IAHPC has its origins in the International Hospice Institute, founded by Josefina Magno, MD, in 1980. At that time an annual conference was held for doctors, nurses and members of the interdisciplinary team. From this grew the Academy of Hospice Physicians (AHP). Later two new independent organizations were formed: the American Academy for Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the International Hospice Institute and College (IHIC). Josefina Magno was President of IHIC and in 1996 Derek Doyle, MD, was elected the first President of the College of IHIC. Dr. Doyle gave IHIC an international perspective by stressing that IHIC's objective was not to promote a unique palliative care model, but to encourage and enable each country according to its resources and conditions to develop its own model of palliative care provision.
From this, IHIC members of the former organization developed IAHPC with an international perspective designed not to promote a unique palliative care model, but to encourage and enable each country according to its resources and conditions to develop its own model of palliative care provision. The organization believes in the philosophy that developing countries should take advantage of the experience and professional expertise accumulated in developed countries and not be expected to copy models more appropriate to affluent countries.
Chairs – Board of Directors:
Roger Woodruff, MD (Australia) 1997-1999
Eduardo Bruera, MD (USA) 2000-2004
Kathleen Foley, MD (USA) 2005- 2007
Roberto Wenk, MD (Argentina) 2008 - 2013
Lukas Radbruch, MD (Germany) 2014-present