NHPCO Launches Virtual Interdisciplinary Conference that includes Presentation of National Hospice Volunteer Awards

Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards Celebrate Outstanding Volunteers

(Alexandria, Va) – Today, Dr. Ira Byock will present the opening keynote presentation of National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s 2020 Virtual Interdisciplinary Conference. In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, NHPCO re-envisioned this annual, in-person professional development conference to be an event unrolling over the course of three weeks (Oct. 12 – 30) – with live keynotes, daily discussion groups, networking opportunities, a virtual exhibit hall, and 50+ on-demand educational sessions available to registered participants through December 31, 2020.

A highlight of every Interdisciplinary Conference is the presentation of NHPCO’s Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards. These awards recognize hospice volunteers who best reflect the universal concept of volunteerism in its truest sense—serving as an inspiration to others. The honorees have made significant contributions to hospice programs in the areas of care delivery, organizational support, and teamwork.

“Throughout the course of this conference, we will celebrate volunteers who demonstrate remarkable service, compassion, and commitment. Their gift of caring has a profound impact on patients, families, and the communities they serve, and we cannot say thank you enough for the support they provide,” said Edo Banach, NHPCO president and CEO.

The 2020 recipients of the Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards:

Patient and Family Service Award:
Ginger Wheeler
Big Bend Hospice – Tallahassee, Florida

Organizational Support Award:
Rachel Carver
Hospice of Redmond – Redmond, Oregon

Specialized Volunteer Service Award:
Cynthia Shannon “Z” Zeisloft
Columbus Hospice of Georgia & Alabama – Columbus, Georgia

Young Leader Award:
Colleen Martin
Empath Health / Suncoast Hospice – Clearwater, Florida

The inaugural We Honor Veterans Volunteer Service Award:
John Stern
Angela Hospice – Livonia, Michigan

Learn more about the accomplishments of this outstanding volunteers by watching the award presentation videos online.

“Hospice volunteers play an indispensable role in enabling hospice and palliative care organizations to offer the highest-quality care and support possible for the people they serve. By sharing their time, energy, and expertise, volunteers bring compassion and caring to the lives of those in need,” noted Banach. “And even though this year’s Interdisciplinary Conference has our provider community gathering virtually, it is still an honor to recognize the work of some outstanding hospice volunteers.”

These volunteer awards were created and administered by NHPCO’s MyNHPCO Professional Community, a section of the organization’s membership that promotes the contributions and skills of the different professional disciplines that make up the hospice interdisciplinary team.

NHF Silent Auction
As part of the conference activities, NHPCO’s affiliate organization the National Hospice Foundation will host an online silent auction, open to the public. The NHF Silent Auction features generously donated items from NHF supporters. All proceeds from this auction will benefit the NHF Workforce Emergency Support Fund. This fund will provide hospice and palliative care workers with PPE supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be used to provide assistance to hospice staff who have experienced loss due to emergency events such as wildfires and hurricanes.

Registration for the conference with access to on-demand content will be open through December.

Learn more about hospice and palliative care at NHPCO’s CaringInfo.org website.

About NHPCO
As the leading organization representing integrated, person-centered healthcare, NHPCO gives ongoing inspiration, practical guidance, and legislative representation to hospice and palliative care providers so they can enrich experiences for patients and ease caregiving responsibilities and emotional stress for families.

Tags: hospice volunteers, hospice volunteer awards, NHPCO, Edo Banach, volunteerism, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization