Hospice Foundation of America's 17th Annual National Bereavement Teleconference
This year's teleconference was a success! Please check back next year to find out more information about next year's annual teleconference.
This conference will address care options related to cancer diagnoses as well as loss and grief reactions for patients, families and professional caregivers. The teleconference will also examine psychosocial aspects of cancer, pain management, and ethical issues related to the disease. Discussion will focus on the complexities of professionals working with end-stage cancer patients and families when transitioning to hospice and palliative care from curative treatment, including how to employ effective communication skills, practices and protocols while also sensitively recognizing obstacles to the transition for the patient and family.
The program will be useful to a range of professionals including hospice staff; psychologists; counselors; clergy; social workers; nurses, case managers and other health care workers; and funeral directors, as well as educators, teachers and school-based personnel. The information will also be helpful to individuals who offer education on loss, grief, dying or death.
Registration fee is $25. Register by calling (509) 456-0438 or online (see below!)
NOTICE:
ONLINE CE process: Continuing Education credits will ONLY be available online for $25 by applying directly through Hospice Foundation of America after the teleconference. Full instructions to obtain CEs will be provided at the conference.
The teleconference is produced by Hospice Foundation of America.
Last year's national panel includes:
Moderator: Frank Sesno, Special correspondent for CNN.
Yvette Colón, MSW, ACSW, BCD, director of education and Internet services at the American Pain Foundation, co-coordinator of the Association of Oncology Social Work’s Pain & Palliative Care Special Interest Group.
Kenneth Doka, PhD, MDiv, Professor of Gerontology at the Graduate School of The College of New Rochelle, Senior Consultant to Hospice Foundation of America.
Malene Smith Davis, MBA, MSN, RN, CHPN, President & CEO of Capital Hospice. She currently serves on the board of the American Pain Foundation, and has just completed her term as chairperson of the board at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Richard Payne, MD, Director of the Duke Institute on Care at the End-of-Life. Mr. Payne is an internationally known expert in the areas of pain relief, palliative medicine, oncology and neurology and is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Medical School.
Sherry R. Schachter, PhD, FT, director of bereavement services for Calvary Hospital/Hospice where she develops, coordinates, and facilitates educational services for staff and families. She facilitates weekly bereavement groups.
Brad Stuart, MD, is the primary author of Medical Guidelines for Prognosis in Selected Non-Cancer Diseases. Dr. Stuart was featured in the HBO documentary Letting Go: A Hospice Journey wrote and hosted Care Beyond Cure: Hospice Helping Physicians Treat the Terminally Ill.
Last year's local panel discussion was facilitated by Dr. Bob Bray, Medical Director, Hospice of Spokane.
Dr. Bob Bray, MD, Medical Director, Hospice of Spokane. Dr. Bray’s experience includes over 25 years in clinical practice, most recently as the Assistant Program Director for Family Medicine Spokane. He received his medical degree from the University of California and is board certified in family practice and geriatrics. Dr. Bray’s focus at Hospice of Spokane is to provide patient home visits and round on hospice house patients.
Stacie Bering, MD, Medical Director, Empire Health Service Palliative Care Program-Pathways. Dr. Bering has been a practicing physician in Spokane since 1982. She became interested in palliative care after leaving her OB-Gyn practice, and is now board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She also chairs the Pain and Palliative Care committee at Deaconess Medical center.
Cherie Dean, MSW, Patient Navigator, American Cancer Society. Cherie assists patients, families, and caregivers navigate the many systems needed during their cancer journey, with offices located at Spokane’s Providence hospitals. She is a Registered Counselor who received her B.A. in Sociology and MSW from Eastern Washington University. She’s worked as a social worker in local school systems and as a case manager and therapist with Spokane Mental Health. During her free time, Cherie is a musician at All Saints Lutheran Church in Spokane. She also maintains a private practice at Tapio Counseling Services.
Anna Quincy, RN, MN, Support Services Coordinator, Providence Cancer Center. Anna provides support and education to meet the needs of individuals diagnosed with cancer at Providence Cancer Center. She has worked with patients and families for over 26 years at Sacred Heart Medical Center, as well as provided training for staff nurses and developed educational material for patients and families facing cancer.
TBD, Client Family Member, Cancer Patient Care, whose mission is to provide social service support to cancer patients and their families in our region who have limited financial resource.
Jane Mather, MA, BCC, Director of Spiritual Care Services at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Holy Family Hospital. Jane previously worked as the Director for Chaplaincy Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC, NY. In that position, she worked closely with cancer patients changing from curative treatment to hospice care. Prior to moving to New York, Jane was the Director of Chaplaincy at Deaconess Medical Center.