Sepsis Takes a Life, Ignites Advocacy: HCA Joins Discussion on WCDB Radio Talk Show  

Situation Report | May 17, 2021

Capital area radio programs carried a powerful interview last Thursday with Kathy Zazarine, whose sister was lost to sepsis at age 42. Joining Zazarine for the broadcast was HCA President Al Cardillo, who provided important background on sepsis.

The interview was hosted by the State University of New York at Albany’s WCDB 90.9 FM radio station as part of its talk program “The Social Workers.” It will air on multiple stations and in repeat, targeted spots now and in the months ahead. A recording is available here.

Zazarine, a now-retired benefits manager at the University, had connected with HCA over our shared determination to raise awareness about sepsis. During the broadcast, she told the very powerful account of her sister, a mom of two young children, who beat advance stage cancer and devoted her life to helping children with disabilities but later fell ill with sepsis that claimed her life. The fatal condition was only later identified.

Cardillo, a member of the Sepsis Alliance National Advisory Board and an adjunct instructor at the University, provided background on sepsis, explaining how it is overwhelmingly of home and community origin. He recounted HCA’s work, along with our provider members, to address this serious problem. He also previewed HCA’s major 2021 grant to build on sepsis response across the continuum.

HCA thanks Kathy Zazarine for her courage, advocacy and outreach to us. We also thank the University at Albany, including Dr. Eric Hardiman and Alyssa Lotmore, LMSW, for hosting this important program and topic.