Cornerstone VNA welcomes new assistant hospice medical director

Dr. Peter Saikali (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Cornerstone VNA, a local nonprofit home health provider, recently announced that Dr. Peter Saikali will be the new assistant hospice medical director.

In addition to his part-time assistant hospice mdical director role at Cornerstone VNA, Saikali serves as the HCA/Envision Regional Medical Director and Hospitalist at Portsmouth Regional Hospital and is a Hospitalist for two other local HCA hospitals including Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester and Parkland Medical Center in Derry. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.

Saikali's academic achievements include a Doctor of Medicine degree from St. George's University School of Medicine and a Master's of Business Administration from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts. Throughout his career,he has demonstrated a strong commitment to clinical excellence, research, and patient-centered care, and has received numerous awards and recognitions for his dedication and impact in the field of medicine.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Saikali to Cornerstone VNA," said Julie Reynolds, RN, MS, President/CEO of Cornerstone VNA. "His experience and dedication to patient care align perfectly with our mission to provide compassionate and comprehensive hospice care. We are confident that Dr. Saikali will be an invaluable asset to our team and the community we serve."

In addition to his achievements, Saikali is actively involved in various committees, including the Utilization Review Committee and Credentialing Committee at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. He also participated in a 6-week learning and teaching experience at a hospital in Zimbabwe to learn more about global medicine.

According to Dr. Saikali, "I am very excited to join the team at Cornerstone VNA. With my expertise in internal medicine, coupled with my passion for hospice and palliation, I know Cornerstone VNA and I will do amazing things for our patients.

"Ensuring that patients have dignity and compassionate care in their most vulnerable times is what drives my interest. I am sure that my appreciation for hospice care will only grow deeper over time with the concepts and tools that I learn from Cornerstone VNA. I'm looking forward to a fruitful future with this amazing team."