

Neil was an astute diagnostician and a comprehensive caregiver. He would personally reach out to other members of the healthcare team to discuss the care of his patients – rather than simply requesting a consultation in the chart. He was brilliant yet humble. He moved seamlessly between teaching students and playing a valuable role in key committees in the Department of Medicine. He was a leading proponent of medical informatics and was instrumental in the Meditech/CPOE (Computerized Provider Order Entry) rollout at SVH in 2016.

Neil emphasized interdisciplinary care, networking effectively with case management, social workers, and ancillary services to make sure not just the medical aspects but also the social determinants of the patients’ treatment were addressed, providing them with comprehensive care.

Neil was awarded Physician of the Year in 2022 for his outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to SVH. After 20 years of working at SVH, Neil joined Fairlawn Rehabilitation Center in 2023 and, within months, became an invaluable team member.

Outside work, Neil remained young at heart and he created beautiful memories over the years with his family at Disney World. He was deeply protective of his family and a role model to his younger siblings. Neil was a history buff and made time, in his off hours, to visit the rich historical landmarks around Massachusetts. He was an avid basketball and soccer player and followed the Boston sports teams closely. He had an impeccable sense of humor, making the most intense workdays enjoyable. He teased me mercilessly if I had less patients than him – ‘slacker” was a word we used for each other if our census was less than 24 patients each when we were hospitalists together.

Neil was a comfortable conversationalist and he made time to reach out to his colleagues, those who were shy or new to the hospital. Even though Neil was well read his most valuable skill was his respectful listening of the other person.

Neil was a trailblazer, an iconic physician, and an exceptional human being. He was emblematic as someone who put everyone before himself. He dedicated his entire life to making Saint Vincent a better place for his patients and his colleagues.

As tributes to Neil pour in and we try to make sense of this untimely loss, his greatest legacy will be his impact on the community. A story by his colleague, Dr. Kevin Martin, pulmonologist at SVH, comes to mind - Dr. Martin was checking out at a grocery store after work and had forgotten to remove his hospital ID. The cashier noted the ID and asked, “I see you work at Saint Vincent Hospital; do you know Dr. Scannell?” The cashier went on to describe the tremendous impact that Neil had made on his family through the care that he had provided.

A scholarship has been set up in honor of Dr. Scannell; donations made payable to the Saint Vincent Hospital Education and Research Fund. Please mail your check to Dr. George Abraham, Department of Medicine, 123 Summer Street, Worcester, MA 01608.

Nandana Kansra, MDGeorge M. Abraham, MD, MPH, MACP, FIDSA, FRCP (Lon.)