Awards
In addition to supporting the critical work and passion of our members, AAHPM also recognizes the importance of celebrating our members’ achievements. AAHPM recognizes members with a number of awards, presented at the Annual Assembly.
Also be sure to view our Visionaries in HPM and Emerging Leaders, awarded every 5 years.
Call for Nominations
The Call for Nominations is now closed for 2021 awards. Winners will be announced in late Fall.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognizes outstanding contributions and significant publications that have helped shape the direction of the field of hospice and palliative care. All members of AAHPM are eligible for this award. View past winners by clicking Read More.
2020
Ronald J. Crossno, MD HMDC FAAFP FAAHPM received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX. He did his Family Medicine Residency at McLennan County Medical Education and Research Foundation in Waco, TX. He is currently employed with Kindred at Home/CURO Health Services where he is the Vice President Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Crossno was the President of AAHPM in 2009. He has since been awarded the Josefina B. Magno Distinguished Hospice Physician Award in 2014 and many other national and local awards including the Heart of Hospice Award and Hospice Educator of the Year award.
Winners
2019: Martha Twaddle, MD HMDC FACP FAAHPM
2018: Timothy E. Quill, MD FACP FAAHPM
2017: C. Porter Storey Jr., MD FACP FAAHPM
2016: Susan Block, MD FAAHPM
2015: Michael H. Levy, MD PhD
2014: Ira R. Byock, MD FAAHPM
2013: Robert M. Arnold, MD FAAHPM
2012: Russell K. Portenoy, MD
2011: Charles von Gunten, MD PhD FACP FAAHPM
2010: Eduardo Bruera, MD FAAHPM
2009: Diane E. Meier, MD FACP FAAHPM
2008: Robert Twycross, DM FRCP
2007: Rosemary Gibson, MSc
2006: Neil MacDonald, MD
2005: Derek Doyle, MD
2004: Florence Wald, MS RN MN
2003: Kathleen M. Foley, MD
2002: Dame Cicely Saunders, OM DBE FRCP
2001: Balfour M. Mount, MD
Gerald H. Holman Distinguished Service Award
Recognizes outstanding and dedicated service to the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. The award will be presented to an individual (or group) that has advanced the mission of the AAHPM in a significant and lasting way. All members of AAHPM are eligible for this award.
2020
Russell K. Portenoy, MD is the Executive Director of the MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care and Chief Medical Officer of MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care. He is also a Professor of Neurology and Family and Social Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Portenoy was President of AAHPM in 2006 and was previously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. He is being presented this award for having advanced the mission of the Academy in a significant and lasting way. His dedication as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management for the past 33 years.
Winners
2019: Christian T. Sinclair, MD FAAHPM
2018: Phillip E. Rodgers, MD FAAHPM
2017: David M McGrew, MD HMDC FAAHPM
2016: David Casarett, MD MA FAAHPM
2015: Steven (Skip) Radwany, MD FAAHPM
2014: Chad Kollas, MD FAAHPM FACP FCLM
2013: Daniel Fischberg, MD PhD FAAHPM
2012: Amy P. Abernethy, MD FACP FAAHPM
2011: Charles Sasser, MD FACP FAAHPM
2010: Jean S. Kutner, MD MSPH FAAHPM
2009: James F. Cleary, MD FAChPM
2008: Dale Lupu, PhD
2007: Paul Rousseau, MD FAAHPM
2006: Porter Storey, MD FACP FAAHPM
2005: David Weissman, MD
2004: Charles F. von Gunten, MD PhD FACP FAAHPM
2003: Susan Block, MD FAAHPM
2002: Ira R. Byock, MD FAAHPM
2001: Gerald H. Holman, MD FRCP FAAP and Michael H. Levy, MD PhD
Josefina B. Magno Distinguished Hospice Physician Award
Recognizes a hospice medical director or hospice physician who provides the highest quality services and innovative programs and who demonstrates exemplary dedication to the practice of palliative medicine in a hospice setting.
2020
Todd R. Coté, MD HMDC FAAFP FAAHPM is receiving this award for his ongoing contributions to leadership, clinical work, education and training in hospice care. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Bluegrass Care Navigators. Dr. Coté has been practicing in hospice medicine for 30 years. Dr. Cote received his MD from St. Louis University School of Medicine. He has also received the California Family Physician of the Year from the California Academy of Family Physicians and the Pioneer Award from the Kentucky Association of Hospice and Palliative Care..
Winners
2019: Kevin Dieter, MD FAAHPM
2018: Joel S. Policzer, MD FACP FAAHPM
2017: Joan Harrold, MD MPH HMDC FACP FAAHPM
2016: Jeffrey Spiess, MD FAAHPM
2015: Edward W. Martin, MD MPH FACO
2014: Ronald J. Crossno, MD FAAFP FAAHPM
2013: Janet H. Bull, MD FAAHPM
2012: Gail Austin Cooney, MD FAAHPM
2011: Chuck Wellman, MD FAAHPM
2010: Barry M. Kinzbrunner, MD FAAHPM
2009: David M. McGrew, MD FAAHPM
2008: Laurel H. Herbst, MD
2007: Perry Fine, MD
2006: Cheryl Arenella, MD MPH
2005: Martha Twaddle, MD FAAHPM
Distinguished Hospice Interdisciplinary Team Member Award - NEW!
This award recognizes a member of the hospice interprofessional team (non-physician) who provides the highest quality services and who demonstrates exemplary dedication to the practice of palliative care in a hospice setting. The award nominator must be an AAHPM member. AAHPM membership is not required for the nominee.
Richard Payne Outstanding Achievement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
This award will be presented annually to an individual who demonstrates strong, lasting, personal and professional commitement to improving care for diverse, vulnerable and underrepresented patient populations. All members of AAHPM are eligible for this award. This award was to be presented at the 2020 Annual Assembly for the first time.
2020
Kimberly S. Johnson, MD MSHS is the inaugural recipient of this award. She is the Director of an NIH-funded Center, REACH Equity (Duke Center for Research to Advance Health Care Equity). This center with her leadership focuses on developing and testing interventions which reduce racial and ethnic disparities by improving the quality of patient-centered care in the clinical encounter. Dr. Johnson is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. She received her degree from Johns Hopkins University and served her residency at Duke University.
Humanities Award
Recognizes person(s) whose work has advanced the relationship between humanities and palliative care, and who have employed the discipline of the humanities to improve end-of-life care through community or professional education. Candidates for the award include poets, artists, musicians, medical educators and others involved in medical humanities in the broadest terms.
2020
Ronald M. Epstein, MD is a Professor of Family Medicine, Psychiatry & Oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine as well as Family Medicine. He is passionately devoted to improving communication between health professionals and patients with serious and life-limiting illnesses and their families in clinical work, teaching and research. Dr. Epstein is well published and has been received numerous awards.
Winners
2019: Judith Redwing Keyssar, RN
2018: Frank Ostaseski
2017: Lucille Marchand, MD BSN FAAHPM
2016: Candy Chang
2015: Christina M. Puchalski, MD FACP
2014: Barbara Sourkes, PhD
2013: Balfour M Mount, MD
2012: David Dosa, MD MPH
2011: Atul Gawande, MD MPHMA
2010: Rachel Naomi Remen, MD
2009: Authors of the Last Lecture; Randy Pausch, PhD and Jeffrey Zaslow
2008: Deidre Scherer
2007: Joan Didion
2006: Bill Moyers
2005: Jack Coulehan, MD MPH
2004: Robert Pope
2001: David Barnard, PhD and Sandra I. Bertman, PhD
Award for Excellence in Scientific Research in Palliative Care
Recognizes meaningful, exemplary research contributions to the field of hospice and palliative care. The recipient is expected to present his/her research within the broad context of the field of hospice and palliative care. All members of AAHPM are eligible for this award.
2020
Rebecca Sudore, MD FAAHPM is Professor of Medicine, geriatrician, palliative medicine physician, and clinical investigator at SFVAMC. She conducts research to improve advance care planning and medical decision making for diverse, vulnerable older adults. One of Dr. Sudore’s projects engaged in groundbreaking research to assure that patients have a voice in their care. She reached out to and listened to minority and under-resourced patients and caregivers to understand their felt needs in advance care planning. She developed and tested an easier to read and understand advance directive that was the adopted in California and further. Dr. Sudore received her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.
Winners
2019: Chris Feudtner, MD PhD MPH
2018: Holly Prigerson, PhD
2017: Jennifer S. Temel, MD
2016: Amy Abernethy, MD PhD FAAHPM
2015: David Currow, BMed MPH FRACP FAChPM and Karen Steinhauser, PhD
2014: Joanne Wolfe, MD MPH FAAHPM
2013: R. Sean Morrison, MD FAAHPM
2012: J. Randall Curtis, MD MPH
2011: Harvey Chochinov, MD PhD FRCPC
2010: Sebastiano Mercadante, MD
2009: Vincent Mor, PhD
2008: Irene Higginson, BMedSci BMBS FFPHM PhD
2007: Betty Ferrell, PhD RN FAAN
2006: James Tulsky, MD FAAHPM
2005: Joan Teno MD MS
2004: Eduardo Bruera, MD FAAHPM
Award for Excellence in Education and Training - NEW!
This award recognizes, encourages and rewards an AAHPM member who has enhanced the practice and profession of hospice and palliative care through education. The educator has made significant, outstanding contributions to education in hospice and palliative care. Education may be in the form of teaching, directing, mentoring, writing, and/or presenting to multiple levels of audiences including physician, interprofessional, resident, fellow, student.
All members of AAHPM are eligible for this award. Special emphasis will be placed on educators who, through their example and methods have expanded patient connection and communication skills; stimulated the personal and professional growth of others.
Early Career Investigator Award
Recognizes a member of AAHPM who is developing as a research leader, showing promise of making contributions to the development of a scientific foundation for practice and research, conducting or facilitating research by others that advances the field of hospice and palliative medicine, has a beginning record of scientific publications, and contributes to the AAHPM community at large. The nominees for this award will not yet have achieved independence as an investigator (ie having R01 level funding, or its equivalent). All members of AAHPM are eligible for this award.
2020
Thomas LeBlanc, MD MA HMS FAAHPM is Associate Professor of Medicine in the division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy at Duke Cancer Institute. He is making a tremendous impact at the interface of hematologic malignancies and palliative care. Through his research he has demonstrated the extensive burden of symptoms and psychosocial distress that comes along with a hematologic diagnosis. Dr. LeBlanc brings a wealth of clinical experience as a hematologic oncologist, as well as a thoughtful and pragmatic approach to integrating the fields of hematologic oncology and palliative care. He received his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine where he also did his residency..
2019: Dio Kavalieratos, PhD
2018: Abby Rosenberg, MD MS
2017: Arif Kamal, MD MBA MHS FACP FAAHPM
2016: Yael Schenker, MD
Presidential Citation(s)
These award(s) acknowledge individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of hospice and palliative medicine but do not qualify for consideration in other award categories. Recommendations would be made by the President, Board members or leadership, and approved by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee. This recognition would not have to be given each year – only when suitable and exceptional candidates are identified and selected. It would also be limited to a maximum of three recipients (individuals or organizations) in a given year.
2020
Y.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation, Blyth Taylor Lord, and Sally Weir, CAE
Winners
2019: US Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY); Palliative Care Research Cooperative (PCRC); and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
2018: Patrick H. Conway, MD MSc; Jeri L. Miller, PhD; and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
2017: J. Donald Schumacher, Psyd, Cambia Health Foundation, and Sue Ramthun.
2016: Ellen Goodman of the Conversation Project, The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, The California Healthcare Foundation
2015: Rebecca Kirch, JD, Mary Callaway, MME and Hearst Foundations
2014: Jean Acevedo, LHRM CPC CHC CENTC, Amy J. Berman, MS RN, American Society of Clinical Oncology
2013: Christine K. Cassel, MD, National Palliative Care Research Center (NPCRC), Senator Ronald L. Wyden
2012: Judy Lentz, RN MSN NHA, Myra J. Christopher, The Pain & Policy Studies Group
2011: Senator Sharon Carstairs, Canada, Lynn Hill-Spragens,The American Cancer Society
2010: Congressman Earl Blumenauer, Gail Sheehy, Steve Smith, CAE
2009: Tom Batiuk, Alexis Bakos, Dorothy Moga
Paper Awards
These awards recognize the top 5% of papers, as determined by the Scientific and Quality Improvement Subcommittee during the abstract review and scoring process.
Winners
2020: Aanchal Satija, BDS MSc; Grant Smith, MD; Mamta Bhatnagar, MD MS; Julie Childers, MD PhD; Prasanna Ananth, MD MPH
2019: Alana Thomas, MD; Rebecca Sudore, MD FAAHPM; David Wang, MD
2018: Eunice Omoyeni, MBBS PGD DIPPALMED (UTC) MPHIL and Melissa Wachterman, MD MPH
2017: Rebecca Sudore, MD and Stacy M. Fischer, MD
2016: Amy Kelley, MD MS MSHS and Susan Miller, PhD MPH
Scientific and Quality Improvement Poster Awards
These awards recognize the best poster in each research topic category and best quality improvement project poster.
2020 Winners
Clinical Research: Christopher Woodrell, MD
Educational Research: Stacie Levine, MD FAAHPM
Health Research: Jared Lowe, MD
Instrument Development/Psychometric Validation: Anthony Casacchia, MD
Population Research: Jared Lowe, MD
Quality Improvement Project: Rachel Rodenbach, MD and Jacqueline Sheehan, MD
2019 Winners
Clinical Research: Erica Kaye, MD
Educational Research: Kathleen Broglio, DNP ACHPN ANP NP CHPN FPCN
Health Research: Laura Schoenherr, MD
Population Research: Erica Kaye, MD
Quality Improvement Project: Anne Kinderman, MD
2018 Winners
Clinical Research: Melissa Teply, MD FACP
Educational Research: Suresh Reddy, MD
Health Services Research: Kayla Sheehan, BA MS
Instrument Development/Psychometric Validation: Ashima Lal, MD
Population Research: Anne Kinderman, MD and Chad Kollas, MD FACP FCLM FAAHPM
Quality Improvement Project: Jennifer Reidy, MD FAAHPM
Case Poster Awards
These awards recognize the best poster submitted by a professional and a professional in training.
Winners
2020: Sarah Ehrman, MD
2019: Hana Yu, DO
2018: Jessica Lynch, MD
Project on Death in America (PDIA) Palliative Medicine National Leadership Award
These awards were sunsetted in 2020. Recognizes a physician leader who has advanced the field of palliative care by the education of the next generation of palliative care leaders. The award program promotes the visibility and prestige of physicians in both academic and clinical settings who are committed to mentoring future leaders and serving as role models for other health professionals engaged in improving the care of the dying.
2020
F. Amos Bailey, MD FACP FAAHPM is a Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Palliative Care at the University of Colorado and Director, Masters of Science in Palliative Care at the University of Colorado Hospice. One of his programs, MSPC is the Advancing Innovation of Residency Education (AIRE). Aire was recently approved by the ACGME through the ABIM and ABFM as alternate pathways for fellows who are diplomates of those organizations, to become eligible for initial certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Bailey graduated from the University of South Florida College of Medicine and was a resident in internal medicine at Medical Center Hospital of VT.
Winners
2019: Thomas J. Smith, MD FAAHPM
2018: Eduardo Bruera, MD FAAHPM
2017: Michael W. Rabow, MD FAAHPM
2016: Stephen McPhee, MD
2015: Nancy Hutton, MD FAAP FAAHPM
2014: Co-creators of GeriPal; Eric Widera, MD & Alexander K. Smith MD MPH MS
2013: Christine S. Ritchie, MD MSPH FAAHPM
2012: Anthony L. Back, MD
2011: Robert Arnold, MD FAAHPM
2010: R. Sean Morrison, MD FAAHPM
2009: Declan Walsh, MSc FACP FRCP (Edin)
2008: Russell K. Portenoy, MD
2007: Diane Meier, MD FACP FAAHPM
2006: Susan Block, MD FAAHPM and J Andrew Billings, MD
Project on Death in America (PDIA) Palliative Medicine Community Leadership Award
These awards were sunsetted in 2020. Recognizes a physician leader who has advanced the field of palliative care in their communities through distinctive mentorship and leadership. This award recognizes physicians in both academic and clinical settings who are committed to mentoring future leaders and serving as role models for other health professionals engaged in improving the care of the dying.
2020
Sarah Friebert, MD FAAP FAAHPM is Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Northeast Ohio Medical University and Director, Haslinger Pediatric Palliative Care Division. She received her MD at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and did her residency at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. As a leader in pediatric palliative medicine for decades she has sought to learn as much as she can from mentors, colleagues, trailblazers and of course families as much as she has taught them..
Winners
2019: John A Mulder, MD HMDC FAAHPM
2018: Alexander R. Nesbitt, MD
2017: Carol A. Luhrs, MD FAAHPM
2016: Kenneth Pituch, MD
2015: David B. Oliver, PhD and Debra Parker Oliver, PhD MSW
2014: Bruce L. Miller, MD
2013: Scott T. Shreve, DO
2012: Bernard J. Hammes, PhD
2011: Ira Byock, MD FAAHPM
2010: Timothy E. Quill, MD FACP FAAHPM
2009: Pallimed creator and contributers: Thomas E. Quinn, APRN MSN AOCN CHPN; Christian T. Sinclair, MD, FAAHPM, and Drew Rosielle, MD FAAHPM
2008: Terence L. Gutgsell, MD
2007: Ann Allegre, MD FACP FAAHPM