Skip to main content

Principal Call for Abstracts on Emerging Scientific and Clinical Advances in the Field of Hospice and Palliative Care

This call closed on July 25, 2023.

Abstracts submitted through the Principal Call for Abstracts are for the Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care which will take place March 20-23, 2024, in Phoenix, AZ.

The 2024 Annual Assembly will be presented as a modified hybrid event with combined live streaming and in-person experiences, and on-demand access through July 2024.

About the Call

The principal call is open to all hospice and palliative care professionals across all settings and career stages including early career and professionals in training. Selected content is intended to enrich hospice and palliative care, education, science, and practice.

All scientific research referred to, reported, or used in this accredited educational conference in support or justification of a patient care recommendation must conform to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

This call was formerly known as the summer call and the call for concurrent sessions and scientific and quality improvement (QI) papers and posters.

The Principal Call for Abstracts closed July 25, 2023 at midnight PT.

A Subsequent Early Career and Professionals in Training call for abstracts (papers and posters) will open September 11-25, 2023. This call is specifically intended for professionals in training or early career hospice and palliative care professionals.

Abstract Submission Options

  • Podium (oral) Presentations
  • Scientific Research and QI Podium (oral) Presentations
  • Scientific Research and QI Poster Presentations
  • Call for Reviewers for Principal Call for Abstracts

Preferred Presentation Length and Primary Topic Categories

The Annual Assembly Co-Chairs and Planning Committee will determine the final presentation length based on the submitter’s requested preferred length, submission review, scoring, selection, and acceptance.

  • 60-minute Podium Presentation Topic (up to 19 abstracts will be accepted)
    • Education
    • Hospice
    • Leadership/Program Development
    • Symptoms Assessment and Management
    • Pediatrics
    • Legal/Ethical/Access to Care
  • 25-minute Podium Presentation Topic (up to 44 abstracts will be accepted)
    • Education
    • Hospice
    • Leadership/Program Development
    • Symptoms Assessment and Management
    • Pediatrics
    • Legal/Ethical/Access to Care
  • 15-minute Podium Presentation Type (up to 32 abstracts will be accepted)
    • Quality Improvement/Evidence-Based Project
    • Scientific Research
      • Original Research/Systematic Review
      • Clinical Research
      • Health Services Research/Population-Based Research
      • Education Research
      • Basic Science

Note: For Quality Improvement/Scientific/Research abstract submissions, the final results of your research or project must be included in the abstract. QI and Research abstract submissions will undergo secondary AAHPM and HPNA research committee review.

  • Poster Presentation Type (up to 100 abstracts will be accepted)
    • Quality Improvement/Evidence-Based Project
    • Scientific Research
      • Original Research/Systematic Review
      • Clinical Research
      • Health Services Research/Population-Based Research
      • Educational Research
      • Basic Science

Note: Accepted posters are planned to be presented in Phoenix in physical format in the Assembly Poster Hall and include an accompanying digital QR code for virtual attendee access.

As a condition of acceptance, at least one author per submitted poster is required to participate in person in the faculty-attended poster sessions in Phoenix, AZ, and be registered to attend the 2024 Annual Assembly.

A digital copy of the poster and a 2-minute accessible pre-recorded overview of the poster are requested to support virtual attendee access and learning.

Sub-Topic Categories to Include the NCP Domains

 

  • NCP Domain 1: Structure and Processes of Care
  • NCP Domain 2: Physical Aspects of Care
  • NCP Domain 3: Psychological and Psychiatric Aspects
  • NCP Domain 4: Social Aspects of Care
  • NCP Domain 5: Spiritual, Religious, and Existential Aspects of Care
  • NCP Domain 6: Cultural Aspects of Care
  • NCP Domain 7: Care of the Patient Nearing the End of Life
  • NCP Domain 8: Ethical and Legal Aspects of Care

Important Abstract Primary and Contributing Author(s) Information

 

  • The max number of abstracts allowed per primary submitter is three (3).
  • Primary (first) author’s full first and last name, credentials, and current institutional affiliation, city and state.
    • NOTE: Names and credentials will be published as submitted.
  • Disclosures: relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients are to be disclosed at the time of abstract submission for the primary and contributing authors.
    • Applicable disclosure mitigation will be completed at the time of abstract selection prior to selection for acceptance.

Annual Assembly Desired Outcomes

The AAHPM and HPNA collectively identify and share the responsibility to advance the specialty of hospice and palliative care. Our purpose for this assembly is to foster a premier continual learning experience where expert, proficient, and early-career hospice and palliative care professionals and non-specialty clinicians wishing to integrate primary hospice and palliative care into their practice can collaborate to advance the care of patients and families with serious illness.

Through interdisciplinary team collaboration and integrated enactment, our Annual Assembly desired outcome is to enhance the learners’ knowledge/skills/strategy or performance to increase competency, influence behaviors, and/or improve patient outcomes in hospice and palliative care.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Planners of the 2024 Annual Assembly are committed to creating a welcoming environment in which all members see themselves reflected in the Annual Assembly experience and can join together to support one another in a diverse and inclusive atmosphere.

In support of this commitment, submitted abstracts are to address the impact of the proposed topic or research on underrepresented and underserved populations to better equip hospice and palliative care professionals with knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality, culturally sensitive person-centered care. You are asked to address issues of cultural humility and sensitivity in your abstract, case examples, and, where applicable, describe how issues of cultural diversity and inclusion are considered in the specific aims or session narrative of your proposed content.

Submission Instructions

To get started, download the 2024 Abstract Submission Guideline Packet to work with your colleagues before entering the information into the electronic submissions system. Hard copy proposals will not be accepted.

View the Principal Call Submission Worksheet as it is a quick guide to navigating the abstract submission portal.

All information requested on the electronic submission form is due by July 25, 2023, at midnight PT.

Abstract Submission Fee: There is a $40 non-refundable abstract processing fee for submission of individual abstracts for peer review to be paid upon submission completion. A $1.00 credit card transaction will be applied for a total of $41 to be charged to the credit card used.

If you require assistance or have questions about the content of your submission, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 847.375.4712 between 8am-5pm CT, Monday through Friday.

The Call for Abstract Reviewers

The call for abstract submission peer reviewers closed July 25, 2023. 

AAHPM or HPNA membership is required to be eligible to review abstracts.

As a potential reviewer, we ask that you complete a conflict-of-interest disclosure form to ensure educational content is fair and balanced, and any clinical content presented supports safe, effective patient care.

  • You are able to choose which category of abstracts you would like to review based on your clinical background and knowledge and expertise of the subject categories.
  • You will be provided with portal access to the abstracts for review and scoring criteria with definitions and instructions.
  • For outlier scores, you will be asked to provide comments to assist in selection decisions. Comments should be communicated clearly and professionally as the confidential review outcome may be referenced to provide author feedback, as requested, for learning development.

As an accepted abstract reviewer for the Principal Call for Abstracts, please plan to be available August 14-25, 2023, to conduct the abstract review process through the online abstract collection portal.

  • The online abstract review process typically involves the review of 20-30 abstracts per person.
  • The total time takes about 3-4 hours to review.

Reviewers will be recognized as contributors to the Annual Assembly planning team and are listed on the Annual Assembly site for their contributions in selecting quality content to include in the Assembly Accredited Continuing Education offerings. Thank you for considering this opportunity to participate in the Annual Assembly planning process as an abstract reviewer.

Review and Notification

The Annual Assembly Co-Chairs and Planning Committee will determine the final presentation length based on the submitter’s requested preferred length, submission review, scoring, selection, and acceptance.

Abstracts will begin the review process in August of 2023 through the online abstract collection portal.

Notification of abstract status will be sent via email by October 1, 2023, to the submitting author listed on the abstract.

Registration and Participation Agreement Acknowledgment

If your abstract is accepted, all presenting faculty must register and pay the fee for the Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care and cover their own expenses.

Presenting faculty are expected to present live in person in Phoenix, AZ during the scheduled presentation time assigned by the planning committee at the time of acceptance notification.

Faculty and presenters are highly encouraged to participate in end-of-day Homerooms Sessions to engage with learners and colleagues in reflective discussions surrounding key learning points for practice application as well as provide feedback to individual learners and the group on your session outcomes.

Presenting faculty must prepare and submit an accessible self-recording of their session(s) before the opening of the Annual Assembly for on-demand access to all registrants. The presentation recordings submitted are to adhere to best practices in accessibility to ensure content is inclusive to all learners, including people with disabilities.

Resources on making your presentation(s) accessible to people with disabilities include:

Questions about submitting an abstract? Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 847.375.4712 between 8:30am - 5pm CT, Monday through Friday.