Dying in the Modern Age: Ethics, Systems, and the Human Experience
8:30 am Registration/Continental Breakfast
9:00 am How We Die Now: Facing the New Normal Together
Tanisha Bowman, MSW, LSW, APHSW-C, NEDA Proficient
Hospice Social Worker, Concordia of Washington
Deathwalker
Abstract: Across America, the experience of dying has changed. These changes are being shaped by economic strain, fragmented systems, and shifting cultural expectations. People and their care circles are making end-of-life decisions in an environment where support and care can be costly, complex, and hard to find. This talk invites clinicians to pause and consider what “the new normal” means for the people they serve. Together, we’ll explore how financial, emotional, and systemic realities influence the choices families make, and how clinicians can respond with awareness, empathy, and integrity to help patients and caregivers navigate dying with dignity.
10:25 am Break
10:35 am What If….What Now… And Everything in Between: A Look at the Influence
of Illness, Age, and Time on Serious Illness Conversations
Denise Stahl, MSN, FPCN
Educator & Palliative Care Advocate
Abstract: This session will explore how illness, age, and changing circumstances shape goals-of-care conversations. Through the story of a patient navigating serious illness, participants will learn practical, evidence-based communication approaches that support clearer decision-making, stronger patient–clinician alignment, and truly goal-concordant care and will highlight when and how to have the right conversation at the right time—integrating cultural considerations, emotion, and evolving clinical context to improve care for patients and families.
12:00 pm LUNCH
12:30 pm Values-Based Care in End of Life Conversations
Laura Guidry-Grimes, PhD, HEC-C
Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Bioethics School of Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
Jamie Watson, PhD, HEC-C
Associate Professor Department of Bioethics School of Medicine
Associate Professor Department of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
Abstract: This interactive 3-hour session will explore how healthcare providers can more effectively engage patients and families in end-of-life discussions by centering on values, goals, and what matters most. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in immersive simulation experiences—including prebrief, facilitated encounter, and a two-part debrief—to practice applying these skills in a realistic clinical scenario. The session will conclude with a chart-noting exercise that reinforces how to document values-aligned conversations clearly and ethically. By integrating teaching, practice, reflection, and documentation, this session will aim to help to equip participants to lead compassionate, patient-centered end-of-life discussions with greater clarity and confidence.
3:30 pm Adjournment