David Free has several things on his “bucket list,” but the one he’s most excited about is leading the new palliative care program for Calvert Hospice. The stars aligned when he saw an ad for a Palliative Care Coordinator for Calvert Hospice’s new Palliative Medicine of Southern Maryland program.
“We are very excited to have David Free heading up our new palliative medicine program, he comes with the training and experience and most of all enthusiasm to run a successful program,” stated Brenda Laughhunn, Executive Director of Calvert Hospice.
“I’m looking forward to working with Calvert Memorial Hospital to ensure that every eligible patient receives the best possible palliative care,” David Free added.
Free has worked in the nursing profession for 15 years and has spent over half of his career in areas related to hospice and palliative care. Originally from Canada and served in the Canadian Naval Public Affairs until honorably released. After serving during the Persian Gulf in 1991, David was motivated to transition to a career in Nursing and graduated Summa Cum Laude with his Bachelor of Science from McMaster University in Canada. Free went on to practice in a variety of acute and community settings. He obtained a full scholarship to complete his Master of Science at University of Maryland Baltimore in 2012, also graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Free is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the Golden Key, and Sigma Theta Tau Honor Societies. In 2010, he was selected as the solo winner of the American College of Nurse Practitioner National Student Scholarship Award awarded to one student across the nation for excellence in academics, research, philanthropy, and professional activities. For the past 4 years, Free has been an active member of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland working in various public relations and legislative initiatives.
Free is nationally certified as a Hospice Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN) through the Hospice Palliative Nurses Association and is an affiliate member of the American Association of Hospice Palliative Medicine. He is also a published author having published original research or other articles in Palliative Nursing and Medicine journals and textbooks, as well as presenting at research conferences, and other speaking engagements on topics related to palliative and hospice care.
For more information about Calvert Hospice’s Palliative Medicine program call 410-535.0892.
