Small Group Sessions A | 11:15 – 12:10 PM
Bedside Nursing Strategies for Communicating "After the Family Meeting" (Room A1)
This session empowers bedside nurses with practical communication tools to support patients and families during complex decision-making, especially after family meetings when goals of care and end-of-life decisions are still being considered for patients unable to speak for themselves. Recognizing that nurses may not always attend these meetings or have full context, the session offers a concise, actionable framework to help nurses engage families in supportive, collaborative conversations that acknowledge grief, uncertainty, and the limits of what can be “fixed.” Through 2–3 case-based scenarios, participants will role-play in small groups or live demonstrations to build confidence using open-ended questions, empathetic language, and strategies for identifying when additional palliative support is needed. This session suits both novice and experienced nurses seeking to strengthen their bedside presence and communication in high-stakes, emotionally charged situations.
Taryn Escuriex, RN; Gemi Jannotta, ARNP
Yes, And: Harnessing Concepts from Improv Theater to Build Connection (Room A2)
Effective serious illness communication requires adaptability, deep listening, and the ability to partner across differences—skills that are also central to medical improv. In this interactive session, participants will engage in low-stakes improv exercises (no need to be funny!) that encourage reflection on how we show up in clinical encounters and how we can deepen connection, manage uncertainty, and practice presence. Through guided debriefs, attendees will explore themes of compassion, bias, power, and stigma, while reconnecting with their own strengths and joy in care. Although the content is not specific to neuropalliative care, it can be tailored to that context if desired.
Amy Trowbridge, MD; Michael Light, LICSW
Community Engagement in Serious Illness Research: Examples from Cardiac and Cancer Care (Room A3)
This interactive workshop will explore practical strategies for engaging patients, caregivers, and frontline professionals in palliative care research through community-driven approaches like community advisory boards (CABs). Participants will learn from two real-world case studies focused on serious cardiac illness and multilingual cancer care, engage in structured peer dialogue, and participate in a facilitated group discussion to apply insights to their own work.
Erin Blakeney, MD; Rashmi Sharma, MD; Jill Steiner, MD
Eating and Drinking at the End of Life: VSED, Advance Directives for Stopping Eating and Drinking, Minimal Comfort Feeding, and Where We Are Now (Room A4)
As more individuals seek to hasten death outside the parameters of medical aid in dying (MAiD), palliative care providers increasingly face complex decisions around food and hydration. This 60-minute interactive session will examine current approaches—including Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED), Comfort Feeding Only, Stopping Eating and Drinking by Advance Directive, and Minimal Comfort Feeding Only—along with evolving practices in Washington state. Using real-world cases and audience participation, attendees will explore clinical, ethical, and communication challenges when supporting patients and surrogates through these decisions.
Hope Wechkin, MD
Small Group Sessions B | 1:30 – 2:25 PM
iCPR: Using a Values-Based Approach to the Code Status Discussion-Making Process and Rolling with Ambivalence (Room B1)
Code status discussions often fall short of truly values-based care. This interactive workshop introduces the iCPR framework—a structured, compassionate approach to support clearer, more patient-centered code status conversations across the interprofessional team. After a brief didactic exploring the cognitive, emotional, and existential lenses patients use in decision-making, participants will practice applying iCPR and NURSE communication techniques through partner-based drills. The session will emphasize tailoring discussions to meet patients where they are—whether decision-ready or deeply ambivalent—and foster reflection on the emotional and ethical complexities these conversations bring.
Lindsay Gibbon, MD
Supporting Emergency Department Nurses Who Provide Palliative Care (Room B2)
Emergency department nurses face repeated exposure to death, which can significantly impact their mental health and their ability to provide high-quality palliative care. This interactive workshop will review current literature on this topic, introduce evidence-based interventions to support nurses in delivering palliative care, and explore strategies for integrating these approaches into ED orientation programs. Engaging tools such as Slido polls, think-pair-share, and real-life case scenarios will help participants apply concepts in meaningful ways.
Austin DesJardin
Illuminating Our Worth: Strategies for Visibility, Value, and Community in Palliative Care A conversation facilitated by the Seattle Quality Improvement Network (SeaQIN) (Room B3)
With the sunset of key national palliative care initiatives (NPCRC, PCQN, PCQC, and Cambia Sojourns Scholars), the field faces a pivotal moment. This interactive workshop will explore how interprofessional teams can sustain connection, demonstrate value to healthcare systems, and increase visibility without centralized infrastructure. Participants will learn strategies for data storytelling, cost-conscious care models, and visibility-enhancing documentation, while engaging in small-group collaboration to co-develop adaptable tools for practice.
Steve Pantilat MD; Lindsay Vendetta, MD; Luke Mosley, MD; & Melanie Neff LICSW
Ethics of Whole Brain Donation and End of Life Decision Making (25 min) (Room B4)
This small-group session introduces the Human Mammalian Brain Atlas (HMBA) project, which maps brain cell types across species, including humans. Focusing on palliative care contexts, presenters will explore ethical challenges related to brain donation, family engagement, and scientific integrity. Participants will gain insight into the goals of large-scale neuroscience research and reflect on how such studies intersect with end-of-life care.
Timothy Brown Phd
AND
Brain Death - A Brief Overview for Palliative Care Clinicians (25 min) (Room B4)
Brain death and death by neurologic criteria (BD/DNC) present unique challenges for palliative care teams. This session will review the definition and history of brain death, highlight updates from the 2023 adult and pediatric guidelines, and explore common ethical, legal, and cultural complexities that arise in consultations. Through case-based discussion, participants will gain tools to support families who may decline testing or struggle to accept brain death and learn effective strategies to guide both families and medical teams through these difficult conversations.
Dan Kim, MD, MA
The Power of Perspective: A palliative care NP's journey to research (25 min) (Room B5)
This presentation explores how the clinical experiences of palliative care and hospice nurse practitioners—and other clinicians—can meaningfully inform research, from the perspective of a current PhD student. Attendees will gain insight into how bedside practice can inspire relevant, impactful research questions, and reflect on the challenges and rewards of navigating dual roles as a clinician and emerging investigator.
Becca Snyder, ARNP
AND
Research Abstract Presentations (25 min) (Room B5)
TBD
Small Group Sessions C | 2:30 – 3:25 PM
Washington Rural Palliative Care Initiative (Room C1)
This session highlights the Washington Rural Palliative Care Initiative, a public/private partnership supporting over 20 rural communities with limited access to specialty palliative care. Presenters will describe services such as interdisciplinary tele-consults, peer networking, and individualized clinical and operational support. Participants will engage in dialogue around creative strategies—including the use of community health workers and EMS—to meet palliative care needs in resource-limited settings.
Gregg VandeKieft, MD, MA; Adrienne Goldberg, PHD, LICSW
Medical Aid in Dying (Room C2)
This presentation provides an overview of medical aid in dying (MAID), including its current legal status across the United States and how patients and providers access the law. Participants will learn effective strategies for incorporating MAID discussions into end-of-life conversations and engage in role-play simulations illustrating both positive and challenging communication scenarios. With MAID becoming an increasingly relevant option—especially in states like Washington—this session aims to raise awareness and build clinician confidence in navigating these sensitive discussions.
Morissa Pertik & Eileen Ravella; End of Life WA
Research Abstract Presentations (55 min) (Room C3)
TBD
Community Outreach in Hospice (Room C4)
This session explores the importance and impact of hospice community outreach, focusing on efforts by Heart’n Soul Hospice in King County. Attendees will learn how targeted hospice education addresses disparities and benefits underserved and underrepresented communities. The presentation includes practical strategies and real-world examples demonstrating the value of community engagement in enhancing hospice awareness and access.
Nathan Yemane, MSW, LICSW; Lisa Stubenrauch RN‑BC BSN
Integrating Neuropalliative Care in the Pediatric and Neonatal ICUs (Room C5)
This interactive session explores challenging neuropalliative care scenarios through three case studies commonly encountered by pediatric intensivists, neurologists, and palliative care providers. Topics include parental perspectives on neurologic outcomes, the role of outpatient continuity teams, and communication strategies following sudden neurologic injury. Attendees will engage with facilitated questions and gain practical approaches to support families facing neurologic decline or new disability in pediatric and neonatal ICU settings.
Amanda March, MD; Nina Natarajan, MD