MIDDLEBURY — Dr. Diana Barnard, a palliative care physician and long-time member of the Addison County medical community, who works at both Porter Medical Center and the UVM Medical Center, has been awarded the UVM Health Network Home Health and Hospice Madison-Deane Award for Excellence in End-of-Life Care. This annual award is given by the Madison-Deane Education Fund, formerly the Madison- Deane Initiative (MDI), which is the educational arm of the UVM Health Network Home Health and Hospice’s Hospice and Palliative Care Program. 
According to the MDI website, this award is given annually by the Madison-Deane Initiative to a Vermont individual, group or organization who “exemplifies the original mission and vision of MDI, thereby continuing the legacy of Drs. Madison and Deane and their original intent. 
Dr. Madison wanted to see physicians educated about pain assessment and control, and Dr. Deane wanted to see education about advance directives and hospice and palliative care, so as to prevent unnecessary suffering for patients at the end of life.” 
“We are so pleased to learn of this well-deserved award, and deeply grateful to Dr. Barnard for the specialized and invaluable work she does here at Porter to provide palliative and end-of-life services to the people of our community,” said UVMHN Porter Medical Center President Seleem Choudhury. “Diana exemplifies our mission of caring for our community, one person at a time.” illness.”