Dear Friends,

When I opened my oncology practice in 1958, there were no hospice programs anywhere. In fact, the hospice movement was not formalized until 1967 in London, England. But once established, it spread quickly to the US and by the late 1970’s, folks in Greensboro began talking about the hospice philosophy of care.

Barbara and I are proud to have been a part of those early discussions which eventually led to the creation of Hospice at Greensboro, Inc. – known today as Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro (HPCG.)  Initially, there were no grandiose plans. Simply put, a group of committed volunteers from many areas of the community came together with a dream of creating a local hospice program. We raised money, we raised friends, and we eventually opened a one-room office with two paid staff members and over 50 volunteers.  

Over the past 30 years, more than 16,000 patients and their families have been cared for by HPCG! Despite this tremendous growth, HPCG’s spirit remains the same. Compassionate, well-trained staff and volunteers partner with physicians to respond to the needs of people, by providing hope, comfort and dignity at the end of life.

On any given day, HPCG cares for more than 320 patients in the Greater Greensboro area. Bereavement programs have been expanded to offer support to anyone in the community impacted by the death of a loved one. Services for medically fragile and grieving children have been added. And now, palliative care services are available for individuals struggling with the pain and symptoms associated with chronic illness. While some services are funded through insurance, HPCG must raise nearly $1 million each year in community support to provide vital programs, including patient care for the underinsured, community grief counseling and services for children.
 
Now semi-retired, I am in my 17th year of serving as one of HPCG's physicians.  Hospice care continues to inspire me because it deals with the whole patient, not just their disease. While we have made progress, many still struggle to talk about issues related to serious illness and death. Therefore, we must continue to provide information, guidance, as well as compassionate care not only to patients, but to their family members.  Your support will help us continue this work. 

Barbara and I want to thank you for considering a donation to the 2010 Annual Campaign. 

Click here to donate to the 2010 Annual Campaign.