INPCS Lifetime Achievement Award
David Oliver, PhD, FRCP, FEAN
David Oliver was Consultant Physician in Palliative Medicine and Medical Director at the Wisdom Hospice from 1984 to 2016. He is an Honorary Professor at the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent, at Canterbury. He has lectured and published widely on neurological palliative care. He was the Chair for the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guidelines on MND. He was first author of the EAN paper "A consensus review on the development of palliative care for patients with chronic and progressive neurological disease". He has been involved in many projects across Europe is Past-Chair of the EAPC Reference Group on Neurology and Palliative Care, a member of the Management Group of the Palliative Care Specialty Group of the European Academy of Neurology and has been a Board member of the International Neuro-Palliative Care Society. He is a Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology.
INPCS Outstanding Scientific Contribution Award
Monica Lemmon, MD
Dr. Monica Lemmon is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Population Health Sciences at the Duke University School of Medicine, where she serves as the Associate Dean for Scientific Integrity. Her clinical practice is in fetal and neonatal neurology, and she serves as the Chief of Pediatric Neurology and Developmental Medicine. Dr. Lemmon's NIH-funded research program centers on parent-clinician communication, shared decision making, and the parent experience of child illness.
INPCS Neuropallitaive Care Advocate of the Year Award
Gil Thelen
Gil Thelen is an award-winning journalist, editor, publisher, educator, and Parkinson’s disease advocate whose career has been defined by a commitment to communication, innovation, and service. After studying at Duke University and Cornell University Medical College, he spent 12 years covering health and public affairs in Washington, D.C., for The Associated Press and Consumer Reports. He later held leadership positions at The Charlotte Observer, The Sun News, and The State before serving as Editor and then President and Publisher of The Tampa Tribune. Following a distinguished journalism career, he joined the University of South Florida as the Clendinen Professor of Critical Writing. In recognition of his leadership and multimedia innovation, he was inducted into the Florida Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2016.
Gil’s life took a new direction when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2014. Rather than allowing the disease to define him, he embraced a new mission of advocacy and community-building on behalf of people living with Parkinson’s. Alongside his wife, he co-authored Counter Punch: Duking It Out with Parkinson’s, and he founded the Me Over PD Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting individuals and families with the resources, services, and support they need to live well with Parkinson’s.
Under Gil’s leadership, Me Over PD has launched a widely read educational newsletter, created a comprehensive online resource hub, distributed thousands of educational materials to frontline medical providers, secured funding for specialized exercise programs for people with Parkinson’s, and partnered with Mercer University School of Medicine to expand access to movement disorder specialist care across underserved regions of Middle Georgia. His work reflects a deep belief that successful care extends beyond the clinic and depends on building informed, connected, and empowered communities.
Gil’s dedication to person-centered care also led him to the International Neuropalliative Care Society (INPCS), where he served as Vice Chair of the Strategic Communications Committee. Drawing on his decades of experience in journalism and communications, he has helped advance the organization’s mission while championing a model of care that places the individual and family at the center of every effort.
When asked about his contributions to INPCS, Ambereen Mehta, then-Chair of the Strategic Communications Committee, said “I have been so privileged to have the opportunity to work with, learn from, and grow with Gil over the last year. His passion is inspiring, his energy is boundless, and his kindness is incredible. Our Strategic Communications Committee would not have been able to accomplish so much without his dedication and commitment. “
INPCS Tara Cook Award for Innovation in Neuropalliative Education
Tarini Goyal, MD
Tarini Goyal is a neurohospitalist and clinical associate professor of neurology at NYU Langone Health. Her interests in neuropalliative care include resident education and the integration of neuropalliative care in inpatient practice. Her work in neuropalliative care curriculum development and trainee experience has been published in journals including Neurology and the Journal of Palliative Medicine.
