Dame Cecily Saunders

Dame Cicely Saunders was a British nurse, social worker, and physician who founded the modern hospice movement. She dedicated her life to improving end-of-life care for terminally ill patients, emphasizing comfort, dignity, and holistic support—addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Saunders established St. Christopher’s Hospice in London in 1967, showing that dying should be managed with compassion and respect. Her work transformed how society views death and palliative care, ensuring that patients suffering from incurable illnesses receive compassionate, specialized care focused on quality of life.