SAN DIEGO, CA – St. Paul’s Senior Services is proud to announce that Dr. David Wensel, Chief Medical Officer for St. Paul’s Senior Services and TRU Community Care, has been selected by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) as the recipient of the 2026 Josefina B. Magno Distinguished Hospice Physician Award.
AAHPM’s Josefina B. Magno Distinguished Hospice Physician Award recognizes a hospice medical director or hospice physician who provides the highest quality services and innovative programs for hospice patients and families, and who demonstrates exemplary dedication to the practice of palliative medicine in a hospice setting.
Dr. Wensel will be formally honored on March 5, 2026, during the Annual Assembly for Hospice and Palliative Care in San Diego, California.
“Dr. Wensel’s leadership and heart for patients are central to our mission at St. Paul’s,” said Michael McHale, President & CEO of St. Paul’s Senior Services. “Every day, he helps ensure that our seniors receive care that is compassionate, person-centered, and grounded in best practices in hospice and palliative medicine. This national recognition is a powerful affirmation of his decades of service to patients, families, and the field.”
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Wensel provides clinical leadership across St. Paul’s continuum of care in San Diego and TRU Community Care’s hospice, palliative care, PACE, memory care, and grief services in Colorado. He is known by colleagues for his collaborative team approach, deep respect for patients’ goals and values, and unwavering focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for people living with serious illness.
“I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition,” said Dr. David Wensel. “This award reflects the work of our entire teams at St. Paul’s Senior Services and TRU Community Care. It is a privilege to walk alongside patients and families at such important times in their lives and to work with colleagues who are so dedicated to excellent hospice and palliative care.”
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About St. Paul’s Senior Services
St. Paul’s Senior Services is a mission-driven San Diego nonprofit and full-service senior care provider, offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing communities, in addition to offering child care and a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Since opening its doors in 1960, St. Paul’s has served as an innovator in the San Diego community with a reputation for providing award-winning care. For more information on St. Paul’s Senior Services, please visit www.StPaulsSeniors.org
About TRU Community Care
Founded as Boulder Hospice in 1976, TRU Community Care is a nonprofit organization providing a continuum of care for individuals and families living with advanced illness and loss, including hospice care, palliative care, TRU PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), memory care, grief services, dementia support, and community education across Colorado’s Front Range. Learn more at TRUcare.org