The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in the United States has created the Mary J Labyak Institute for Innovation.

The purpose of the institute is to develop and promote new strategies for ensuring patients and their families receive the best care possible.

The institute is named after the late hospice pioneer, Mary J Labyak, and was started with seed money from her estate and memorial gifts in her honour.   

J Donald Schumacher, president and chief executive officer of NHPCO  said "More than 40 years ago, innovators such as Mary took the core of an idea and built the foundation upon which today's hospice and palliative care providers serve millions of patients and families each year."

The Mary J Labyak Institute for Innovation is organised into 10 centres that will work collaboratively to advance the care continuum through education, leadership, and resource dissemination.