Together for Short Lives is deeply saddened to hear of the recent death of our former Chair of Trustees, Dr Lisa Kauffmann MB BS, MSc, FRCPCH, Dip Pall Med.
Dr Kauffmann joined us as Chair in March 2023 and served until 2024. She remained a Trustee until her resignation in May of this year.
Dr Kauffmann was a highly experienced expert clinical specialist and leader in community paediatrics and children’s palliative care, working with children with life-limiting conditions and complex disability and their families over many years. She brought an authoritative and respected voice to Together for Short Lives.
Dr Kauffmann’s career spanned over 25 years working as a consultant in community paediatrics, working with children with complex disabilities and their families. For the last 10 years of her clinical career, she went on to specialise in children’s palliative care both in the community and in hospital.
Dr Kauffman was a highly-respected clinical leader, both within and outside of the NHS. She was a Clinical Director, then Associate Medical Director, in the health service, providing leadership for her medical colleagues, and also to the wider healthcare team.
Dr Kauffmann worked in partnership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and was appointed Honorary Treasurer at the RCPCH. Lisa was a member of the Association of Paediatric Palliative Care Medicine, Co-chair of CoLab (a collaborative for children with medical complexity) and a Trustee for Derian House Children’s Hospice in Manchester.
Following her retirement, Dr Kauffmann focussed her time on teaching communication skills for healthcare professionals supporting families caring for children with palliative care needs, complex health conditions and disabilities.
Nick Carroll, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives said: “I am deeply saddened by Dr Kauffmann’s death. She was such a widely respected figure in the children’s palliative care sector and she will be much missed by us all.”
“Lisa’s dedicated so much of her professional life and her retirement to improving quality of life for seriously ill babies, children and young people and their families. She played a big role in shaping Together for Short Lives’ work and then leading us as our Chair of Trustees.”
“She did so with kindness and compassion and will be greatly missed by all who worked with her across the sector. Our thoughts are with Lisa’s family, friends and all those who knew and worked with her.”
“Lisa’s dedicated so much of her professional life and her retirement to improving quality of life for seriously ill babies, children and young people and their families. She played a big role in shaping Together for Short Lives’ work and then leading us as our Chair of Trustees. She did so with kindness and compassion and will be greatly missed by all who worked with her across the sector. Our thoughts are with Lisa’s family, friends and all those who knew and worked with her.”
Nick Carroll, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives
