CROWN POINT — Sudish Chandra, M.D., is this year’s recipient of Franciscan St. Anthony Health-Crown Point’s St. Raphael Award, which, since 2005, has recognized physicians who have helped improve patient care through their relationship with the nursing staff.

Chandra, a neonatologist who has been medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit since it opened two years ago, has been with Franciscan St. Anthony Health for eight of his 25 years in the profession. He also has served with Franciscan St. Margaret Health.

“This is very humbling. Being recognized by your peers is special because it brings a warm, human aspect to it,” Chandra said of the award, which is named for Raphael, an archangel and patron saint of physicians and nurses. The honor is presented by the hospital’s Performance Improvement Council-Shared Decision-Making, following nominations it receives from nurses.