AAHPM recognizes the importance of celebrating your achievements, in addition to supporting your critical work and passion for the field. Outstanding individuals are recognized with a variety of awards in hospice and palliative care.
Award recipients will receive complimentary registration to the Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care, funds toward travel-related expenses, and an award celebrating their achievements and contributions to our field.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognizes outstanding contributions and significant publications that have helped shape the direction of the field of hospice and palliative care.
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.
Winners
2025: Thomas J. Smith, MD FACP FASCO FAAHPM
2024: Janet Bull, MD MBA FAAHPM
2023: Joan M. Teno, MD MS
2022: J. Randall Curtis, MD MPH*
2021: Geoff Dunn, MD FACS
2020: Ronald J. Crossno, MD HMDC FAAFP FAAHPM
2019: Martha Twaddle, MD HMDC FACP FAAHPM
2018: Timothy E. Quill, MD MACP 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
*deceased
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.
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.
Winners
2025: Robert M. Arnold, MD FAAHPM
2024: Hospice Policy Ad Hoc Work Group (HPAWG)
2023: No winner selected
2022: Kyle Edmonds, MD FAAHPM
2021: AAHPM Entrustable Professional Activities and Curricular Milestones Workgroup
2020: Russel K. Portenoy, MD
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 FACP FAAHPM
2014: Chad Kollas, MD FAAHPM FACP FCLM
2013: Daniel Fischberg, MD PhD FAAHPM
2012: Amy P. Abernethy, MD PhD 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 MPH
2007: Paul Rousseau, MD FACP FAAHPM
2006: C. Porter Storey Jr., MD FACP FAAHPM
2005: David Weissman, MD FAAHPM
2004: Charles 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
*deceased
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.
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.
Winners
2025: Kelley Newcomer, MD FAAHPM
2024: Joseph Shega, MD
2023: Patrick White, MD FACP PhD FAAHPM
2022: John Manfredonia, DO HMDC FACOFP FAAHPM
2021: Ruth Thomson, DO MBA HMDCB FACOI FAAHPM
2020: Todd R. Coté, MD HMDC FAAFP FAAHPM
2019: Kevin Dieter, MD HMDC 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 HMDC FACP FAAHPM
2014: Ronald J. Crossno, MD HMDC FAAFP FAAHPM
2013: Janet H. Bull, MD FAAHPM
2012: Gail Austin Cooney, MD FAAHPM
2011: Chuck Wellman, MD HMDC FAAHPM
2010: Barry M. Kinzbrunner, MD FAAHPM
2009: David M. McGrew, MD HMDC FAAHPM
2008: Laurel H. Herbst, MD*
2007: Perry Fine, MD
2006: Cheryl Arenella, MD MPH
2005: Martha Twaddle, MD FAAHPM
*deceased
Distinguished Hospice Interdisciplinary Team Member Award
This award recognizes a hospice interdisciplinary team member who provides the highest quality services and innovative programs and who demonstrates exemplary dedication to the practice of palliative care in a hospice setting.
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.
Winners
2025: Chantal Curell, BSN RN CPN CHPP
2024: Sandra Discala, PharmD BCPS FAAHPM
2023: Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD MA MDE BCPS FAAHPM
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 commitment to improving care for diverse, vulnerable, and underrepresented patient populations.
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.
Winners
2025: VJ Periyakoil, MD FAAHPM
2024: Karen Bullock, PhD
2023: Ramona Rhodes, MD MPH MSCS
2022: Tammie E. Quest, MD FAAHPM
2021: Ronit Elk, PhD FAAHPM
2020: Kimberly S. Johnson, MD MSHS
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.
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.
Winners
2025: Cory Ingram, MD MS FAAHPM
2024: Myra Bluebond-Langner, PhD
2023: John Mondanaro, PhD LCAT MT-BC CCLS
2022: Nicole Robinson, MFA
2021: Roshi Joan Halifax, PhD
2020: Ronald M. Epstein, MD FAAHPM
2019: Judith Redwing Keyssar, RN
2018: Frank Ostaseski
2017: Lucille Marchand, MD BSN FAAHPM
2016: Candy Chang
2015: Christina M. Puchalski, MD FACP FAAHPM
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, MD
2001: David Barnard, PhD JD and Sandra L. Bertman, PhD LCSW
*deceased
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.
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.
Winners
2025: Alexander Smith, MD MS MPH
2024: Nathan Goldstein, MD FAAHPM
2023: Amy Kelley, MD MSHS FAAHPM
2022: Areej El-Jawahri, MD
2021: Melissa Aldridge, PhD MPH MBA
2020: Rebecca Sudore, MD FAAHPM
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 MSN RN CHPN FAAN
2006: James Tulsky, MD FACP FAAHPM
2005: Joan M. Teno MD MS
2004: Eduardo Bruera, MD FAAHPM
*deceased
Award for Excellence in Education and Training
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.
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.
Winners
2025: Stacie Levine, MD CMD FAAHPM
2024: Katie Neuendorf, MD MHPE FAAHPM
2023: Steven Pantilat, MD FACP FAAHPM
2022: Janet Abrahm, MD FACP FAAHPM
2021: Bob Arnold, MD FACP FAAHPM
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).
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.
Winners
2025: Jennifer Gabbard, MD
2024: Ashwin Kotwal, MD
2023: Erica Kaye, MD MPH FAAHPM
2022: Kate Courtright, MD MS
2021: Laura Gelfman, MD MPH FAAHPM
2020: Thomas LeBlanc, MD MA HMS FAAHPM
2019: Dio Kavalieratos, PhD FAAHPM
2018: Abby Rosenberg, MD MS MA
2017: Arif Kamal, MD MBA MHS FACP FASCO FAAHPM
2016: Yael Schenker, MD MAS FAAHPM
The State of the Science in Palliative Care Research Mentoring Award
This award was created to honor the fundamental necessity of research mentorship as an essential pillar of a robust and growing palliative care scientific community. The award recognizes prominent senior scientists in palliative and hospice care who have demonstrated: 1) a sustained, high-impact program of research that has promoted the development of other researchers in the area, 2) visionary leadership on a national level to advance early career palliative care scientists, and 3) inspirational mentorship to future generations of palliative care researchers.
2026
Kimberly Johnson, MD MHS
Duke University School of Medicine
Dr. Kimberly S. Johnson was recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to palliative care research and mentorship, with a particular focus on advancing equity in serious illness care. For more than two decades, she has conducted high-impact research examining disparities in palliative and end-of-life care, generating over $60 million in continuous funding and producing more than 100 peer-reviewed publications that have been cited over 11,000 times. Her early work, including the landmark study on the influence of spiritual beliefs on treatment preferences among African Americans, remains foundational in the field.
Equally impactful is Dr. Johnson’s mentorship. She has guided over 25 early-career investigators across disciplines and institutions, supporting mentees in securing K Awards, R01s, and leadership roles. Her approach combines authenticity, generosity, and rigor—providing hands-on guidance in research methods, grant writing, and manuscript development, while fostering resilience, independence, and a commitment to equity. Through her mentorship, she has created a multiplier effect, cultivating a generation of scholars dedicated to addressing disparities and advancing patient-centered care.
Dr. Johnson’s national leadership further underscores her influence. As Director of Duke’s REACH Equity Center, Associate Director of the Pepper Center Research Education Core, and co-Director of the Duke CTSA KL2 program, she has built infrastructure supporting over 60 early-career investigators, promoting diversity and excellence in palliative care research. She also leads initiatives to improve serious illness care for African Americans through CAPC and the trans-NIH ASCENT consortium. A visionary researcher, educator, and mentor, Dr. Johnson exemplifies the integration of scholarship, equity, and mentorship, shaping both the field of palliative care and the next generation of leaders.
Winners
2024: Marie Bakitas, DNSc CRNP AOCN ACHPN FPCN FAAN
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.
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.
Winners
2025: Vital Talk, Peggy Maguire and Tait Shanafelt, MD
2024: The Carter Family, Hospice Medical Director Certification Board (HMDCB) and International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC)
2023: The Bogetz Family; Vivek Murthy, MD MBA; Balfour Mount, MD OC OQ
2022: Association Management Center, Senator Tammy Baldwin, and National Institute on Aging
2021: Mr. Andy Baxter, Center to Advance Palliative Care, and Dr. Patrice Harris
2020: Y.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation, Blyth Taylor Lord, and Sally Weir CAE
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 Mog
Celebrating Excellence Every Five Years
Every five years, we honor individuals whose work has made a profound and lasting impact on the field of hospice and palliative care. These awards recognize both rising talent and enduring leadership, celebrating those who shape the future and those who have transformed the present.
Emerging Leaders
This award celebrates early-career professionals who demonstrate exceptional promise, innovation, and leadership in hospice and palliative care. Emerging Leaders are recognized for their forward-thinking contributions and their potential to drive meaningful change in the years ahead.
Visionaries in HAPC
Presented to individuals whose pioneering work has significantly advanced the field, this award honors those whose vision, dedication, and influence have left a lasting legacy. Visionaries are recognized for shaping the standards, practices, and future direction of hospice and palliative care