AAHPM reached out to the 2024 Visionaries to gain insight into what motivated them to pursue leadership positions and what they find more fulfilling in their experiences. Elise Carey, MD FACP FAAHPM has been recognized as one of the exceptional individuals chosen as a 2024 AAHPM Visionaries in Hospice and Palliative Care.
Who has most influenced your work and how have they shaped your contributions?
I was fortunate to have been mentored by Dr. Susan Block early in my career. I will forever be grateful for all the wisdom she shared and the doors she opened on my behalf. Throughout my career, Bob Arnold has been a vital mentor and sponsor for me — in leadership, teaching, communication, and much more. I will also be forever grateful to my many peer mentors, including Vicki Jackson, Nate Goldstein, Rebecca Sudore, Holly Yang, Gordon Wood, Lynn O’Neill, Rachelle Bernacki, Jane DeLima Thomas, Jen Kapo, Laura Morrison, VJ Periyakoil, and Sandra Sanchez-Reilly. They have challenged me to grow and filled my cup in more ways than I could possibly name.
What is the significance to you of being recognized as a “Visionary” in Hospice and Palliative Medicine?
I am honored and humbled — and grateful. I look around at all my amazing colleagues, and I can’t believe I could possibly be considered a visionary in a field filled with visionaries!
What is your aspiration for the evolution of hospice and Palliative Medicine?
The field’s growth has greatly improved the quality of care provided to seriously ill patients and their families across settings — with robust, multi-faceted programs throughout the country. However, our care of patients remains more siloed than is ideal, and I am looking forward to a world in which we are able to modernize healthcare provision and funding to provide high-quality, integrated care across care settings and breadth of need.
Learn more about the AAHPM 2024 Visionaries in Hospice and Palliative Care and view a full list of all current and past Visionaries.