The Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker – Certified of the Year Award presented by the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center recognizes the work of all hospice and palliative social workers from across the country.
Recipients will receive:
- HPCC covers the cost of renewal for the APHSW-C® certification
- Award with engraving
- Travel to an HPNA Annual event (if applicable)
The 2026 awards application window has closed. If you have any questions, please contact HPCC.
Eligibility
- Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker – Certified (APHSW-C®)
- Members of the HPCC board, Examination Development Committees, and Awards Selection Committee are ineligible
Criteria
- The individual personifies excellence in the professional practice of hospice/palliative social work
- The individual has made contributions at the advanced practice level in at least one of the following areas of hospice/palliative care: clinical practice, education, or research
- The individual provides leadership through mentorship of others in hospice/palliative care
Judging
- All nominations are reviewed and the recipient is selected by the Awards Selection Committee of HPCC
HPCC APHSW-C® of the Year Award Recipients
Elizabeth exemplifies clinical and professional excellence in hospice and palliative social work. With more than a decade of advanced clinical experience, Elizabeth is recognized as a leader, educator, and innovator in the field of grief and bereavement care. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker (APHSW-C®), and Fellow in Thanatology (FT), she brings depth, rigor, and compassion to her work with patients, families, and health care professionals navigating serious illnesses, dying, and loss.
As Senior Bereavement Counselor at Family Hospice, part of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and founder of Howling Lion Grief Support, Elizabeth has developed and implemented cutting-edge interventions across the grief continuum—ranging from anticipatory grief to post-death bereavement support. Her clinical leadership includes the design of interdisciplinary education models, including a five-hour certificate training for hospice and palliative care providers in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Her contributions to professional education span national and international conferences, medical seminars, and original podcast series, making her a highly sought-after voice on topics such as grief in dementia, children’s bereavement, and trauma-informed care.
Elizabeth’s scholarly work and public advocacy amplify the often-invisible role of social work in palliative care. Her recent publication in Health & Social Work, titled “The Invisibility of Social Work in Palliative and End-of-Life Care,” challenges the field to elevate the profession’s voice at the policy and systems level. A dedicated mentor and thought leader, Elizabeth plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of hospice and palliative care professionals. Through her ongoing engagement with the Jewish Healthcare Foundation’s Death and Dying and other fellowships, she facilitates critical conversations on grief, ethical decision-making, and clinician wellness.
Dawn Gramling has 20 years of experience as a medical social worker. She is a certified hospice and palliative care social worker and a certified dementia practitioner, and she holds social work licensure in Michigan and Ohio. She has worked at Hospice of Northwest Ohio for seven years as a social work hospice educator for the staff and the community. In addition, she works as a part-time instructor in the social work department at the University of Toledo. Her passion for gerontology, dementia, and complex medical care is equally weighted with her passion for supporting the professional caregiver.
Jessica Curd, LCSW, ACSW, APHSW-C®, ACHP-SW