Awards

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 upcoming Annual Assembly, funds toward travel-related expenses, and a commemorative plaque honoring their efforts 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. All members of AAHPM are eligible for this award. View past winners by clicking Read More.

2025

Dr. Thomas Smith was awarded for his transformative impact on palliative care, leadership in oncology, and unwavering mentorship. As Director of Palliative Medicine at Johns Hopkins, he expanded the palliative care division from a modest two-clinician service to a full-fledged academic division with a thriving fellowship program, grant-funded researchers, and quality care access for patients and families across the Johns Hopkins network.

Dr. Smith’s influential work includes pioneering early palliative referrals for advanced cancer patients, as reflected in the 2017 ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline. Known for his teaching and mentorship, he has educated providers globally and inspired a new generation of palliative care leaders. Even as he transitions to retirement, Dr. Smith’s dedication to patient care, his drive for palliative care integration, and his generous support of future leaders continue to leave an enduring legacy. His achievements exemplify the values of this Lifetime Achievement Award.

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.

2025

Dr. Robert “Bob” Arnold was honored with the Gerald H. Holman Distinguished Service Award for his extraordinary commitment to hospice and palliative care and his outstanding service to the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). As the founder of the palliative care program at the University of Pittsburgh, he made lasting contributions to the field, and he continues his impactful work as Vice Chair for Faculty Development at Mount Sinai. Widely respected for his expertise in bioethics and clinician-patient communication, Dr. Arnold co-founded VitalTalk to enhance healthcare professionals’ interactions with seriously ill patients.

His involvement with AAHPM includes numerous committee and task force roles, leadership positions, and a term as AAHPM President, where he played a pivotal role in shaping national palliative care standards. A dedicated mentor, he has guided many investigators, fellows, and students, advancing diversity by co-developing a local program that introduces underrepresented medical students to palliative care education and research. His invaluable contributions have been recognized with several AAHPM honors throughout his career.

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.

2025

Dr. Kelley Newcomer received the award for her exceptional and innovative contributions to adult and pediatric hospice care. As Associate Medical Director of Adult and Pediatric Hospice at the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, Dr. Newcomer demonstrates outstanding expertise, using traditional therapies in novel ways to meet challenging cases. Her leadership led to the creation of a pioneering pediatric hospice program, setting a new standard of care.

Collaboration with multiple children’s hospitals led by Dr. newcomer has led to enabling dignified end-of-life transitions for pediatric patients while maintaining high-quality adult care. Inspired by Dr. Josefina B. Magno’s legacy, Dr. Newcomer pushes the boundaries of hospice and palliative care through compassionate dedication and continuous improvement, embodying the core values of the Josefina B. Magno Distinguished Hospice Physician Award.

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.

2025

Chantal Curell received this award for her exceptional dedication to pediatric hospice care and her influential leadership within the Hospice of Michigan organization. Beginning her career as a primary/field hospice nurse, Chantal provided compassionate care to countless children and their families, ensuring they had the support they needed during difficult times. As her role expanded, she helped grow and managed the statewide pediatric hospice program, nearly tripling the number of children served.

Known for her compassionate and empowering leadership, Chantal trains her team to uphold high standards of care, addressing both clinical skills and the emotional challenges of pediatric hospice work. Her initiatives include conceiving, co-developing, producing, and championing the Pediatric Resources and Education Program (PREP), which educates healthcare providers statewide on pediatric hospice, and advocating for standardized care, spiritual support, and legacy services. Chantal’s empathetic leadership and dedication to children’s hospice care make her a true asset to her team and the broader community.

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. All members of AAHPM are eligible for this award.

2025

Dr. VJ Periyakoil was awarded the Richard Payne Outstanding Achievement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award for her pioneering commitment to DEI principles in hospice and palliative care. Her work has advanced equitable care for diverse populations through clinical practice, education, and research. At Stanford, she founded the Longevity, Equity, and Aging Research Consortium, focusing on training health professionals from underrepresented backgrounds.

Within AAHPM, Dr. Periyakoil helped to establish the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and the South and East Asian SIG, while leading efforts like the JPSM’s first guidance on addressing race and racial disparities. Beyond AAHPM, she has championed DEI initiatives in organizations like the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Hospice and Palliative Medicine SEP Committee where she championed the integration of a DEI focus into the board’s question bank as well as the AAMC where she founded and chaired the Diversity Committee among other achievements. Her resources, such as the Multicultural Palliative Care database, the Respect JEDI Project and her mentorship of over 500 minority health professionals, underscore her lasting impact on DEI in palliative care, making her a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

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.

2025

Dr. Cory Ingram received the award for his exceptional contributions to hospice and palliative care, combining deep knowledge in the humanities with compassionate patient care. As co-leader of the SORC ceremony at AAHPM, Dr. Ingram guided fellow clinicians with respect and humility, fostering meaningful ceremonies that highlighted the humanity within palliative care.

Outside the Assembly, Dr. Ingram’s work as a hospice director and “listener poet” with The Good Listening Project showcase his creativity, empathy, and commitment to healthcare resilience. Known for integrating literature and art into his practice, he enriches his work as a physician and mentor with a profound appreciation for life’s mystery and beauty. His humility, relentless pursuit of knowledge, and dedication to sharing his insights make him a respected educator and friend in the field, embodying the compassionate and skillful spirit of palliative care.

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.

2025

Dr. Alexander Smith was awarded for his groundbreaking research and mentorship in geriatric palliative care. A professor at UCSF, Dr. Smith has authored over 150 high-impact publications on prognosis, communication, and disability among older adults. Known for his widely-used prognostic tool, ePrognosis, Dr. Smith’s work empowers clinicians in palliative care, geriatrics, and general medicine with accessible evidence-based resources. His research explores significant topics like prognostication, major medical events for dementia patients, and palliative care for diverse populations. Dr. Smith’s mentorship has led numerous mentees to prestigious career advancements, many now independently funded researchers. He directs UCSF’s Aging Research T32 fellowship and founded the GeriPal podcast, a platform that translates complex research into clinical practice.

Additionally, he co-organizes AAHPM’s annual gatherings, serves as Executive Editor of JAGS, and leads the Junior Reviewer Program. Dr. Smith’s exceptional mentorship and scholarly influence make him a deserving recipient of the AAHPM Award for Excellence in Scientific Research in Palliative Care.

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.

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.

2025

Dr. Stacie Levine received this award for her exceptional contributions to palliative medicine education at both regional and national levels. Since joining UChicago in 2002, Dr. Levine has been pivotal in establishing and growing palliative medicine programs, including creating the CAPE program at Pritzker School of Medicine and securing ACGME accreditation for the HPM fellowship. She also fostered collaborative education and mentorship among HPM fellowship directors in Chicagoland.

For over a decade, she has been consecutively funded by the Coleman Foundation and serves as co-director for the Coleman Palliative Medicine Training Program, providing interprofessional training to a diverse group of clinicians. The innovative, multimodal approach to teaching—often pairing different specialists for co-teaching—has significantly enriched the field, supporting the development of a well-rounded healthcare workforce. Dr. Levine’s dedication to diversity and inclusion, mentorship, and her supportive nature make her an aspirational educator and colleague.

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.

2025

Dr. Jennifer Gabbard received this award for her outstanding contributions to hospice and palliative medicine research, particularly in supporting high-quality, evidence-based care for seriously ill patients. As an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Serious Illness and Palliative Medicine Research Program at Wake Forest, Dr. Gabbard has led efforts to develop innovative care models, foster multidisciplinary research, and mentor emerging palliative scientists. Her research has focused on improving care for older adults, including those with cognitive impairments and frailty, by implementing and evaluating non-pharmacological interventions to enhance quality of life and advance care planning.

Dr. Gabbard’s work has contributed to securing 20 grants, and her telehealth-based initiatives, like the TeleVoice trial, have significantly advanced care for dementia patients. Her leadership extends to national collaborations, educational program development, and impactful mentorship, making her an exemplary leader.

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.

2025

Vital Talk is the premier communication training organization for clinicians caring for patients with serious illness. Vital Talk has had a tremendous impact on the field of hospice and palliative care with thousands of clinicians being educated using their evidence-based approaches to communication training. Their work contributes to a broader cultural shift in medicine towards recognizing the importance of communication in managing serious illness and integrating palliative care principles into standard medical practice. Vital Talk was established by Drs. Arnold, Back, and Tulsky.

Peggy Maguire has played a pivotal role in establishing programs that foster leadership skills among emerging palliative care professionals. Under her leadership, the Cambia Foundation has supported innovative projects that integrate palliative care into healthcare systems. These initiatives have elevated the standard of care and encouraged the next generation from all disciplines to embrace leadership roles within the field of hospice and palliative care. She has served as a role-model for scores of leaders in the field.

Dr. Shanafelt has significantly advanced the field of clinician well-being through his extensive research on burnout and its causes, particularly in high-stress medical environments. He has developed and implemented interventions to reduce burnout and promote resilience, emphasizing the importance of supportive workplace cultures. As a leader in well-being initiatives, Dr. Shanafelt has created educational resources for healthcare organizations, equipping them to address clinician well-being effectively. His advocacy has raised awareness of these critical issues, influencing policies that prioritize the mental health of healthcare providers and fostering a culture of compassion within the industry.

Early Career and Professionals in Training Paper Abstract Awards

The 2025 Annual Assembly paper awards recognize the highest scored accepted peer-reviewed paper abstracts, as determined by the 2025 Annual Assembly Planning Committee during the subsequent call abstract review and selection process. To be eligible, faculty must include representation from at least one AAHPM member*.

Early Career and Professionals in Training Poster Awards

The 2025 Annual Assembly poster awards recognize the highest scored accepted peer-reviewed poster abstracts, as determined by the 2025 Annual Assembly Planning Committee during the subsequent call abstract review and selection process. To be eligible, faculty must include representation from at least one AAHPM member*.