Ira Byock

Ira Byock is a prominent palliative care physician, author, and public advocate for improving care through the end of life. He is a Professor of Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, and he has been involved in hospice and palliative care since 1978.

Early Life and Education

Ira Byock was born in Newark, New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and received his medical degree from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

Career

Byock has held faculty positions at multiple universities, including the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the University of Southern California (USC). He served as Director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center from 2003 to 2013.

Byock has been a consistent advocate for the improvement of end-of-life care. He has written extensively on the subject, with his work appearing in prominent medical journals and popular media outlets. He is the author of several books, including "Dying Well" and "The Best Care Possible."

Advocacy

Byock's advocacy work has focused on improving the quality of life for people at the end of their lives. He has argued for a more compassionate approach to end-of-life care, one that respects the dignity and autonomy of the individual. He has also spoken out against the over-medicalization of death, arguing that it often leads to unnecessary suffering.

Recognition

Byock has received numerous awards for his work in palliative care, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

See Also

• Palliative Care
• Hospice Care
• End-of-life care