Dr. Gary Johanson is a board certified family practice physician with special qualifications in hospice and palliative care medicine. He has been practicing palliative medicine for more than 30 years and is a founding member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Johanson has served as Medical Director for Memorial Hospice since 1999, and as Medical Director of Palliative Care Services at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital since 2000. Dr. Johanson is the recipient of numerous awards including the Sonoma County Medical Association award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. He was also named the Public Health Champion for Sonoma County in 2001 for assuring quality of and access to care for Sonoma County residents in the areas of palliative care and pain management. Dr. Johanson is the recipient of the Balfour M. Mount award by the American Journal of Hospice Care for the most unique and practical approach toward symptom control of the terminally ill. His handbook has been distributed widely as a ready reference for techniques in symptom relief for the physician treating terminally ill patients.