Danielle Chammas received Humanities Award from the AAHPM

Danielle Chammas received the Humanities Award from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Danielle Chammas is recognized for her pioneering integration of the humanities into hospice and palliative medicine, transforming patient care, education, and the culture of the field. She brings poetry, narrative, and art to the forefront of clinical practice—fostering connection, reflection, and healing for patients and clinicians alike.

At UCSF, Dr. Chammas co-leads the MERI Center’s Poetic Medicine Program, facilitating weekly sessions that reach participants across the nation and internationally, and serves as Co-Director of Patient and Caregiver Education. She developed the Legacy Project in the Symptom Management Service, using storytelling as a therapeutic intervention, and has led research exploring the healing impact of narrative expression. Through these initiatives, she has made the humanities a vital and evidence-informed component of serious illness care.

An inspiring educator, Dr. Chammas mentors fellows and trainees through the UCSF Narrative Medicine Elective and national workshops such as Poetic Medicine for the Wounded Healer. She co-founded the UCSF Division of Palliative Medicine Humanities Working Group and the Department of Medicine Arts and Humanities Faculty Interest Group, and chairs the AAHPM Humanities and Spirituality Special Interest Group. Dr. Chammas’ creative scholarship—spanning narrative essays, poetry, and visual art—has appeared in leading journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, and the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. Her work illuminates the emotional and existential dimensions of medicine, encouraging clinicians to embrace the full humanity of their patients and themselves. Through her artistry, teaching, and leadership, Dr. Chammas has redefined how the humanities can sustain compassion, connection, and meaning in palliative care.