Palliative care was virtually non-existent in Ontario when Dr. Larry Librach designed Mount Sinai’s program. Nearly three decades later, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognized palliative medicine as a medical sub-specialty.
Dr. Librach was one of the world’s leading palliative care experts. He was determined not only to ease patients’ suffering, but to do so where patients wanted to receive medical care. His vision and compassion set the stage for Ontario’s first home-based palliative care program.
The principal architect of Mount Sinai’s Temmy Latner Centre, Dr. Librach served as its Director for 20 years. In its earliest days, the Centre comprised just a few physicians, and almost all its patients had late-stage cancer. Palliative care was generally offered in the final days or weeks of life. Patients and families often remarked, “why didn’t we hear about this earlier?”
Through Dr. Librach’s vision and tireless efforts, the Centre elevated palliative medicine into a respected specialty with standards and practices taught all over the world. As the physician leader of a national project called Educating Future Physicians for Palliative and End-of-Life Care, he helped introduce end-of-life care curriculum to Canada’s medical schools. He also authored an educational pain manual - with over 150,000 copies distributed - and co-edited an influential textbook, Palliative Care: Core Skills and Clinical Competencies, which is into its second edition.
Today the Temmy Latner Centre is staffed by more than 30 physicians, offering 24/7 access to physician support for more than 4,300 patients at home and in hospital annually. Many of its patients live with complex health issues, such as heart failure or dementia, and look to palliative care specialists for support to make the most of the time they have left.
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 67, Dr. Librach made the most of the few months he had left to him: sharing his own story to elevate awareness of the value of palliative care, while preparing his loved ones and himself for his final journey. He died on August 15, 2013, the way he wished: at home, surrounded by his family.
Dr. Librach was one of the world’s leading palliative care experts. He was determined not only to ease patients’ suffering, but to do so where patients wanted to receive medical care. His vision and compassion set the stage for Ontario’s first home-based palliative care program.
The principal architect of Mount Sinai’s Temmy Latner Centre, Dr. Librach served as its Director for 20 years. In its earliest days, the Centre comprised just a few physicians, and almost all its patients had late-stage cancer. Palliative care was generally offered in the final days or weeks of life. Patients and families often remarked, “why didn’t we hear about this earlier?”
Through Dr. Librach’s vision and tireless efforts, the Centre elevated palliative medicine into a respected specialty with standards and practices taught all over the world. As the physician leader of a national project called Educating Future Physicians for Palliative and End-of-Life Care, he helped introduce end-of-life care curriculum to Canada’s medical schools. He also authored an educational pain manual - with over 150,000 copies distributed - and co-edited an influential textbook, Palliative Care: Core Skills and Clinical Competencies, which is into its second edition.
Today the Temmy Latner Centre is staffed by more than 30 physicians, offering 24/7 access to physician support for more than 4,300 patients at home and in hospital annually. Many of its patients live with complex health issues, such as heart failure or dementia, and look to palliative care specialists for support to make the most of the time they have left.
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 67, Dr. Librach made the most of the few months he had left to him: sharing his own story to elevate awareness of the value of palliative care, while preparing his loved ones and himself for his final journey. He died on August 15, 2013, the way he wished: at home, surrounded by his family.
Dr. Librach was one of the world’s leading palliative care experts. He was determined not only to ease patients’ suffering, but to do so where patients wanted to receive medical care. His vision and compassion set the stage for Ontario’s first home-based palliative care program.
The principal architect of Mount Sinai’s Temmy Latner Centre, Dr. Librach served as its Director for 20 years. In its earliest days, the Centre comprised just a few physicians, and almost all its patients had late-stage cancer. Palliative care was generally offered in the final days or weeks of life. Patients and families often remarked, “why didn’t we hear about this earlier?”
Through Dr. Librach’s vision and tireless efforts, the Centre elevated palliative medicine into a respected specialty with standards and practices taught all over the world. As the physician leader of a national project called Educating Future Physicians for Palliative and End-of-Life Care, he helped introduce end-of-life care curriculum to Canada’s medical schools. He also authored an educational pain manual - with over 150,000 copies distributed - and co-edited an influential textbook, Palliative Care: Core Skills and Clinical Competencies, which is into its second edition.
Today the Temmy Latner Centre is staffed by more than 30 physicians, offering 24/7 access to physician support for more than 4,300 patients at home and in hospital annually. Many of its patients live with complex health issues, such as heart failure or dementia, and look to palliative care specialists for support to make the most of the time they have left.
Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 67, Dr. Librach made the most of the few months he had left to him: sharing his own story to elevate awareness of the value of palliative care, while preparing his loved ones and himself for his final journey. He died on August 15, 2013, the way he wished: at home, surrounded by his family.
Dying is as important as birthing, and we need to make sure that people are cared for at both ends of life, as well as the life in-between.
Dr. Larry Librach, speaking with CTV’s W5 in the final weeks of his life
About Mount Sinai 100 Chairs
In 2023, Mount Sinai Hospital will mark its 100th anniversary. To honour the physicians and scientists who have made breakthrough discoveries and whose achievements have elevated Sinai Health’s reputation for world-class care, we are pleased to introduce our Mount Sinai 100 Chairs. These legacy chairs carry the names of Sinai Health’s most eminent trailblazers and will help recruit and fund the work of a new generation of clinicians and scientists, securing the next century of caring at Sinai Health. We invite you to help us imagine the next 100 years.
About Mount Sinai 100 Chairs
In 2023, Mount Sinai Hospital will mark its 100th anniversary. To honour the physicians and scientists who have made breakthrough discoveries and whose achievements have elevated Sinai Health’s reputation for world-class care, we are pleased to introduce our Mount Sinai 100 Chairs. These legacy chairs carry the names of Sinai Health’s most eminent trailblazers and will help recruit and fund the work of a new generation of clinicians and scientists, securing the next century of caring at Sinai Health. We invite you to help us imagine the next 100 years.
About Mount Sinai 100 Chairs
In 2023, Mount Sinai Hospital will mark its 100th anniversary. To honour the physicians and scientists who have made breakthrough discoveries and whose achievements have elevated Sinai Health’s reputation for world-class care, we are pleased to introduce our Mount Sinai 100 Chairs. These legacy chairs carry the names of Sinai Health’s most eminent trailblazers and will help recruit and fund the work of a new generation of clinicians and scientists, securing the next century of caring at Sinai Health. We invite you to help us imagine the next 100 years.
