As we come to the end of National Hospice Palliative Care Week, Victoria Hospice is thrilled to share that Dr. Coby Tschanz RN, PhD, CHPCN has just received the 2025 Canadian Palliative Care Nursing Association (CPCNA) Lifetime Achievement Award
Recipients of this award are nurses who dedicated their careers to supporting and developing quality palliative care nursing practice, in order to further support optimal palliative patient care. These individuals were integral in developing a network of nurses with a shared interest in advocating for and providing palliative care for all persons in Canada.
Coby lives in British Columbia, and is a passionate nurse, educator, consultant, researcher and respected leader in promoting excellence in palliative care. She was an active member of the CHPCNG for many years, serving on the Board and helping to develop national Palliative Care Nursing Standards. Coby was present at CPCNA’s founding in 2021, and has remained an involved member, particularly supporting ongoing education and professional practice initiatives.
Although her nursing career began in Calgary, Coby eventually moved to Victoria BC, establishing her long association with the Victoria Hospice Society. For more than thirty years, she has served in a variety of inpatient settings, and been an integral part of the Victoria Hospice Palliative Response Team.
A true leader and mentor who is dedicated to lifelong learning, Coby holds a PhD in nursing from the University of Victoria. Dr. Tschanz is a respected scholar and nursing professor at UVic, who continues to work as an on-call palliative nurse consultant with Community Health Services. She has several publications, and speaks to audiences locally and nationally, in areas related to nursing and palliative care.
Her colleagues speak highly of her deep passion for the human side of nursing. “A collaborator by nature, Coby seeks input from patients, families, and teammates including nurses, physicians, counsellors, volunteers, and health care assistants. Patients and families appreciate her calm, respectful approach and exceptional listening skills. In clinical settings, Coby integrates her love of education and research, helping stimulate colleagues to ask new questions, review research, and reflect on their practice.”
Coby actively participates in scholarly projects at Victoria Hospice, Island Health and UVic, and envisions integrating university and hospice palliative care environments to strengthen both communities. “She is a role model for the integration of clinical and academic excellence, and for bringing her full, authentic self into whatever role she takes on. She continues to inspire and transform the way we conceptualize and enact palliative nursing care, from one human to another.”
Congratulations, Coby, from everyone at Victoria Hospice!