Dr. Dawn Gross, MD, PhD

This session will break down and rebuild how we, as individuals and a society, relate to grief. This is not about Five Stages of grief. This is about phases of healing and how society has already built structures to support resilience. We’ve just not included the invisible injury of grief into the systems we’ve created. This session will offer a map and overview of the terrain of The Sea of Grief. You will leave with a reference point and tools to guide you and those you care for to more calm waters and ultimately safely back to shore.

 Dr. Frances M. Hawes, PhD, MS

This study assesses the effectiveness of grief support interventions implemented by Administrators-in-Training (AITs) for nursing home staff from 2020 to 2024. The objectives include identifying best practices and exploring implementation challenges. Key best practices include structured grief counseling and peer support groups. However, challenges such as effective communication, limited staff availability, and reluctance to participate were also identified. These findings provide valuable insights for administrators seeking to enhance grief support programs.

Jeanne Lee, MD

Sometimes, despite our best attempts to keep family updated in the hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a wide gulf seems to remain between family’s understanding and clinicians’ understanding of the severity of a patient’s medical condition. How can we effectively and compassionately help family members understand, process, and move forward with shared decision making? Practicing palliative care physician and former hospitalist Dr. Jeanne Lee uses patient scenarios to explain why clinician-patient/family disconnect occurs and provides practical tips for effective communication regarding end of life decisions in the hospital and ICU.

Dr. Justin F. Gaynor, MLIS Student | Rita L. Premo, Masters in Library Science | Mrs. Adele M. Dobry, Master’s in Library Science

In 2018, California became the first state to mandate access to palliative care as a Medicare benefit. While this is an important step, there is a lack of trained nurses, and particularly bilingual, Black or persons of color in the nursing profession across the state. The California State University (CSU) system confers over 3600 nursing degrees per year to a diverse student body across twenty campuses. We have launched a project to promote Global Hospice and Palliative Care Day in October 2025 to raise awareness among nursing students of this career path. We will summarize the project’s progress and goals.

Ms. Jennifer Moore Ballentine, MA

Since 2008, POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) has been a “gold standard” in California for discussing and communicating key treatment preferences of seriously ill patients in a medical crisis. Legislation in 2021 allocated funding to the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) to develop a statewide electronic POLST registry. In anticipation of the registry launch, the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC) and EMSA deployed a “POLST Knowledge Survey” to assess current POLST awareness and process. More than 3,000 surveys were submitted across many healthcare disciplines and settings. As a “test,” graded by cohort, everyone failed.

Dr. Katie L. Robinson, PhD, RN-BC, CHPN1 | Allison Kestenbaum, MA MPA, BCC-PCHAC2, | Dr. Kyle P. Edmonds, MD, FAAHPM2

Swift and ongoing interprofessional (IP) collaboration is crucial for timely whole person palliative care (PC), however early and accurate identification of spiritual distress (SD) and subsequent IP intervention remains inconsistent. The purpose of this presentation is to provide an update on the ongoing development of a SD risk screening instrument and will include new results from a PC dataset analysis; comparison to a previous hospice admission dataset analysis; item generation from these analyses; an updated timeline of instrument development; and discussion of the IP research team’s ongoing collaborative process in developing an instrument meant to foster IP collaborate practice.

Ms. Kelly McEniry, BCC, JD, MTS, UCSD Palliative Care, San Diego, Hospice of the North Coast, Carlsbad

“Nones”:
1)Those who identify with a specific faith who may not currently practice their faith, or may have never practiced that faith, thus they choose “None” by default; or
2) Those who claim no religious or spiritual affiliation, and therefore do not choose to identify with any of the other options provided. One of the biggest misconceptions, and most relevant in providing pastoral care, is the ASSUMPTION that the Nones are not religious or spiritual. Research from the fields of sociology, theology, and political science agree THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Let’s collaborate to better serve this overlooked population.

Dorothy L O’Hagan, PhD

This presentation explores the impact of bereavement on self-reported health, focusing on the differences between bereaved and non-bereaved individuals. Using data from the 2019 and 2022 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the research examines how demographic factors, employment characteristics, and the COVID-19 pandemic influence the health outcomes of the bereaved. Attendees will gain insight into how grief affects workplace productivity, well-being, and overall health, as well as the role of leadership in supporting grieving employees. The session aims to inform strategies for compassionate leadership and organizational practices to support those coping with loss.

Elizabeth Johnson, MA | Erin Collins, MN, RN, CHPN

The Compassionate Community Model of Care states that we all have a role to play in caring for one another during times of serious illness, death and grief. And in fact, 90% of a person’s bereavement needs have been shown to best be met by friends, family and community peer support. This workshop will present an overview of Public Health Palliative Care, or Compassionate Communities and outline ways that clinicians can engage with members of the community to provide much of the non-medical support that is needed.

Rev. Margaret H. Gelini, MDiv, BCC

Nurses play a critical role in offering whole person care to individuals with serious illnesses and their families. Quality education in primary palliative care is essential for nursing students to develop competence before entering practice (AACN, 2021). Spiritual care education and self-care learning are limited in undergraduate nursing curriculum. Using an innovative strategy–interprofessional education by a spiritual care advanced specialist, Palliative Care Chaplain–nursing student’s showed an increased confidence to address spiritual needs and valued self-care practices. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating spiritual care and self-care learning into nursing curricula to prepare students for the complexities of professional practice.

Ms. Kelly McEniry, BCC, JD, MTS, UCSD Palliative Care, San Diego, Hospice of the North Coast, Carlsbad

“Nones”:
1)Those who identify with a specific faith who may not currently practice their faith, or may have never practiced that faith, thus they choose “None” by default; or
2) Those who claim no religious or spiritual affiliation, and therefore do not choose to identify with any of the other options provided. One of the biggest misconceptions, and most relevant in providing pastoral care, is the ASSUMPTION that the Nones are not religious or spiritual. Research from the fields of sociology, theology, and political science agree THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Let’s collaborate to better serve this overlooked population.

Ms. Tahseen Gill, B.Th., Cross Cultural Studies; Diploma in Practical Nursing

How Big Is Your Village? Unlock new possibilities. Revolutionize your work. Explore transformative strategies for mastering technology integration. Rethink current practices, reimagine solutions to collaborative approach in integrating connection and inclusivity into compassionate whole-person care, and leave with ready-to-implement tools to innovate palliative care. The workshop will empower you to gain a new perspective on “all hands on deck” in delivering maximum enhanced person-centered care. You will have the opportunity to explore current trends and technologies. You will leave with a toolkit to fuel the jumpstart of your innovation in your work.

Kirsten I. Buen, PhD, RN1 | Eden R. Brauer, PhD, RN1 | Carol L. Pavlish, PhD, RN, FAAN1 | Anne M. Walling, MD, PhD1,2, | Karen Grimley, PhD, MBA, RN, FACHE, NEA-BC1 | MarySue V. Heilemann, PhD, RN, FAAN1

In this presentation, we will discuss findings from a grounded theory study exploring complexities in palliative care from the perspectives of multidisciplinary clinicians who provide palliative care and those who request its consultation. Our analysis revealed that navigating discord and rupture across the health system was at the heart of participants’ experiences of complexity in palliative care. Navigating discord was critical to enacting palliative care values of integration and holism, however, this process often went unrecognized in practice. We will discuss several examples from the data and attendees will be invited to reflect and share their own experiences.

Megan E. Delahanty, M.Theol.

This workshop explores the dynamic of palliative care workers, patients and families, when cases or interactions become challenging. We’ll dive into one of the most important but under-explored cultural gaps: the culture of medicine itself and how that interacts with patients and their families (& palliative teams!). This is of course combinatory, including our patient’s cultural backgrounds and our own as well. Practical, effective tactics will be presented, including how to broaden our linguistic toolkit authentically, restructure team discussions for productive reflection, “reading” the rooms we find ourselves in, and becoming functional intercultural stewards.

Mr. Austin S. DesJardin, MSN, RN, CNE

Palliative care enhances the quality of life for patients with chronic illnesses and nearing death, a population frequently seen in emergency departments. This literature review analyzed 16 studies on palliative care interventions for seriously ill adults who died in emergency settings. Key interventions included screening tools, communication training, end-of-life education, and health record alerts. These practices enhance patient comfort, reduce distressing symptoms, and alleviate caregiver burden while supporting family-centered care. The findings of this review highlight the urgent need for palliative care in emergency departments to address the unique challenges of seriously ill patients and improve end-of-life care outcomes.

Prof. Melinda S. Kavanaugh, PhD, LCSW |Leah Hellwege, BA | Lisell Pacheco, MA

This interactive workshop engages participants though research and programs addressing children and youth as caregivers, “hidden helpers.” Utilizing hands-on activities, participants will be guided through research-based activities, including:

1) the hidden helper caregiving activity book, and;

2) YCare, caregiving skills program. Participants will apply research findings and learn about the care needs and skills required for care for wounded, ill or injured family members, through immersion in the YCare program.

Participants will see how children and youth are guided through care skills by area and need, including basic care, speech and communication, and assistive devices – in a peer engaged setting.

Dr. Maliheh Bakhshi, DNP, FNP-BC, BSN, RN

Heart failure affects over 6.7 million adults in the United States and was responsible for 13.9% of all deaths in 2022 (CDC, 2024). Despite its seriousness, only 10% of heart failure patients utilize palliative care, and less than 12% are admitted to hospice (Gelfman, 2014). Many providers misunderstand the role of palliative care, viewing it as exclusively for end-of-life rather than improving quality of life earlier in the disease. This is due to limited training, resources, and misconceptions (Courteau, 2018; White et al., 2019). This workshop aims to equip providers with knowledge to optimize palliative care for heart failure patients.

Karen Rivo, BSN, RN, CHPCN | Jolene Scarella, MS, RN, CHPN | Beth Crawford MS, GSC | Dr. Dawn Gross, MD, PhD

This interactive program will utilize Geode Cards, a novel tool to guide participants in a safe and reproducible approach to cracking open core values with ease. This unique practice centers on curiosity. Once the “gems” of our lives are illuminated, they can act as guideposts supporting our ability to be acutely present, allowing for what is essential to become magnified. Shining light on what matters most can happen at any age and stage of life with people we know or people we have yet to discover. Participants will leave feeling connected and empowered to advocate for what matters most.

Dr. Melissa Delizia, MSW, LSW, DSW

This workshop, Grieving Queer: Compassionate and Inclusive Care for Transgender and LGBTQ+ Communities in Death, Dying, and Grief, explores the unique end-of-life needs and grief experiences of transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals. Focusing on systemic inequities, misgendering, and legal exclusion, the session examines the compounded grief and vulnerability these populations face. Participants will learn practical strategies for providing inclusive, compassionate care, advocating for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals, and addressing barriers to accessing healthcare. Attendees will leave with tools to ensure respectful, affirming care in palliative and end-of-life settings, promoting an inclusive approach for this marginalized group.

Dr. Katie L. Robinson, PhD, RN-BC, CHPN

Across healthcare professions, accrediting organizations have increasingly added or enhanced IPE standards for academic programs to ensure effective IP collaborative practices among future healthcare providers. Despite common barriers to IPE, exemplars of IPE efforts demonstrate IPE is possible on both small and large scales. At this interactive workshop, participants will be equipped and empowered with practical strategies and resources to implement or enhance IPE at their institutions. The workshop will identify common barriers and highlight effective strategies and resources. Participants will engage in discussions of shared experiences, brainstorm solutions, and collaboratively develop short- and long-term IPE goals.

Dr. Kamal A. Abu-Shamsieh, PhD in Practical Theology

End-of-life care for Muslim patients requires knowledge of Islamic theology and ethics while highlighting the significance of rituals, and spiritual and familial support during the transition period. Care should include accommodations for religious practices and ethical considerations, especially in cases of discussions on the withdrawal of life support, pain management, and organ donation. The process of decision-making often involves family, Muslim chaplains, and religious leaders, reflecting communal values. The workshop will offer reflections on the meaning of pain and suffering at life’s end, communication, and personal choices by focusing on Prophet Muhammad’s dying experience as a good death model.

Taryn Priaulx, BA, BSN, RN, PCCN, CHPN | Maura Del Bene, APRN, PMHNP- BC, ANP, ACHPN

Explore the rationale and methodology behind one organization’s assessment of registered nurses’ self-perceived knowledge and skillset in providing care for individuals at End-of-Life. The study examines how the development of a unit specific education program in patient and family assessment, pharmacological and non pharmacological interventions, communication skills, ethical considerations, and cultural competence can better prepare nurses for the challenges they may face in End-of-Life situations. This study is highly adaptable and can be replicated across various care settings and professional fields to support and implement resources related to palliative care specifically at End-of-Life.

Kara L. Alcorn-Borodach, OTD, OTR/L

This presentation will address the proposed educational certificate program in palliative care and hospice for occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs). This program aims to fill the gap that individuals experience in occupational engagement, health promotion, and occupational justice at the end of life. The Occupational Therapy in Palliative and Hospice Care: A Certificate Program content is aligned with palliative care principles and specific evidence-based occupational knowledge, enabling OTPs to become integral members of interprofessional palliative care teams. Modules deliver the foundational information necessary to apply palliative care principles, collaborate with interprofessional team members, and provide meaningful occupational interventions during this transition.

Dr. Jocelyn Jiao, MD

An informative, thought provoking conversation with Dr. Jocelyn Jiao, a Stanford Neurologist and Neuropalliative Care Specialist. Dr. Jiao will share about the emerging field of neuropalliative care, and how it will address the unmet need for better quality of life for people living with dementia and their family caregivers. She will address the unique approach to patient care offered by the neuropalliative specialty, integrated with a patient’s medical care, from onset to end of life. Dr. Jiao will be interviewed by Robin Shepherd, a Certified Dementia Practitioner and co-founder of the Susan and Charles Berghoff Foundation.

Dr. Katie L. Robinson, PhD, RN-BC, CHPN

Across healthcare professions, accrediting organizations have increasingly added or enhanced IPE standards for academic programs to ensure effective IP collaborative practices among future healthcare providers. Despite common barriers to IPE, exemplars of IPE efforts demonstrate IPE is possible on both small and large scales. At this interactive workshop, participants will be equipped and empowered with practical strategies and resources to implement or enhance IPE at their institutions. The workshop will identify common barriers and highlight effective strategies and resources. Participants will engage in discussions of shared experiences, brainstorm solutions, and collaboratively develop short- and long-term IPE goals.

Ami Tamhaney, BS | Jenna Marcovitz, MA, MT-BC, CCLS | Dr. Derjung Tarn, MD, PhD | Anna Maier, BA | Dr. Carolyn J. Marentes Ruiz, MD | Dr. Thanh Neville, MD

This presentation explores the role of heartbeat recordings, an offering through the 3 Wishes Program at UCLA, in supporting bereavement for families of ICU patients. Through 11 semi-structured interviews with bereaved family members, we identified themes highlighting the recordings’ therapeutic value and their use as meaningful legacy items. Personalized heartbeat songs fostered connectedness with music therapists and provided lasting tokens of remembrance. The findings underscore the potential of this innovative approach to end-of-life care and offer insights into improving such interventions. Audio samples of heartbeat sons and family reflections will complement the discussion.

Dinah S Hernandez, PhD | Sheryl Tyson, PhD | Lowell Renold, PhD, MD | Wesley Woo, MD

The diagnosis of LC can produce existential distress. While meaning-centered interventions have shown benefits, none have examined the impact on the sense of meaning in patients with LC. An exploratory, descriptive, and quantitative study explored the intrinsic values essential to patients with LC. Results show no significance with age, gender, education, occupation, awareness, discussion of prognosis, diagnosis time, and hospitalization frequency. Palliative care was significant in the Intimacy subscale. The overall PMP score suggests participants felt relatively strong personal meaning in life. Best supportive care for patients should include efforts to assist them in their search for meaning in life.

Dr. Adele Flaherty, PhD

Palliative and hospice care nurses are in contact with patients confronting debilitating illnesses and end-of-life issues, which may compromise their ability to provide quality, compassionate care. Although commonly associated with birth, a care model for those who wish to assist in the dying process has recently emerged. Integration of “end-of-life doulas” into the palliative care model may not only impact the effects of moral distress, compassion fatigue, and burnout in these nursing subspecialties, but they may also mitigate their effects in nursing practice in general. Palliative care education may benefit from the integration of this practice into their curriculum.

Dr. Shamica Lewis, DSW, LMSW

African Americans face several barriers to accessing hospice care, including cultural, socioeconomic, and systemic challenges. Culturally, there is often a mistrust of healthcare systems due to historical mistreatment, leading to hesitancy in seeking end-of-life care. Socioeconomic factors such as lack of insurance, lower health literacy, and limited access to quality healthcare further impede access. African American families may also prioritize life-prolonging treatments over palliative care due to religious beliefs or familial expectations. Additionally, healthcare disparities, inadequate communication between providers and patients, and a lack of diversity in hospice staff contribute to lower utilization of hospice services.

Summary

Palliative care chaplains play a vital role in interdisciplinary teams by conducting research and quality improvement projects that enhance spiritual care and overall quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. The author will highlight three studies: Miracle Literacy Training (MLT) for clinicians, Screening for Religious/Spiritual Struggles in Palliative Care, and ChaplainTalk, which focuses on serious illness communication skills training. The overarching goal of this presentation is to provide palliative care professionals examples and recommendations on how to integrate and strengthen the palliative care chaplain role in research efforts.

Abstract

As key interdisciplinary palliative care team members, palliative care chaplains are uniquely positioned to provide team-based contributions. In research, they are also uniquely positioned to conduct research and quality improvement projects that inform best practices in spiritual care delivery and enhance the overall quality of life for patients facing serious illness.

In this presentation, I will describe three studies (e.g., Miracle Literacy Training (MLT) for clinicians, Screening for Religious/Spiritual Struggles in Palliative Care, and ChaplainTalk: Serious Illness Communications Skills Training).
Miracle Literacy Training (MLT) for clinicians is an intervention developed to train non-chaplain clinicians to navigate complex conversations when patients and family members express hopes for miracles in situations involving complex medical decision-making. The training was based on a literature review, needs assessment, an interdisciplinary expert panel, and pilot testing. Feedback was elicited through a questionnaire and post-training group interview.

A pilot project based on VitalTalk and TeamTalk principles offered chaplains training (including role-play with simulated patients) on how to facilitate goals-of-care conversations in individual encounters or family meetings. In post-intervention surveys and focus group interviews, participants reported increased confidence and expanded scope of practice.

The study on Screening for Religious/Spiritual (R/S) Struggle aimed to evaluate the implementation of an R/S struggle screening protocol by non-chaplain clinicians in adult palliative care. Key objectives included assessing the proportion of new patients screened, identifying barriers to implementation, and determining the optimal timing and frequency of screenings. Additionally, the study aimed to find the percentage of patients who demonstrate potential R/S struggles and the proportion who accept spiritual care services.

The overarching goal of this presentation is to provide palliative care professionals examples and recommendations on how to integrate and strengthen the palliative care chaplain role in research efforts.

Tina Allen, SUDCC-Substance Use Disorder Certified Counselor | Fiona Bullock, LCSW, APHSW-C | J. Murdock, M.Div | Theodore Zwerdling, MD

Join a dynamic, podcast-style workshop hosted by a Chaplain, Substance Use Navigator, Palliative Care Coordinator-Social Worker, and Palliative Care Physician. Through storytelling, this session explores best practices in providing compassionate, whole-person care for patients and colleagues with differing or non-inclusive perspectives. The two-part workshop examines real-life experiences in patient care and strategies for addressing challenging peer dynamics. Attendees will engage in interactive discussions, share experiences, and gain actionable insights into fostering understanding and inclusivity. This innovative format blends science, storytelling, and collaboration, equipping palliative care workers with tools to navigate complex relationships in their practice.

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Alessandra Colfi, PhD, RYT-200, ZIN®

“The Gratitude Compass” is an expressive arts practice designed to cultivate compassion, resilience, and collaboration. This practice uses creative hands-on art processes to help participants explore 4 main aspects of gratitude and its impact. By exploring gratitude, participants can develop deeper sense of empathy and understanding toward self, others, increasing capacity, fostering a compassionate mindset. The practice also encourages resilience by providing a safe space for self-expression and reflection. Ultimately, “The Gratitude Compass” promotes communication, collaboration, empowering participants to create meaningful experiences and enhance their social and emotional well-being.

During the Palliative Care Symposium, attendees are invited to engage in an expressive arts experience by creating Spirit Cloths—symbolic flags that represent their personal and professional journeys as practitioners and care providers. Using the 5 Universal Shapes identified by anthropologist Angeles Arrien, participants will be guided to reflect on their path: starting where they are, acknowledging the resources that have supported them, and identifying the changes and support / resources needed to move toward their aspirations and fulfill their purpose. These Spirit Cloths, made with the provided materials, will be displayed with those created by patients, together forming the Village of the Integrated Healing Community—a collective tapestry honoring the shared journey of healing, resilience, and transformation.