About Assembly

The Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care, jointly presented by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA), is the premier national conference dedicated to advancing the specialty.

Each year, more than 2,500 hospice and palliative care professionals come together for this dynamic three day event to share the latest research, explore clinical best practices, and gain practical guidance that improves patient care.

More than a conference, the Assembly is a place to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and reignite your passion for the work, leaving inspired and ready to lead.

About Hosts

AAHPM has more than 5,000 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.

Purpose and Impact

The Annual Assembly reflects AAHPM and HPNA’s shared commitment to advancing hospice and palliative care.

Through innovative, evidence informed education, the Assembly:

• Elevates clinical competence and care delivery
• Supports professional growth and lifelong learning
• Prepares clinicians for emerging models of care
• Strengthens collaboration across the field

The meeting serves as a powerful forum for learning, connection, and leadership development, helping shape the future of care for people living with serious illness.

Who Should Attend

The Annual Assembly is designed for the full interprofessional hospice and palliative care team, including:

Desired Outcome

The Annual Assembly is designed to advance knowledge, strengthen performance, and improve patient outcomes in hospice and palliative care.

Through interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement, participants will:

• Build knowledge and practical skills to enhance clinical practice
• Strengthen competence and confidence across roles
• Apply new strategies to influence decision making and care delivery
• Improve outcomes for patients and families living with serious illness

The Assembly supports the workforce by:

• Preparing professionals for emerging models of care
• Nurturing current and future leaders
• Promoting ongoing professional growth and well being
• Advancing inclusion across the healthcare community

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The planners of the 2027 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 2027 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 2027 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.