One of two such programs nationally to receive 2026 American Hospital Association Circle of Life Award
Photo Credit: American Hospital Association
BUFFALO, NY— Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMC) today announced that the institution’s Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care Program at ECMC has been honored as only one of two such programs across the country to receive the 2026 American Hospital Association (AHA) Circle of Life Award. This national recognition was awarded recently at the American Hospital Association’s Leadership Summit in Denver, CO (July 12-14, 2026). Sandra Lauer, BSN, RN, Director, Continuum of Care, Palliative Medicine & Supportive Care at ECMC (see attached photo provided by AHA) accepted the Circle of Life Award for ECMC at the Leadership Summit.
Andrew L. Davis, MBA, ECMC President and CEO said, “This is a significant national honor for ECMC caregivers who dedicate themselves to providing compassionate palliative and end-of-life healthcare services to their patients. We are honored that the AHA has recognized the high-quality services of our Palliative Medicine & Supportive Care team and highlighted their dedication and commitment, as well as their excellent partnership with the Center for Elder Law and Justice and the Sloan Comfort Care Home.”
In acknowledging ECMC’s Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care Program and the other honoree (Geriatrics and Extended Care Hospice and Palliative Medicine Team, Orlando VA Health Care System, Orlando, FL), Rick Pollack, President and CEO of AHA, said, “This year’s Circle of Life Award honorees remind us what compassionate care can mean for patients and families during some of life’s most difficult moments. Through innovative and deeply meaningful palliative and end-of-life care programs, they are bringing comfort, dignity and support to people with life-limiting illnesses — and making a lasting difference in the lives of their families and communities.”
In citing ECMC’s Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care Program receiving the Circle of Life Award, the AHA stated, “Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) introduced a limited palliative care program in response to a 2011 state mandate. Since then, the Palliative Medicine and Support Care Program at ECMC has grown to include a transition care unit at ECMC for individuals who don’t have caregiver support at home, a medical-legal partnership [Center for Elder Law and Justice] offering free legal services for vulnerable patients and the Sloan Comfort Care Home to serve individuals who need a place to live while receiving hospice care. ECMC also supports patient caregivers through a partnership with the Erie County Department of Senior Services. A palliative care social worker screens caregivers and builds a plan of care specific to the caregiver’s needs and provides connections to resources that can offer support. ECMC also makes a positive impact on quality of life through a peer support specialist who visits with an emotional support dog.”
According to the AHA, “The Circle of Life Award honors hospital and palliative care programs that are ensuring equitable access to care, implementing nontraditional models of care delivery and payment, fully integrating palliative care into a system of care or a community, making palliative care financially sustainable, developing meaningful measures and metrics to track progress, or partnering with payers, other providers, community groups and faith communities.”
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About the American Hospital Association: The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA advocates on behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, our clinician partners – including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers – and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides insight and education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at www.aha.org.
About the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Corporation: The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility. ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation, and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo. Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experience.