Before retiring, Dr. Zampiello was national director of the Quality Center in the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Primary Health Care, where he served from 1997 until 2002.
In that role, he worked to reduce errors and increase efficiency in the nation's health-care delivery.
He drew on training he received from experts W. Edwards Deming and Stephen Covey to initiate the health administration's Health Disparities Collaborative in 2001.
After retiring, Dr. Zampiello established Quality Reality Checks, a consulting firm in Florida that provided expertise to primary health-care programs.
He also acted as codirector of the U.S. Organ Donation and Transplantation Breakthrough Collaborative beginning in 2003.
The goal of the collaborative has been to streamline identification of potential donors, coordination of matches, and efficient delivery of donor organs to patients needing transplants.
In September 2010, Dr. Zampiello experienced the health-care system firsthand when his battle with liver disease culminated in a liver transplant.
He researched the best ways to manage the transplant process from the patient's viewpoint, and also from that of the medical profession.
In a 2010 article published in the Pulse of Colorado magazine, he expressed concern over the public's inability to understand President Obama's health-care proposal, which he felt would help the country if implemented, and used his own experience as a teaching tool.
"He talked to people and found that they were so misinformed about the health-care bill," said his spouse, John Shirley. "Once he told them what [the plan] was striving for, he changed their minds."
Dr. Zampiello was born in New Haven, Conn., and graduated from East Haven High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Johns Hopkins University in 1958 and a medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1962.
After working in private family practice, he became a commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service in 1978.
He was medical director of a rural community health center in Provincetown, Mass., and later of the Boriken Neighborhood Health Center in New York. At various times, he directed the Federal Occupational Health Program in the health administration's Philadelphia office and was its lead clinical consultant there.
Dr. Zampiello advised international organ-donation initiatives in Canada and Australia for the last five years.
In September 2009, Dr. Zampiello married Shirley, his partner of 32 years, in Provincetown. The two met at a concert there. The couple maintained homes in Philadelphia and Gulfport, Fla.
In addition to his spouse, Dr. Zampiello is survived by a brother, Albert N.; and a sister, Theresa Z. O'Connor.
A life celebration will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Gift of Life Family House, 401 Callowhill St., Philadelphia 19123, attention: Sara Cohen.
I really miss Frank. Not a week goes by without a thought or memory of his great work for patients. Frank's legacy will carry on forever in others who share his dreams and goals. Thank you Frank and your family for giving so much to myself and others.
ReplyDeleteI am so saddened to hear about Frank's passing. I just learned of it. Frank was such an inspiration to me, and he was, the best boss I ever had in my career. John--I am so sorry for your loss.
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