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 role 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. A"er serving in that capacity for 22 years, Barbara transitioned her role to President Emerita/Senior Advisor.
Thousands of personal experiences and the teachings of scholars and thought leaders around the globe inform her perspective. O"en 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.
