Featured in photo (left to right): Robert (Rob) Vissers, M.D. MBA, FACEP, AHA Board Member, President and CEO, Boulder Community Health; Tricia Pancner, Vice President Operations and Senior Executive Director, Bristol Hospice; Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., AHA Immediate Past Chair, CEO and President, Dartmouth Health.

Honolulu, July 17, 2025 — Bristol Hospice–Hawaii is deeply honored to be named a 2025 Circle of Life Award recipient by the American Hospital Association (AHA)—a national recognition regarded as one of the highest honors in the field of palliative and end-of-life care. Presented during the AHA Leadership Summit in Nashville, this award celebrates organizations that are transforming the future of serious illness care through innovation, equity, and excellence.

Read More About the Circle of Life

What is the Circle of Life Award?

The Circle of Life Award is widely considered the pinnacle achievement for organizations providing palliative or hospice services. It is presented by the American Hospital Association in partnership with the Catholic Health Association, and supported by leading industry organizations including the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.

This honor recognizes programs that:

  • Set a national standard for excellence
  • Demonstrate financial sustainability and measurable impact
  • Deliver innovative, patient- and family-centered care
  • Promote health equity and access
  • Successfully integrate into the larger healthcare continuum

Since its inception in 2000, the award has spotlighted only a select few organizations each year—making this recognition not only rare, but deeply meaningful to those who receive it.

Why Bristol Hospice–Hawaii Was Chosen

Among a competitive field of nominees nationwide, Bristol Hospice–Hawaii stood out for its:

1. Breakthrough care models that reduce hospitalization
By proactively introducing palliative care and working closely with private payers, Bristol has helped reduce unnecessary ER visits and admissions—creating a more compassionate, coordinated, and cost-effective approach to serious illness care.

2. Deep commitment to equitable care for all
In a state where the Medicaid population is rapidly growing, Bristol has implemented intentional systems to ensure parity in quality, access, and dignity for every patient—regardless of payer type.

3. Innovation through the Bright Moments dementia program
This award-winning program focuses on sensory engagement, reducing medication use and behavioral issues in late-stage dementia patients. It’s not only making lives better—it’s changing the standard of care for dementia support in hospice settings.

What This Means for Hawai‘i

This award puts Hawaii on the map for national hospice leadership.

Being named a Circle of Life Award honoree affirms Bristol Hospice–Hawaii’s leadership in patient-centered innovation and vision for equitable care in diverse communities. It also reflects the dedication of every team member, from nurses and aides to social workers, chaplains, and volunteers, who live the mission of providing extraordinary care at the end of life.

In the Words of National Leaders

“These programs are finding innovative ways to provide patients and their families with greater comfort as their disease progresses,”
— Rick Pollack, AHA President and CEO

By highlighting Bristol’s approach at a national level, the AHA is not just celebrating what’s working—it’s encouraging the entire industry to learn from this model.

A Legacy of Excellence

This isn’t just an award. It’s a milestone moment for Bristol Hospice–Hawaii, its leadership, and the people and families it serves. It validates years of work in:

  • Developing sustainable care models
  • Reaching underserved populations
  • Supporting patients in ways that are clinically sound, culturally relevant, and deeply human

Join Us in the Celebration

We are proud to stand alongside fellow 2025 honoree Gilchrist in Maryland, and grateful to the AHA and its partners for recognizing the heart, science, and strategy behind our work.

To our community partners, referral sources, and the families who trust us—thank you for being part of this journey.

Together, we are redefining what hospice can be.

Hospice Eligibility

Wondering if it’s time to talk to a physician about hospice eligibility for yourself or a loved one? Let us help guide your next steps with a checklist.

Hospice Eligibility

Benefits of Earlier Admission

When considering hospice care, we would like to highlight the benefits of starting hospice care from the first moment you are eligible.

Benefits of Earlier Admission

Hospice Care Can Be Confusing
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Bristol Hospice is committed to providing the care and support your loved one needs, helping you and your family every step of the way.

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