The Dr. Yoshiro Matsuo Compassionate Care Award was established in 2022 in recognition of Dr. Matsuo’s compassion, kindness, leadership, benevolence, and selfless service to community and others. Dr. Matsuo was one of the original founders of Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care Inc. in 1983, serving as the first Medical Director on a volunteer-basis for 25 years, as well as serving our community as a practicing physician for 50 years. Dr. Matsuo also served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves.

Any individual who exhibits Dr. Matsuo’s traits and attributes, who lives or works in Otsego, Delaware or Schoharie county, and serves individuals in any discipline is eligible to win this award.

Nominations for this award will open in June of 2026.  The winner will receive a Commemorative Award, a $500 Cash Prize, and their name on the Award Plaque at the Helios Care Office in Oneonta. The winner will be announced in the Fall of 2026. There will be an award reception for the winner and all nominees are invited to attend. 

Thank you for making a nomination. Please share and tell everyone you know about this great opportunity! If you wish to nominate a person who was nominated last year, please do so using a new nomination form for consideration this year.

The nomination form will go live in the summer of 2026 

• • The nominee’s work history and current work/volunteer/board affiliations.
  • Your relationship to the nominee.
  • How the nominee displays Dr. Matsuo’s traits/qualities, and in what ways these are exemplified in the community.
  • A relevant story or anecdote that makes the nominee a good candidate for the award.

Dr. Carol K. Beechy, Retired MD at Bassett Medical Center, whose commitment to the health of the rural community for over 30 years providing comfort, dignity, and support to patients and their families during challenging times, made her the committees choice.  Dr. Beechy started and championed the palliative care department at Bassett Medical Center, is a Deacon and Elder at First Presbyterian Church, Member of Cooperstown Area Interfaith Coalition for Social Justice, advocate for community medicine- school based healthcare programs, worked in hospitals in Africa, refugee camps in Sudan, mentored interns at Bassett, volunteered at the food pantry, is active with Otsego Land Trust and OCCA. She has made a lasting impact on her community and the patients she has served