On Friday, August 12th, 2022, we lost a member, founder, mentor, and most importantly friend.  Our long-time PAHPM president and member, Kathy Kemle passed away unexpectedly.  The news has left many of us heartbroken, and all missing something really important.  Kathy touched so many of our lives in so many ways.  Whether as a member of PAHPM, a student who precepted with her, a colleague who collaborated on a project, presentation and even textbook—we all are connected to Kathy in some way.  We are also all in debt to her gift as a leader, mentor, forerunner, and motivator.  She shepherded many of us into the fields of geriatric, palliative and hospice medicine.  She inspired many of us to do a little bit more, and believe in ourselves. 

Please visit our “Remembering Kathy” page and share how she has impacted you.

Remembering Kathy

Check out the newest episodes of our PAHPM Guiding Hands Podcast.  Hear from last years recipient of the PAHPM Student Scholarship, Anna Anthony.  And if you have questions about PAs and hospice, check out our podcast with AAPAs Trevor Simon! Click below for a link to all our episodes, also found on Spotify!

Wednesday June 21st is Virtual Lobby Day in Support of PCHETA—the Palliative Care and Hopsice Education and Training Act. 

Please support the efforts of the Patient Quality of Life Coaltion, of which PAHPM is a member, in encouraging Senators to support advancement of PCHETA this year.

Please help us gain momentum and make this the year, PCHETA passes.  Contact your Senators!

PCHETA will:

• Educate healthcare professionals and provide specific palliative training
  
• Create Awareness of palliative care and serious-illness care needs and training
  
• Increase Research in palliative care to better serve our patients and families experiencing serious illness.
  

If you’re on social media such as Twitter, please consider posting and tagging your home Senators.

You can see if they are a co-sponsor already by clicking here, and if you don’t see their name yet, ask them to support PCHETA and be a co-sponsor.

Here are some Twitter basics and phrasing:

—include:  #PCHETA, @PatientQoL, and #PasDoingPalliative in your Tweet

—include your Senators tag as well! @________

—The ASK is to Co-sponsor, and if they are already, Thank Them!

Example:

@McConnellPress please cosponsor #S4260! By advancing education, awareness & research, #PCHETA will improve quality of care & quality of life for patients & families facing #seriousillness. This bill has bipartisan support & is endorsed by 50+ orgs. #hpm #hapc

Thanks for helping us keep the #PCHETA momentum going!

Having trouble finding a palliative care job?  Not sure how to respond to, “we only hire NPs” for palliative care jobs? 

Visit our new Career Page—it’s a member only benefit, so you’ll need to make sure you sign in!

We’d also love to hear your questions, comments, successes!  Visit our PAHPM Forum and post on the job topic so we all can see and learn!

The Eva Dimitrov, MD & PAHPM Student Scholarship:
Now Accepting Applications!

Our annual student scholarship application cycle is now open!  For complete details on the scholarship and how to apply, check out the PAHPM Student Scholarship Info & Application page.

It is now time to Vote for our 2022 PAHPM Board Elections.

IF you have not already received your email with links to vote, please click below to visit our Election webpage!

Proud of the work our group has done to win the AAPA CO Outreach & Advocacy Award, Honorable Mention, for 2022!

Help Move PCHETA Forward! 

Next week, the Senate plans to introduce the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) legislation previously passed in the House.  There is hope that this could be the year it gets passed.  This bill will help train and expand the HPM workforce, including PAs.  Please visit the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Advocacy Action Center for links to review the legislation and to contact your congressional leaders and share your support.

PAHPM has joined our other coalition partners in support of this, and remain active in moving this important piece of legislation forward.

PAHPM Members!

PA Student Member Madison Reynolds will be presenting her Capstone Project on:

Physician Assistants in Palliative Medicine: An Exploration of Physician Assistants in Palliative Medicine in Iowa

May 16, 2022 7pm CST

Zoom Link & Event Info

Please mark your calendars and support Madison's efforts!

Wondering exactly what a PA can do with hospice nationally? Check out a new member-created presentation on The Role of PAs in Palliative Medicine and Hospice on our Hospice Education Page. Hopefully this will help answer some of those questions!

Have more questions?  Use our PAHPM Forum to ask question, get answers, and share your experiences.

It will take a village, but we will advance PAs further in HPM!