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 Navigating the Uncertain Journey
Donna D. Durant, DNP, MSN, APRN-FNP
Expert Nurse Practitioner
UPP/UPMC Division of Palliative and Supportive Care and Medical Ethics
Abstract: As the U.S. population ages, serious illness and end-of-life care present growing ethical challenges around autonomy, decision-making, and caregiver burden. While some patients benefit from whole-person, values-based care, others experience fragmented systems that shift control away from patients and families—particularly during transitions of care.
This case-based presentation draws from a large, ongoing multi-center ICU study on early palliative care integration. It follows one patient in the control group who requested palliative consultation and was longitudinally supported through multiple hospitalizations, with strong family advocacy, until hospice care at the end of life. The case highlights ethical tensions in care transitions, communication breakdowns, and system-level barriers, while underscoring the importance of early palliative engagement, goal-concordant care, and consistent communication with patients and caregivers.
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