Alan Taniguchi wins 2025 Elizabeth Latimer Prize in Palliative Care

McMaster University’s Division of Palliative Care is excited to announce Alan Taniguchi as the recipient of the 2025 Elizabeth Latimer Prize in Palliative Care. The Latimer Prize recognizes a clinician, teacher, researcher or administrator with an outstanding record of advancing palliative care in the Greater Hamilton Area.  

An accomplished educator and scholar in the field, Taniguchi’s first experience with palliative care came as a single lecture during medical school.  

“I found myself being captivated by what was presented by Dr. Helen Hays in that first lecture and remember thinking what an amazing type of work to become involved in,” recalls Taniguchi, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster. “It seemed to me that a palliative care practice would allow me to be the type of doctor I wanted to be: holistic, comprehensive, compassionate — a blend of science and art.” 

But, with no formal palliative care training available at the time, Taniguchi had to seek his own learning opportunities, eventually bringing him from Alberta to McMaster. At McMaster, he first completed his residency in family medicine then enhanced skills training in palliative care and care of the elderly and finally an educational fellowship.  

It was at McMaster that Taniguchi became a trainee to Liz Latimer, learning from her passion, compassion and advocacy for her patients, colleagues and the greater field of palliative care.  

With palliative care still a relatively new discipline for family doctors at the time of graduating, Taniguchi entered practice in comprehensive community care and long-term care settings while working simultaneously to create opportunities in the field through scholarship and advocacy.  

His work would impact all sides of palliative care in Canada, including how residents are trained, the techniques and strategies for care as well a broader understanding of topic. As the field grew, Taniguchi came to practice fully in palliative care.  

“It is humbling to be allowed into an individual’s life and glimpse all the things that are impacting them as they head along this final journey,” says Taniguchi. “To be given the opportunity to witness not only the suffering and sadness, but the joy and happiness and healing that can occur as people go along that path is truly rewarding.” 

A passionate advocate for public engagement and education, Taniguchi sees the importance of addressing societal attitudes towards death and dying. Through initiatives such as the “100% Certainty Project” book club, Taniguchi’s outreach helps people understand and prepare for the inevitable through the humanities. 

“Relationship-based activities are the vehicles by which people ultimately come to terms with the fact that they’re going to die,” says Taniguchi. “They also help people facing death live more fully in the present, regardless of their proximity to the end of life.” 

“It is human nature to be nervous or fearful when talking about death, so many new doctors are surprised by palliative care. Once they have an actual clinical experience, they see it is more about discovering the joy and awe and mystery around end of life. Work in palliative care is much more inspiring than frightening.” 

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<p><span data-contrast="auto">McMaster University’s Division of Palliative Care is excited to announce </span><a href="https://alan%20taniguchi/"><span data-contrast="none">Alan Taniguchi</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> as the recipient of the 2025 Elizabeth Latimer Prize in Palliative Care. The Latimer Prize recognizes a clinician, teacher, researcher or administrator with an outstanding record of advancing palliative care in the Greater Hamilton Area. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">An accomplished educator and scholar in the field, Taniguchi’s first experience with palliative care came as a single lecture during medical school. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">“I found myself being captivated by what was presented by Dr. Helen Hays in that first lecture and remember thinking what an amazing type of work to become involved in,” recalls Taniguchi, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster. “It seemed to me that a palliative care practice would allow me to be the type of doctor I wanted to be: holistic, comprehensive, compassionate — a blend of science and art.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">But, with no formal palliative care training available at the time, Taniguchi had to seek his own learning opportunities, eventually bringing him from Alberta to McMaster. At McMaster, he first completed his residency in family medicine then enhanced skills training in palliative care and care of the elderly and finally an educational fellowship. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">It was at McMaster that Taniguchi became a trainee to Liz Latimer, learning from her passion, compassion and advocacy for her patients, colleagues and the greater field of palliative care. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">With palliative care still a relatively new discipline for family doctors at the time of graduating, Taniguchi entered practice in comprehensive community care and long-term care settings while working simultaneously to create opportunities in the field through scholarship and advocacy. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">His work would impact all sides of palliative care in Canada, including how residents are trained, the techniques and strategies for care as well a broader understanding of topic. As the field grew, Taniguchi came to practice fully in palliative care. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><b><span data-contrast="auto">“</span></b><span data-contrast="auto">It is humbling to be allowed into an individual’s life and glimpse all the things that are impacting them as they head along this final journey,” says Taniguchi. “To be given the opportunity to witness not only the suffering and sadness, but the joy and happiness and healing that can occur as people go along that path is truly rewarding.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">A passionate advocate for public engagement and education, Taniguchi sees the importance of addressing societal attitudes towards death and dying. Through initiatives such as the “100% Certainty Project” book club, Taniguchi’s outreach helps people understand and prepare for the inevitable through the humanities.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">“Relationship-based activities are the vehicles by which people ultimately come to terms with the fact that they’re going to die,” says Taniguchi. “They also help people facing death live more fully in the present, regardless of their proximity to the end of life.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p> <p><span data-contrast="auto">“It is human nature to be nervous or fearful when talking about death, so many new doctors are surprised by palliative care. Once they have an actual clinical experience, they see it is more about discovering the joy and awe and mystery around end of life. Work in palliative care is much more inspiring than frightening.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

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