Frank D. Ferris M.D. is the recipient of the 2005 CHPCA Leadership Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of hospice palliative care in Canada.
Dr. Ferris personifies what it means to be a leader in hospice palliative care by envisioning the path ahead and ensuring that all decisions he is part of puts the patient and his or her family first to ensure quality end-of-life care.
Dr. Ferris is the principal author of the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association’s resource ‘A Model to Guide Hospice Palliative Care: Based on National Principles and Norms of Practice.’ This resource details nationally accepted norms and principles of practice in the field of hospice palliative care. In May 2003, Dr. Ferris was awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by the Governor General of Canada for his boundless dedication to Hospice Palliative Care in Canada. He is also the Co-founder of Toronto’s Hospice Palliative Care Network Project (HPCNet) and he is a consultant to the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario.
In accepting his award, Dr. Ferris stated, “It is thrilling that Canada now leads the world with a national model to make hospice palliative care available to every Canadian, urban or rural, in his or her own home, when he or she needs it.” He went on further to state, “I can imagine no greater professional satisfaction than anticipating the relief from pain and suffering to be provided to millions of Canadians. I am very pleased to be part of the hospice palliative care professional family in Canada and I am equally pleased to accept this award.”
Gael Page, President, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, stated “Dr. Ferris is a true leader dedicated to ensuring the advancement of hospice palliative care and quality end-of-life care in Canada.” Sharon Baxter, Executive Director, Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association of Canada added, “Now based at the San Diego Hospice & Palliative Care in California, Dr. Ferris continues his commitment to hospice palliative care as a national champion in Canada.”