Ira Byock

Hospice and Palliative Care Physician

Widely regarded as the nation's pre-eminent expert on what it takes to die well in 21st century America, Ira Byock has authored numerous articles on the ethics and practice of end-of-life care. His books Dying Well and The Four Things That Matter Most have become core reading on the subject and are used extensively in the counseling of patients and families dealing with advanced illness.

Dr. Byock is a physician specializing in palliative care and is a long-time public advocate for improving care at the end of life. He is the Director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Professor of Anesthesiology and Community and Family Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School.

His work in hospice care dates back to his residency, when he helped create a hospice home care program for the indigent population in central California. He is past President of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and co-founded the Missoula Demonstration Project, a community-based organization in Montana. The project's mission was to transform an entire community's attitude toward end-of-life care through education and personal stories.

A frequent keynote speaker at state, national and international meetings, Dr. Byock has also appeared as a featured guest on numerous national television and radio programs including NPR's Talk of the Nation, All Things Considered and Fresh Air; ABC's Nightline; 60 Minutes on CBS; and The News Hour on PBS.