Arshia Madni, MD FAAP, Noelle Marie Javier, MD, Corey Tapper, MD MS, Nancy Dias, PhD MSN RN FPCN, Jon P. Furuno, PhD FSHEA FAAHPM
The 2025 Annual Assembly in Denver this past February was incredibly special because AAHPM and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) took a stand against the current political anti-DEI executive orders and intimidation and remained committed to celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion.
DEI-Focused Sessions
The Assembly offered over 30 DEI-focused sessions. Here are a few highlights.
On Thursday, AAHPM DEI and HPNA DEIB committee members collaborated to present Overcoming Barriers in Health Equity Work in Palliative and Hospice Care: A Multidisciplinary Approach. Advancing health equity in hospice and palliative care is a multidisciplinary endeavor that requires impactful clinical practice, research, and leadership initiatives. In this session, panelists shared their diverse experiences and discussed the role of interprofessional team members in advancing equitable care and addressing healthcare disparities through health equity–focused practice, research, and leadership.
On Friday the session Collective Bargaining: Tour of East and South Asian Cultural Medical Decision Making was presented by members of the AAHPM East and South Asian Forum. The interprofessional panel used clinical vignettes to model a systematic approach for identifying factors that influence decision-making preferences when caring for East and South Asian families facing serious illness.
On Friday the session Collective Bargaining: Tour of East and South Asian Cultural Medical Decision Making was presented by members of the AAHPM East and South Asian Forum. The interprofessional panel used clinical vignettes to model a systematic approach for identifying factors that influence decision-making preferences when caring for East and South Asian families facing serious illness.
The HPNA DEIB Committee led a session entitled Caring Through Controversy: Navigating DEIBJ in Hospice and Palliative Nursing. In today’s polarized climate, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice (DEIBJ) initiatives in healthcare, particularly in hospice and palliative care, face unprecedented challenges. This session explored strategies for navigating political pressures while addressing DEIBJ education and promotion of health equity.
All eight AAHPM Next Gen scholars presented at the Annual Assembly. The AAHPM Next Gen Scholars program plays a pivotal role in diversifying and strengthening the palliative care workforce. It not only exposes resident physicians to a rewarding career path but also equips them with transferable skills and valuable mentorship—all while contributing to the pursuit of equity and justice in health care. Congratulations to the scholars, and a huge thank you to their wonderful sponsors.
DEI Homerooms
The homerooms provided opportunities for attendees to reflect on and discuss the DEI-focused sessions they attended that day. AAHPM provided safe spaces to be vulnerable, share challenges, and show each other support in navigating these uncertain times. The Academy is so grateful to all who attended and engaged in these much-needed, meaningful discussions.
DEI Reception
Each year AAHPM and HPNA host a reception with food, drinks, networking, and music to celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of attendees. The reception took place after the identity community meetings on Thursday. Thank you to all who joined!
AAHPM Voices of Hospice and Palliative Care Panel
Presented on the main stage on Saturday, the Voices of Hospice and Palliative Care Panel gave powerful voice to the diversity of researchers and their stories within the field of hospice and palliative care through a series of short presentations in a moderated format. This incredible session was made possible through the support of donors including Dr. Sonia Malhotra and Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation.
Quiet Space and Labyrinth
A dedicated room for prayer or reflection served as a meditation space for individuals of all religious backgrounds or for anyone looking for a moment to reflect, pray, or quietly walk the labyrinth. Everyone was welcomed in this space.
Local Charities
The Annual Assembly once again partnered with SocialOffset to offer attendees the opportunity to contribute to local organizations in Denver that make a difference in people’s lives. There were four charities (in support of people of color, LGBTQI+ individuals, and reproductive freedom) to choose from, one of which was selected in observance of Assembly taking place during Black History Month (Center for African American Health). Attendees raised $600 total! Thank you to all who participated in this campaign—AAHPM sincerely appreciates your generosity.
Community Meetings
On Thursday, the four identity-based AAHPM communities (Black, Latino, LGBTQI+, and East and South Asian Professionals, Patients, and Families in HPC) held their annual in-person meetings. AAHPM’s community meetings provided safe spaces for in-depth conversations, networking, and goal setting. Please continue connecting and sharing throughout the year! If you haven’t already, join AAHPM’s communities online today.
The Academy is committed to educating and building a community that embraces DEI. AAHPM hopes you enjoyed Annual Assembly and looks forward to celebrating DEI again with you next year in San Diego! Don’t forget to share your feedback regarding the Assembly’s DEI initiatives through the postevent evaluations. You can also contact AAHPM DEI and Membership Engagement Manager Linda Sterling at [email protected].
Arshia Madni, MD FAAP, is an assistant professor of pediatrics and associate program director of the hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center/Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. She is past chair of the AAHPM DEI Committee.
Noelle Marie Javier, MD, is an associate professor in the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. She is chair of the AAHPM DEI Committee.
Corey Tapper, MD MS, is an assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Nancy Dias, PhD MSN RN FPCN, is an associate professor in the College of Nursing and Department of Nursing Science at East Carolina University. She is chair of the HPNA DEIB Committee.
Jon P. Furuno, PhD FSHEA FAAHPM, is a professor in the department of pharmacy practice at Oregon State University College of Pharmacy. He is chair elect of the AAHPM DEI Committee.