The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) have announced the appointment of Dr Lukas Radbruch as chair-elect of the IAHPC for the term 2012-2013, to take over as chair for 2014-2016.

In a message to the international palliative care community, IAHPC outgoing chair, Roberto Wenk, and executive director Liliana de Lima said: "(Dr Radbruch) is an outstanding academic palliative medicine specialist who brings strong experience in international issues.” 

Prof. Radbruch is Chair of Palliative Medicine, University of Bonn, Director of Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Bonn and Director of the Palliative Care Centre, Malteser Hospital Bonn/Rhein-Sieg.  

He has served on the board of the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA), and was president of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) from 2007-2011. He has served on the IAHPC board since 2011.  

Responding to his appointment, Prof. Radbruch said "I am happy and proud to have the confidence of the IAHPC board to follow Roberto Wenk as chair. The association does not have huge resources, but it is amazing what the dedicated members have achieved in the last years. I would like to continue with this line of work, focussing on the international organizations such as WHO, INCB (International Narcotics Control Board) and UN, and collaborating with other organizations such as the WPCA, Human Rights Watch or the regional palliative care associations. The main focus of work of IAHPC is to promote access to quality palliative care everywhere, in developing as well as developed countries, and this is where we have to put in our energy." 

Welcoming Prof. Radbruch’s appointment, Dr Wenk and Ms de Lima said “after a long list of IAHPC chairs in the Americas it is a great opportunity to move the highest position of IAHPC to a different continent.”  

Previous IAHPC chairs include Eduardo Bruera (Argentina/Canada), Kathy Foley (USA), and Roberto Wenk (Argentina).