Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care slated for March 4-7, 2026 in San Diego, CA
Three-day conference brings together colleagues and peers to help advance key healthcare specialties and improve patient care
CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) are excited to announce the 2026 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care which will be held at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA, from March 4-7, 2026. This event provides a unique experience, allowing hospice and palliative care professionals to make connections, raise burning questions and share best practices to advance patient care. Information for registration and about the event is available here.
The engaging three-day conference will host more than three thousand healthcare professionals to connect on the latest scientific research, clinical best practices, and practice-related guidance to advance the specialty and improve patient care. The 2026 Annual Assembly will be presented in person as well as providing on-demand access of recorded content for three months.
One of this year's featured keynotes will focus on "Dementia-Specific Palliative Care: Integrating Evidence into Clinical Care Across Settings". The interdisciplinary expert panel includes Laura Hanson, MD MPH, Maribeth Gallagher, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, David Lynch, BMBS and Greg Sachs, MD will showcase leading models of dementia-specific palliative care across home, hospital, and hospice settings, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches, caregiver engagement, and real-world implementation.
Along with this year's keynote sessions, there will be Deep Dive panels which highlight key conversations within the field. These Deep Dives discussions will be with the top experts in the respective fields and will be free to attendees but pre-registration is required:
- Opioid Conversion Calculations and Breakthrough Pain: Innovation Informing the Art and Science
- Navigating Suicidality in Serious Illness Care: From Practical Tools to Therapeutic Presence:
- The Evolving Policy Environment
"The Annual Assembly is an impactful opportunity for hospice and palliative care professionals to collaborate and continue driving progress in patient care," said AAHPM CEO Pierre Désy, MPH. "As AAHPM's new CEO, I am eager to engage in important conversations and celebrate my colleagues' achievements in the hospice and palliative care fields."
"Every year, our colleagues and peers gather to connect and learn from each other," said Annual Assembly Planning Committee Co-Chairs, R. Morgan Bain, MD and Michelle Webb, DNP. "The 2026 Annual Assembly will be filled with high-quality content, engaging and thought-provoking conversations as well as opportunities to further education through science-based research."
Attendees may also sign up to attend pre-conference workshops, which will take place on Wednesday, March 4. Workshop topics include best practices in hospice and palliative care, leadership, improving the care of diverse patient populations and evidence-based approaches for managing complex pain and symptoms in individuals with serious illnesses.
"Every Annual Assembly is a testament of our deep commitment to advancing hospice and palliative care," said HPNA CEO Ginger Marshall. "Through thoughtful discussions and collaboration, we bring together the best minds in the field to inspire innovation and elevate the work that is being done across our profession."
AAHPM and HPNA have prioritized the creation of a welcoming and safe environment for in-person attendees. For more information on 2026 Annual Assembly, please visit annualassembly.org.
About American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is the professional organization for physicians specializing in hospice and palliative medicine (HPM), as well as nurses, social workers, and other health and spiritual care practitioners committed to improving quality of life for seriously ill patients and their families. For more than 30 years, AAHPM has been dedicated to expanding access to high quality palliative care, and advancing the discipline of HPM, through professional education and training, development of a specialist workforce, support for clinical practice standards, research and public policy. AAHPM is governed by a 20-member Board of Directors and managed by a full-time staff along with additional support provided by Association Management Center (AMC) based in Chicago, IL.
About Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association
The Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association was established in 1986 and is the national professional organization that represents the specialty of palliative nursing, which includes hospice and palliative nurses. We support the profession through education programs, research, and advocacy. Learn more at https://advancingexpertcare.org/.
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SOURCE American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine