Illustrative image for Hastings Center Cunniff Dixon Physician and Nursing Awards

Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician and Nursing Awards

The Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician and Nursing awards recognize physicians and nurses practicing in the United States who give exemplary care to patients at the end of life.

The  Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician Awards have long recognized five outstanding physicians. The year 2022 marks the addition of a sixth physician award: The Dr. Richard Payne Leadership Award to honor physicians who work with underserved populations. This award is named for Dr. Richard Payne, an internationally acclaimed leader in palliative care who at the time of his death was a Trustee of the Cunniff Dixon Foundation and member of The Hastings Center’s Board of Directors. For many years, Dr. Payne led the selection committee for The Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physician Awards and always sought to recognize those who represented what he loved to call “good doctoring.” 

The year 2022 also marks the first year for the Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Nursing Awards. One of the two awards will go to a nurse  for providing optimal end-of-life care in a hospital setting and the other one will go to a nurse working within hospice and home care.

Each of the awards will be given every other year.

The awards consist of $25,000 each for the senior and mid-career physicians and $15,000 each for the early-career physicians. The Dr. Richard Payne Leadership Award and nursing awards will each provide $25,000 for each of their honorees.

Nomination Deadline for 2024 Physician Awards has passed. Recipients will be announced in spring 2024.       

Criteria for the physician awards.

Criteria for the nursing awards.

Click here to learn about the past recipients of the physician awards.