Richard Fife, M.Div., Ph.D., has been named president of the VITAS Hospice Charitable Fund, a leading proponent of education and advocacy in end-of-life care.
A nationally known expert on bioethics and pastoral care in hospice and end-of-life care, Dr. Fife will leave his current position as vice president of bioethics and pastoral care for VITAS Healthcare Corporation.
During his 23-year career at VITAS, Dr. Fife created and coordinated what is reported to have been the first national ethics committee at any national hospice provider. He also oversaw the creation of and provided corporate support for local ethics committees in each of the regions in which VITAS operates. Most recently, Dr. Fife helped lead VITAS launch of a national Clinical Pastoral Education program, making VITAS the first hospice provider to be accredited nationally to provide clinical education for divinity students, community clergy and interested laypeople.
A widely published author and frequent speaker, Dr. Fife co-edited Effects of Loss and Death on Health, published this year by the University of North Carolina Press. He collaborated on this work with J.R. Williams, M.D., former chief medical officer of VITAS Healthcare Corporation and former chairman of the VITAS Charitable Fund. Dr. Fife also is one of 19 VITAS experts who collaborated on 20 Common Problems in End-of-Life Care, one of the pre-eminent texts in the field, published in 2002 by McGraw-Hill.
Dr. Fife earned a bachelor of arts degree from Emory University, a master of divinity degree from Duke University and a doctorate of ministry degree from Drew University.
Richard Fife, M.Div., Ph.D., has been named president of the VITAS Hospice Charitable Fund, a leading proponent of education and advocacy in end-of-life care. 
