Death & Dying Series Helps Healthcare Professionals Navigate Challenging Conversations
Type: News
Focus Area: Workforce Development
“It was really hard just to feel like I was a person on the patient conveyor belt, and I also called it DIY health care, as in do-it-yourself, because I felt like nothing was easy, I wasn't ever given things that were written down, like, no one said, here's what to expect . . . it would have helped if I'd had a clinician to talk some of that through with me.”
Having conversations with patients and families about serious illness, treatment decisions, and the end of life is among the most challenging responsibilities healthcare professionals face. Yet in the realities of practice, these conversations often get short shrift—if they even happen at all.
The fall 2026 Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF) Death & Dying Series for Healthcare Professionals, which wrapped up on October 20, was designed to help clinicians approach these discussions with greater confidence, compassion, and skill.
Over the course of the five-week virtual program, JHF brought together experts in serious illness care to share practical strategies for communicating with patients and families, navigating complex emotions, and ensuring that care aligns with what matters most to patients.Fourteen professionals from nursing, social work, and other disciplines participated in the program.
Theresa Brown, RN, a Pittsburgh-based nurse and author, opened the series by sharing insights from her experiences as both a clinician and breast cancer patient, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, compassion, and care that prioritizes quality of life. Throughout the series, faculty from JHF, Allegheny Health Network, UPMC, Mount Sinai's Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, and Squirrel Hill Health Center explored strategies for initiating and navigating serious illness conversations, understanding patients' values and goals, and ensuring their wishes guide treatment decisions. Topics included advance care planning, palliative care, cultural humility, spirituality, healthcare trust, grief and bereavement, and navigating complex family dynamics.
"The Death & Dying Series helped to strengthen my confidence in having compassionate conversations with patients and families about serious illness and end-of-life care," said Destinee Antuna BSN, RN, proton nurse navigator at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute. "It showed the importance of listening, meeting people where they are, and helping to honor what matters most to them."
Led by experts across medicine, nursing, social work, and spiritual care, the sessions emphasized practical communication skills, including active listening, responding to difficult emotions, and helping patients and families navigate challenging decisions. Through case studies, interactive exercises, and role-playing scenarios, participants had opportunities to apply these techniques and strengthen their confidence in approaching conversations about serious illness and end-of-life care.
Modeled after JHF's Death & Dying Fellowship for graduate students, the series for professionals reflects the Foundation's commitment to strengthening the healthcare workforce and promoting person-centered care. By combining expert instruction, interdisciplinary perspectives, and opportunities to practice difficult conversations, the program helps professionals better support patients and families throughout the serious illness journey
