An Appreciation: Palliative Care Champion Robert Arnold, MD

"Bob Arnold is a giant in the field of palliative care. Yet, he is consistently approachable, accessible, and never too busy to share his expertise across the community. He has an extraordinary gift for helping patients and families navigate the complexities of dealing with serious illness and for inspiring the next generation of practitioners to listen and be present for them during highly stressful times. He is a true champion for palliative care."

Karen Wolk Feinstein, PhD, JHF President and Chief Executive Officer

"It is no exaggeration to say that Bob changed the nature and training of health professionals as it relates to palliative care and end of life in our community and beyond. He never saw or was limited by organizational boundaries, helping to build partnerships with providers from various systems and parts of the healthcare continuum. He has created enduring materials in the form of educational videos featuring conversations at end of life. He always said yes to participating in our Feinstein Death and Dying Fellowship—as a lead of speaker, a finale speaker, or both—and was never repetitive, always bringing fresh insights to the students. His approachable way of imparting his experiences and skills to students and fellow healthcare professionals, with humor and humility, will stay with me."

Nancy Zionts, MBA, JHF COO and Chief Program Officer

"When I think of Bob, the words that come to mind are compassionate, articulate, and always knowing the right questions to ask. On a personal note, he helped me, as he did so many others, learn how to improve my conversations with the seriously ill. From a health system standpoint, he worked across systems to advocate for good palliative care and expanding palliative services in Western Pennsylvania, and this was reflected through his co-leadership of the Coalition for Quality at the End of Life, as well."

Judith Black, MD, MHA, JHF Medical Advisor