After 19 years of leadership at Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, we want to thank Sharon Baxter for all her work in improving hospice palliative care in Canada. Julie Lachance of Health Canada provided this excellent summary of Sharon’s legacy:
Thank you for your fearless leadership of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association for the past 19 years, and your tireless dedication to improving hospice palliative care in Canada and around the world. Your legacy includes:
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creating national norms of practice
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co-chairing the Coordinating Committee for the Canadian Strategy on Palliative Care
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serving as the secretariat for the Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition of Canada
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raising awareness and understanding of hospice palliative care
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developing a framework for advance care planning
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coordinating the Way Forward initiative to integrate palliative care across settings, for all people
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advocating for the expansion of the Compassionate Care Benefits, bereavement benefits, and compassionate companies
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facilitating knowledge exchange through annual conferences, learning institutes, meetings, print and online resources
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challenging politicians, policy makers, companies and communities to integrate palliative care into their core business and culture
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mentoring and encouraging generations of employees, colleagues, stakeholders and others to work or volunteer in hospice palliative care
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have known you over the decades, through all these initiatives. I wish you all the best in your retirement and future endeavors.