Wald, Florence

Born in New York City in 1917, Florence Wald became a pioneer in the development of hospice care in the United States. Wald graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1938 and obtained advanced degrees in nursing (1941) and science (1956) from Yale University. Wald became a faculty member of the Yale School of Nursing in 1957, where she served in varying capacities, including dean, during her tenure. Wald is best known for her efforts in bringing palliative care of the terminally ill to the United States. In late 1968, she formed an interdisciplinary research team to conduct a two year study of the care of dying patients, with the goal of determining the viability of an on-going hospice care program. At the completion of the study, the group formed Hospice, Inc., the first hospice organization in the United States. Wald served on the planning staff and Board of Directors for Hospice, Inc. until 1975 when she resigned due to internal conflicts. After her resignation, Wald continued to be a significant figure in the national hospice movement through her research and consultant work. In 1998, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Wald's husband, Henry, an engineer and architect, also made significant contributions to Hospice, Inc. and the broader national movement through his research and work in designing hospice facilities. Henry Wald died on December 22, 2000. Florence Wald died on November 8, 2008, in her home in Branford, Connecticut.