Foundation News
2025 has been an exceptional year at the Cunniff-Dixon Foundation
2025 has been an exceptional year at the Cunniff-Dixon Foundation, advancing our mission to strengthen the provider-patient relationship at the end of life through targeted education, strategic collaborations, and meaningful recognition programs. Our efforts reached thousands of healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers nationwide, fostering compassionate care and
Unstoppable Mel Mayorga – CDF Nursing award Winner 2025
Spotlight on Compassion: The Enduring Legacy of Mel Mayorga, RN, MSN, CNS, AGCNS-BC, OCN In the bustling heart of downtown Los Angeles, where the demands of cutting-edge cancer care meet the quiet dignity of end-of-life support, one nurse stands as a beacon of unwavering empathy and innovation.
Call for Nominations – 2026 Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician Awards
2026 Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician Awards Call for Nominations Nominations are open as of October 1, 2025, for the 2026 Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician Awards, which recognize physicians who provide outstanding care to patients nearing the end of life. The 2026 awards include: Three Early-Career Physician Awards:
Trailblazer Erin Collins wins CDF Nursing Award 2025
Celebrating Erin Collins, 2025 CDF Nursing Awardee and Trailblazer Blending Clinical Expertise with Empathy On July 24, 2025, the Cunniff Dixon Foundation proudly honored Erin Collins, MN, RN, CHPN, Co-founder and Director of Programs at The Peaceful Presence Project, as a 2025 CDF Nursing Awardee. The celebration
Supporting the End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC)
On campus at the University of Portland with amazing palliative care nursing educators. The Cunniff-Dixon Foundation (CDF) is dedicated to enhancing the provider-patient relationship at the end of life through education, collaboration, and recognition. In line with this mission, CDF proudly supports the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium
Influencer Interview with Arion Lillard-Green, MHA, M.TS.
We are proud to present an Influencer Interview with Arion Lillard-Green, MHA, M.TS. Arion Lillard-Green, MHA, M.TS, is a native of Prince George’s County, Maryland. Lillard-Green has emerged as a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion. As a first-generation college student, Arion navigated her academic journey with
A Heartfelt Celebration for 2024 Mid-Career Awardee, Lynn Flint, MD!
A Heartfelt Celebration for 2024 Mid-Career Awardee, Lynn Flint, MD! We’re absolutely thrilled to shine a spotlight on the incredible Lynn Flint, MD, Medical Director of Outpatient Palliative Care at the San Francisco VA Health Care System, who’s been honored as a 2024 Mid-Career Awardee! ???? Lynn’s
Influencer Interview with Robert Macauley, M.D.
Thrilled to showcase our Influencer Interview with Robert Macauley, M.D., F.A.A.P., F.A.A.H.P.M. As one of the few pediatric palliative care doctors in the United States, Bob Macauley was used to people saying, “I’m so glad I don’t have your job.” He would explain that palliative care is
2025 Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Nursing Awards Announced
2025 Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Nursing Awards Announced The Hastings Center and The Cunniff-Dixon Foundation are pleased to announce three recipients of the 2025 Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Nursing Awards, which honor nurses who demonstrate extraordinary compassion and skill in caring for patients nearing the end of life. The
Celebrating National Healthcare Decision-Making Day with Heart and Purpose
Celebrating National Healthcare Decision-Making Day with Heart and Purpose Andy Baxter, the compassionate and loving founder of the Cunniff-Dixon Foundation (CDF), lost his beloved wife, Carley Cunniff, to metastatic breast cancer. Carley was cared for by their family physician, Peter Dixon, MD. Thanks to Peter’s gentle
CDF Awardee Featured on Duke Podcast and in Newsweek
CDF Awardee Featured on Duke Podcast and in Newsweek Dr. Anthony Nicholas Galanos (aka Dr. G), a CDF 2011 Mid-Career Awardee and esteemed member of our Physician Award Selection Committee, was recently featured on Duke Clinical Research Institute’s Beyond the Endpoint podcast. He shared valuable insights
Planning My Way, Espanol: A Guide for the Spanish-Speaking Community
Planning My Way, Espanol: A Guide for the Spanish-Speaking Community Making decisions about your healthcare, especially at the end of life, can be tough for anyone. These conversations may be even harder for Spanish-speaking communities, due to language barriers, cultural differences, or a lack of understanding