Awards

2026

Lynn Spragens, MBA

Spragens & Associates, LLC dba Spragens & Gualtieri-Reed

Lynn Spragens is recognized for her transformative leadership, mentorship, and strategic vision in the development and expansion of palliative care across the United States. Over more than two decades, she has played a pivotal role in scaling palliative care programs, ensuring their sustainability, and equipping clinicians and leaders with the tools to demonstrate both clinical and financial value.

As a consultant and later partner at Spragens & Gualtieri-Reed, and through her work with the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), Ms. Spragens helped develop and disseminate practical tools for program planning, business case development, impact analysis, and team effectiveness. Her guidance enabled clinicians to negotiate resources, lead interdisciplinary teams, and implement high-quality palliative care programs in hospitals, clinics, and community settings nationwide. Hundreds of today’s programs trace their growth and sustainability to her strategic insight and mentorship.

A pioneer in demonstrating the economic impact of palliative care, Ms. Spragens co-authored the landmark 2008 Morrison article translating clinical outcomes into metrics and financial value, helping leaders secure institutional investment. Her work in strategic planning, population health integration, and leadership development continues to empower organizations to expand access to high-quality, team-based palliative care. Lynn’s combination of financial acumen, practical guidance, and deep commitment to patient-centered care has left an enduring legacy. By translating complex data into actionable strategies and fostering leadership at every level, she has profoundly shaped the landscape of palliative care, ensuring programs are both sustainable and capable of delivering meaningful impact to patients, families, and healthcare systems nationwide.

2026

Joe Rotella, MD MBA HMDC FAAHPM

Retired physician; former Chief Medical Officer at AAHPM

Dr. Joe Rotella was honored for his decades-long dedication to humanizing healthcare and advancing hospice and palliative medicine. After a decade in primary care and part-time hospice work, he joined the developing HPM specialty full-time in 1999 as Medical Director of what is now Hosparus, where he fostered tremendous growth through community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration. Passionate about education and outreach, Dr. Rotella has delivered hundreds of talks, partnered with hospitals, universities, and medical societies, and championed patient-centered care across diverse settings.

His volunteer leadership within AAHPM began in 2010 and includes service on the Quality and Practice Standards Committee, the Choosing Wisely Task Force, and co-chairing the Measuring What Matters initiative. He contributed as faculty for hospice medical director courses and to the Hospice Medical Director Manual. In 2015, he became AAHPM’s Chief Medical Officer, a role he held until his retirement in 2024, during which he collaborated nationally to update the NCP Clinical Practice Guidelines, establish patient-reported quality measures for CMS, develop a community-based palliative care payment model, secure NIH funding for serious illness research, advance hospice quality policies, promote clinician well-being, and participate in the ACGME Equity Matters initiative. Dr. Rotella’s career reflects a deep commitment to service, mentorship, and leadership, leaving a lasting impact on patients, colleagues, and the field of hospice and palliative medicine

2026

David Wensel, DO HMDC FAAHPM

TRU Community Care & St. Paul’s Senior Services

Dr. David Wensel is recognized for his extraordinary leadership, service, and lifelong dedication to hospice and palliative medicine (HPM). A compassionate and patient-centered clinician, Dr. Wensel has devoted his career to supporting individuals and families navigating serious illness and end-of-life care, consistently demonstrating calm, kindness, and unwavering commitment.

A passionate advocate for HPM, Dr. Wensel has served in numerous leadership roles, including President of the Hospice Medical Director Certification Board, chair of the  Professionals in Training SIG, and the Governance Committee of AAHPM. His guidance has strengthened the board, implemented the communities and Special Interest Groups models, and ensured the transition to financial independence and a continuous learning recertification model.

Dr. Wensel is a pioneer in community-based HPM education. He was the first fellow at Hospice of North Iowa’s fellowship in 2006, the nation’s first community-based hospice fellowship linked to a Family Medicine Residency. He has served as faculty for the University of Colorado, led one of Colorado’s largest community palliative care programs at TRU Community Care, and mentored countless medical students, residents, and fellows. His contributions to foundational literature include coauthoring Chapter 3 of the Hospice Physician and Medical Director Manual, 4th edition. Beyond education and leadership, Dr. Wensel has championed PACE programs to expand access to comprehensive care for older adults and advocated for equitable, high-quality hospice services nationwide. Across all roles, he prioritizes patient needs, supports interdisciplinary teams, and fosters the development of future HPM leaders. Dr. Wensel’s career exemplifies service, mentorship, and innovation, leaving a lasting impact on community-based hospice and palliative medicine.

2026

Keith Peyton, BSN, RN

Elizabeth Hospice

Keith Peyton is honored for his exceptional leadership, mentorship, and lifelong dedication to hospice and palliative care, and as someone who has transformed every hospice program he has touched. Keith is known for guiding teams with calm professionalism, compassion, and a deep respect for patients and colleagues alike. From his early days as a hospice nurse to his current role as Clinical Manager at The Elizabeth Hospice, Keith has consistently modeled excellence in patient-centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Throughout his career, Keith has demonstrated unwavering commitment to both patient well-being and professional education. As a mentor, he has shaped the learning of more than 120 Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellows and countless nurses, social workers, and trainees. In academic hospice settings, he has championed the principle that “we are all teachers,” empowering every team member to participate in educating the next generation of hospice physicians. His thoughtful guidance ensures that trainees not only master the art of hospice care but also carry forward its ethos of compassion, humility, and collaboration.

Keith’s influence extends far beyond the bedside. As a leader managing diverse interdisciplinary teams caring for dozens of patients, he embodies steadiness under pressure, empathy in communication, and humor that eases even the most difficult days. His ability to unite and inspire others, while maintaining an unwavering focus on what is right for the patient, has driven remarkable growth and excellence within his teams. Keith Peyton’s quiet strength, integrity, and mentorship have left an indelible mark on hospice care and on all who have had the privilege to work beside him. He exemplifies the very best of the profession and is deeply deserving of this recognition.

2026

Noelle Marie Javier, MD FAAHPM

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Dr. Noelle Marie Javier is recognized for her transformative advocacy and leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) and beyond. As a healthcare professional with multiple marginalized intersectional identities, Dr. Javier has dedicated her career to promoting equitable, high-quality care for LGBTQI+ populations and other underrepresented communities.

In 2010, she founded a grassroots clinic in Rhode Island serving LGBTQI+ patients, and she has continued to expand her impact through local, national, and international initiatives. Within AAHPM, Dr. Javier has held key leadership roles, including Chair of the DEI Committee and past Chair of the LGBTQI+ Special Interest Group, driving programs such as the annual Pride webinar, incorporating DEI perspectives into JPSM manuscript reviews, and advocating for inclusive participation in the NexGen Scholars program.

Beyond AAHPM, she serves on the board of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, contributing to landmark advocacy victories, including safeguarding NIH research funding, supporting gender-affirming care, and upholding preventive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Javier’s scholarly and educational contributions include plenary presentations for the American Geriatrics Society, international lectures, and mentorship through programs such as the East Harlem Health Outreach Program. Her work in advance care planning for transgender and gender-expansive adults exemplifies her commitment to social justice and patient-centered care. Recognized as a 2024 Castle Connolly Top Doctor and named among Castle Connolly’s Top LGBTQ+ Doctors, Dr. Javier has created a more inclusive, welcoming, and equitable environment for patients, trainees, and colleagues across the field of palliative medicine.

2026

Danielle Chammas, MD FAAHPM

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Dr. Danielle Chammas is recognized for her pioneering integration of the humanities into hospice and palliative medicine, transforming patient care, education, and the culture of the field. She brings poetry, narrative, and art to the forefront of clinical practice—fostering connection, reflection, and healing for patients and clinicians alike.

At UCSF, Dr. Chammas co-leads the MERI Center’s Poetic Medicine Program, facilitating weekly sessions that reach participants across the nation and internationally, and serves as Co-Director of Patient and Caregiver Education. She developed the Legacy Project in the Symptom Management Service, using storytelling as a therapeutic intervention, and has led research exploring the healing impact of narrative expression. Through these initiatives, she has made the humanities a vital and evidence-informed component of serious illness care.

An inspiring educator, Dr. Chammas mentors fellows and trainees through the UCSF Narrative Medicine Elective and national workshops such as Poetic Medicine for the Wounded Healer. She co-founded the UCSF Division of Palliative Medicine Humanities Working Group and the Department of Medicine Arts and Humanities Faculty Interest Group, and chairs the AAHPM Humanities and Spirituality Special Interest Group. Dr. Chammas’ creative scholarship—spanning narrative essays, poetry, and visual art—has appeared in leading journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, and the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. Her work illuminates the emotional and existential dimensions of medicine, encouraging clinicians to embrace the full humanity of their patients and themselves. Through her artistry, teaching, and leadership, Dr. Chammas has redefined how the humanities can sustain compassion, connection, and meaning in palliative care.

2026

Christine Ritchie, MD MSPH FAAHPM

Massachusetts General Brigham & Harvard Medical School

Dr. Christine Ritchie was honored for her pioneering contributions to palliative care research, mentorship, and healthcare innovation. As Director of the Center for Optimal Aging and Serious Illness Research at Massachusetts General Brigham and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, she has devoted her career to integrating palliative care principles into everyday clinical practice and advancing person-centered care—especially within community and home-based settings. A leading healthcare delivery scientist, Dr. Ritchie co-led the NIH Palliative Care Research Cooperative for over a decade, translating research into practice and shaping national and state efforts to expand access to high-quality, community-based palliative care.

Her research has significantly advanced the field of dementia care, including her role in developing and adapting the Care Ecosystem model to better serve individuals living with dementia in home-based environments. She has also led influential studies on symptom burden and chronic pain among older adults, creating practical tools to measure symptom distress and applying a biopsychosocial framework to understand chronic pain in aging populations. A deeply committed mentor and educator, Dr. Ritchie has formally mentored more than 70 faculty and trainees, earning mentorship awards at the University of Louisville and the University of California, San Francisco. With over 400 publications, an h-index of 73, and more than 22,000 citations, her scholarship continues to shape the evidence base for compassionate, equitable, and effective care for people with serious illness.

2026

Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD PhD FAAHPM

University of Maryland Baltimore

Dr. Mary Lynn McPherson is recognized for her exceptional contributions to hospice and palliative medicine, advancing education, clinical practice, and patient-centered care. A pharmacist and palliative care expert, Dr. McPherson has dedicated her career to optimizing medication management for patients with serious illness, ensuring safety, efficacy, and compassionate care.

Dr. McPherson has shaped the field through her leadership in education and mentorship, training countless clinicians, pharmacists, and trainees in symptom management, opioid stewardship, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She has developed widely used educational programs, authored authoritative textbooks and guidelines, and published extensively on palliative pharmacotherapy, setting the standard for integrating pharmacy expertise into hospice and palliative care teams.

Her influence extends to national policy and professional organizations. Dr. McPherson has advised the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, contributing to standards in opioid prescribing, palliative care delivery, and equitable access to care. Her advocacy has enhanced both the quality and reach of hospice and palliative services across the United States. Through her scholarship, mentorship, and leadership, Dr. McPherson has strengthened the workforce, advanced evidence-based practice, and ensured that patients with serious illness receive thoughtful, compassionate care. Her career exemplifies the integration of clinical expertise, educational innovation, and professional leadership, leaving a lasting impact on hospice and palliative medicine and on the clinicians she continues to inspire.

2026

Laura Petrillo, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Dr. Laura Petrillo is recognized for her outstanding contributions as an early-career investigator advancing the science and practice of palliative care. A palliative care physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Petrillo has devoted her career to improving quality of life for people with advanced cancer, particularly those living longer in the era of novel therapies. Her innovative research has illuminated key unmet needs—such as coping with uncertainty, enhancing patient-oncologist communication, and aligning care with patients’ goals and values—and developed evidence-based interventions that are shaping modern supportive oncology.

With support from a National Cancer Institute K08 award, Dr. Petrillo leads the POISE randomized controlled trial, a pioneering blended palliative care and survivorship model for patients with lung cancer. She recently completed the UPLIFT trial, an educational intervention for patients receiving immunotherapy, presented at the 2024 AAHPM Annual Assembly. Her research excellence has been recognized with the AAHPM Paper Award and AAHPM Research Scholar Award, underscoring her commitment to rigorous inquiry and translation of evidence into practice. Beyond her research, Dr. Petrillo is a passionate mentor and leader within the palliative care community. She co-founded the AAHPM Early Investigators Forum, chairs the AAHPM Research Committee, and helped establish the Serious Illness Research Consultancy Program to expand access to research mentorship nationwide. Through her scientific leadership, mentorship, and dedication to patient-centered innovation, Dr. Petrillo is shaping the future of palliative care—advancing both the evidence base and the humanistic spirit at the heart of the field.

2026

Kimberly Johnson, MD MHS

Duke University School of Medicine

2026

American Heart Association

Dallas, TX

The American Heart Association (AHA) is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. They are fierce advocates for increasing communication with patients and physicians about the value of palliative care alongside a cardiovascular disease diagnosis, which is still the number one chronic illness in the U.S. 

Dempsey Center

Westbrook, ME

The Dempsey Center in Maine was founded by award winning actor Patrick Dempsey in 2008 with a goal to provide personalized and comprehensive cancer care at no cost. The Dempsey Center focuses on supportive care for both patients and families which is a crux of palliative care. The Center was established based on Dempsey’s personal experience as a primary caregiver for his mother, which now serves as the driving force behind his advocacy. 

Yuki E. Noguchi

NPR Correspondent

Yuki Noguchi merits the AAHPM Presidential Citation for exceptional, sustained journalism that has elevated public understanding of supportive and palliative care with national reach. Through her reporting at National Public Radio, Yuki has brought national attention to hospice and palliative care workforce shortages and burnout, particularly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic; examined inequities in access to pain control, home-based services, and serious-illness care; and powerfully chronicled the emotional, financial, and physical toll borne by young persons with cancer and family caregivers. Her stories have also explored end-of-life decision-making, advance care planning, and the real-world consequences of policy and reimbursement decisions on patients and clinicians, consistently centering dignity, quality of life, and patient voice in her reporting. Her work stands out in journalism as being informational to the public, influential to policymakers, and in broadly advancing the collective understanding and acceptance of palliative care as an essential component of high-quality healthcare.