About Donna Coletti, MD

My introduction to palliative care was through the witnessing of extraordinary acts of compassion and courage when my father was diagnosed at age forty with a cancer that resulted in disfigurement and loss of speech. While experiencing this vulnerability, all those involved in his life became more human.

TEDx Talk from October 2019: https://youtu.be/bCcnjRBpWaU

As there were no guarantees of survival there was rather the tacit understanding that he would be cared for one day at a time, with a focus on goals and needs.

The experience of practicing as an OB/GYN expanded my capacity to understand compassion by assisting women and their families bear the pain of despair during infertility, pregnancy loss, the diagnosis of a life- threatening illness and the death of a loved one.

This path was later re- directed by the clarion call of parents who needed assistance. Observing compassionate nurses and home health aides, I stopped seeing medicine as a primarily linear path. The practice of medicine became a better awareness of and appreciation for the Circle of Life.

At first blush, birth and death may appear diametrically opposed; in fact, the psychological and emotional issues are very similar. Both are about transitions. Guiding women through transitions was simply a stepping-stone to a mid-life career change, to a focus on Hospice and Palliative Care.

My father died at the age of 86, having outlived most of his peers, his physician and surgeon. I had the privilege of caring for him and for my mother, who passed soon thereafter and five years later, being the founding medical director of the Stephen and Betsy Corman Palliative Care Center at Greenwich Hospital.

Today, following the creation and development of both inpatient and outpatient models for care at Greenwich Hospital, Yale New Haven Health I have returned to practicing private Palliative Care consultations. This new practice will bring my medical counseling back into the community through office or home visits, outpatient video consultations and Greenwich Hospital consultations.

Patient Care Services

Download Donna Coletti Curriculum Vitae

Isn’t Palliative Care the same as Hospice?

No. ALL Hospice Care is palliative in nature but NOT ALL Palliative Care is Hospice.  Palliative Care simply addresses the relief of pain (physical, psychological, social, spiritual or practical struggles) without expectation for cure of its cause. Hospice Care is a type of Palliative Care specifically for those with a life expectancy of 6 months or less.

How Do I Know Who Would Benefit from Palliative Care?

If you been recently diagnosed with a serious or life-threatening illness and need assistance in understanding matters regarding goals of care options ie: living wills or advanced directives; long term care or hospice, a goals of care discussion may be of assistance.

If you are of advanced age with changing physical and emotional needs requiring home health aides or simply help with routine activities of life, a goals of care discussion may be of assistance.

If you are the caregiver of someone who is described above you may benefit from discussing their condition and their options for further care.

Patient Resources

Links to information and videos that will explain more about palliative care.