NHPCO’s Annual Leadership Conference: Week in Review

(Alexandria, VA) – The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) hosted its annual leadership conference (ALC2023) in Little Rock, Arkansas, September 30 – October 4, 2023. More than 900 attendees and exhibitors joined for the in-person program which included action-packed days of keynotes, concurrent education sessions, networking opportunities, award presentations, and celebrations.

Early arrival attendees participated in four pre-conference workshops: the Hospice Manager Development Program Foundation Course, the Hospice Compliance Certificate Program, the Hospice Quality Certificate Program, and the Goals of Care Communication workshop. Sunday concluded with the Kickoff Keynote, Jennifer O’Brien, Author of The Hospice Doctor’s Widow, where attendees learned about supporting the non-professional caregiver and the parallels the challenges of caregiving have to those of leadership.

Monday, October 2 was the first day of the full conference. After sunrise yoga in the Wellness Lounge, attendees joined the Opening Keynote, Marcus Whitney, healthcare investor and innovator. Before Whitney took the stage, NHPCO interim CEO, Ben Marcantonio and NHPCO Board Chair, Melinda Gruber each shared remarks about the future of the hospice and palliative care community, the need for unity, and NHPCO’s future collaboration with NAHC.

“In many ways, this is our time,” said Marcantonio. “We must be courageous about opening windows to new ways of thinking about serious-illness and end-of-life care, new ways of providing that care, and new ways of resourcing the care in the decades ahead.”

During the annual Networking and Awards Lunch, MyNHPCO leaders presented the Volunteers are the Foundation of Hospice Awards, recognizing hospice volunteers who embody the concept of volunteerism at the heart of hospice—improving the patient experience and serving as an inspiration to others. The honorees made significant contributions to hospice programs in the areas of organizational support, patient and family service, specialized volunteer service, and We Honor Veterans volunteer service; NHPCO also recognized a teen volunteer with the Young Leader Service Award.

Tuesday’s Keynote session – Jonah and David Stillman, a father-son multigenerational team, explored the differences in each generation’s approach to the workplace and offered recommendations for optimizing cross-generational teamwork. The afternoon began with Peer-to-Peer Connections sessions, where attendees met in topic-focused groups to ask questions about current challenges and share best practices before heading to the National Hospice Foundation 2023 Gala where the Galen Miller Leadership Awards were presented.

During the gala, attendees enjoyed delicious food and drinks, danced to Little Rock’s Diamond Empire Band, and participated in live and silent auctions. Thanks to the support and participation of NHPCO members and supporters, the National Hospice Foundation, NHPCO’s fundraising affiliate, raised over $200,000 throughout the evening. All funds will support the Hospice Workforce Emergency Support Fund.

The highlight of the night was NHPCO’s presentation of the Galen Miller Leadership Awards, honoring the outstanding contributions of Judi Lund Person and Norman McRae to the hospice community.

On the last day of the conference, attendees gathered for the final Keynote, Breaking Ice with Pillsbury House Theater for a courageous and productive dialogue around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We Honor Veterans presented the We Honor Veterans Outstanding Program Award to MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care. MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care is a Level Five We Honor Veterans partner and has been with the program since its inception. Before leaving Little Rock, attendees joined one of five final concurrent education sessions, including a roundtable with representatives from the Medicare Administrative Contractors.

NHPCO will continue to share updates from #ALC2023 across its social media platforms, a link to photos captured during the conference can be found here. On-demand content from the conference is available now through December 31, 2023, and includes recordings of select on-site sessions plus unique sessions designed specifically for online participation. ALC2024 will be held in Denver, Colorado from September 16 through September 18. Save the date now!

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About NHPCO
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is the nation’s largest and oldest membership association for providers who care for people affected by serious and life-limiting illness. Our members deliver and expand access to high-quality, person-centered interdisciplinary care to millions of Americans. NHPCO provides education and resources to support that mission. Together with our advocacy partner, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), we serve as the leading voice advancing public policy to improve serious-illness and end-of-life care, while our CaringInfo program provides free resources to educate and empower patients and caregivers. nhpco.org.

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