Barbara Coombs Lee

BARBARA COOMBS LEE worked in healthcare as a clinician, policymaker and advocate for more than five decades. Her indelible bedside experiences forged a deep respect for individual values and beliefs and eventually led her to a career in law and health policy. For the past 25 years she has advocated for initiatives that allow individuals a full range of options and much greater agency in their healthcare decisions.Barbara's work in public policy culminated in her roles as chief executive officer...See more

BARBARA COOMBS LEE worked in healthcare as a clinician, policymaker and advocate for more than five decades. Her indelible bedside experiences forged a deep respect for individual values and beliefs and eventually led her to a career in law and health policy. For the past 25 years she has advocated for initiatives that allow individuals a full range of options and much greater agency in their healthcare decisions.Barbara's work in public policy culminated in her roles as chief executive officer and president of Compassion & Choices, the nation's oldest and largest organization working to empower everyone to chart their end-of-life journey. After serving in that capacity for 22 years, Barbara transitioned her role to President Emerita/Senior Adviser.Thousands of personal experiences and the teachings of scholars and thought leaders around the globe inform her perspective. Often quoted in the media, Barbara is a seasoned writer, speaker and commentator. Her previous book was Compassion in Dying: Stories of Dignity and Choice.Barbara's passion for transforming the end-of-life experience by informing and empowering patients infuses FINISH STRONG. She calls for all Americans to join a patient-driven movement to dismantle the institutional and cultural barriers to living well to the very end.She lives in Oregon. See less