About Assembly

The Annual Assembly, jointly presented by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), is a 3-day event that brings together more than 3,400 of your colleagues and peers to share research, clinical best practices, and practice-related guidance to advance the specialty of hospice and palliative care. At the Assembly, we aim to connect with fellow clinicians and reignite attendees’ passion so they leave the meeting feeling inspired and rejuvenated.

AAHPM has more than 5,300 members who are physicians from many medical specialties who are committed to enhancing the practice of high-quality hospice and palliative medicine.

HPNA has more than 7,500 members who are nurses who specialize in the practice of hospice and palliative nursing, promoting excellence across the lifespan continuum.

Intended Audience

The Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care is designed for physicians, advanced practice and registered nurses, pharmacists, PAs, researchers/scientists, psychologists, social workers, administrators, fellows, residents, chaplains and spiritual care providers, professionals in training and those interested in acquiring, maintaining, or expanding the skills needed to function effectively in the field of hospice and palliative care.

Purpose

AAHPM and HPNA collectively identify and share the responsibility to advance the specialty of hospice and palliative care. The 2026 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care is dedicated to shaping the future of our field by delivering innovative, evidence-informed educational content that drives measurable improvements in clinical competence, care delivery, and professional development. Beyond learning, the Assembly is a dynamic forum for connection—bringing together a vibrant community of hospice and palliative care professionals to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, and support one another in a shared mission to improve care for people living with serious illness.

This conference equips the interprofessional workforce for emerging care models, nurtures the next generation of leaders, and champions the ongoing growth, well-being, and inclusion of all healthcare professionals.

Desired Outcome

Through interdisciplinary team collaboration and engagement, our Annual Assembly’s desired outcome is to enhance the learners’ knowledge/skills/strategy or performance to increase competency, influence behaviors, and/or improve patient outcomes in hospice and palliative care by equipping the interprofessional workforce with emerging care models, nurturing the next generation of leaders, and championing the ongoing growth, well-being, and inclusion of all healthcare professionals.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The planners of the 2026 Annual Assembly are committed to creating a welcoming environment in which all members see themselves reflected in the Annual Assembly experience and can join together to support one another in a diverse and inclusive atmosphere.

In support of this commitment, submitted abstracts are to address the impact of the proposed topic or research on underrepresented and underserved populations to better equip hospice and palliative care professionals with knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality, culturally sensitive person-centered care. You are asked to address issues of cultural humility and sensitivity in your abstract, case examples, and, where applicable, describe how issues of cultural diversity and inclusion are considered in the specific aims or session narrative of your proposed content.

Disclosures

The 2026 Annual Assembly Planning Committee, staff and reviewers disclosed no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

All relevant financial relationships identified throughout the faculty and content selection process will be successfully mitigated and disclosed prior to the individual(s) assuming their role in the 2026 Annual Assembly. For more information on the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, please visit https://accme.org/rule/identify-mitigate-and-disclose-relevant-financial-relationships/.

Disclaimer 

The accredited education clinical content selected for the 2026 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a health care provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition. Any recommendations made by the authors and faculty must be weighed against the healthcare clinician’s own clinical judgment based on, but not limited to, such factors as the patient’s condition, benefits versus risks of suggested treatment, and comparison with recommendations of pharmaceutical compendia and other medical and palliative care authorities. 

Accommodations Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

For potential participants in need of accommodation related to activity accessibility, please contact [email protected] or call (847) 375.4712 at least one month prior to the start of the conference. Information on how to submit a request for accommodation will be provided upon inquiry. After the request is received, a phone call discussion will be initiated with the potential participant to determine the appropriate and necessary accommodations and resources needed.

Policies and Waivers

The following policies and waivers will need to be accepted upon registration for assembly attendees:

Upcoming Assemblies 

Registration for the Annual Assembly typically opens in October. The price to attend the meeting reflects the costs associated with organizing and executing the event. Conference pricing is benchmarked against other hospice and palliative care programming.

Locations for the Annual Assembly are selected at least 5 years in advance and rotated between regions of the U.S. (West, Central, and East locations) to provide different parts of the country to more easily participate.