Awards

The Susan Tolle, MD Award for Outstanding Service is given to a POLST leader who epitomizes steadfast dedication and long-term service to promote National POLST and quality POLST programs. This award honors Dr. Susan Tolle’s steadfast dedication and long-term service to developing National POLST. Through her leadership Dr. Tolle:

• Created a national movement for states to adopt National POLST;
• Established the National POLST Office, supporting it financially and administratively, and served as the National POLST Treasurer for over nine years;
• Authored, conducted and advised on numerous POLST research initiatives;
• Mentored and supported state POLST programs through research, educational tool development (including many videos), and spent countless hours providing specific technical assistance to POLST leaders;
• Served on National POLST, including many subcommittees; and
• Tirelessly sought to preserve the integrity of National POLST.

The inaugural award was presented to Susan Tolle, MD at the 2016 National POLST Paradigm Conference in Chicago, Illinois on February 4, 2016.

Criteria for Award Recipient:
The recipient of the award is a person who has significantly advanced the National POLST Paradigm through leadership, research, education or policy contributions and who has served at least five cumulative years of service in an identified position on the National POLST Paradigm, on the Executive Committee (or future iterations of either group) or serving as a Chair of any National Committee.

Kate O'Malley, RN, MS, CHPN, was recognized for her outstanding contributions to National POLST and presented an award in appreciation of, and recognition for, all her work in supporting National POLST at the 2016 National POLST Conference in Chicago, Illinois on February 4, 2016. We greatly appreciate Ms. O'Malley and California HealthCare Foundation's support over the last five years.