Cleary named AAHPM president

James Cleary of the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center recently assumed the 2004 presidency of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM).

AAHPM is an organization of physicians and other medical professionals dedicated to excellence in palliative medicine, the prevention and relief of suffering among patients and families by providing education and clinical practice standards, fostering research, facilitating personal and professional development of its members, and public policy advocacy.

Originally organized as the Academy of Hospice Physicians in 1988, the AAHPM is the only organization in the United States for physicians dedicated to the advancement of hospice/palliative medicine, its practice, research and education. The more than 1,800 AAHPM members are physicians from many medical specialties who are committed to furthering and fostering the practice of hospice/palliative care for the terminally ill and their families.

“Palliative medicine is at a very exciting time in U.S. health care. The academy continues to advance the science of comfort, and affirm the art of caring. It is an honor and privilege to be leading my palliative medicine colleagues who work in multiple settings; hospices, nursing homes, community and teaching hospitals. This honor will provide unique opportunities for the University of Wisconsin,” Cleary says.

Cleary is associate professor of medicine, Medical Oncology Section; director of the palliative care program at UW Hospital and Clinics; and academic medical director of HospiceCare Inc. After receiving his medical degree from the University of Adelaide Medical School, South Australia, Cleary did his internal medicine residency and oncology fellowship at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and three years of research in opioid pharmacology at the University of Adelaide.

Cleary is co-chair of the American Pain Society’s Cancer Pain Guidelines. He is a master facilitator for the Education of Physicians in End-of-Life Care Program (EPEC). He has led training sessions for six years, educating more than 1,000 physicians throughout the United States. He serves as a North American Editor of Palliative Medicine, the Research Journal of the European Association of Palliative Care.

As a Faculty Scholar of the Soros Foundation’s Project on Death in America, he continues to develop and implement educational initiatives in palliative care for faculty, residents, and medical students within the UW Health System and UW Medical School partners throughout Wisconsin, particularly HospiceCare Inc.