Concurrent Sessions

2024 Concurrent Topics

Conference participants will be able to pick from a variety of topics presented during three (3), 1.5-hour concurrent sessions: from 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m., 12:30 - 2 p.m.  and 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. 7-10 topics for those attending in-person will be offered in each session and 4 topics will be offered in each session for those attending virtually. 

In-person sessions will be indicated by the following: (in-person) and virtual sessions through Zoom are indicated by the following: (virtual or virtual only). 

Sessions marked by an *(asterisk) are approved for SW CE credit. All sessions are approved for Nursing, LMHC, LCAT, and CMTE continuing education credit).

Participants will be asked to pre-register for the topics that they would like to attend. In-person seating is limited, so please make your selections early.

Please click on the session name for a brief description.

Opening Keynote Session: 8:45 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Title: Building & Sustaining Resilience in a Time of Uncertainty (CLICK HERE FOR HANDOUTS)

Concurrent Session I: 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
1A. *The Dying Child: Bearing Witness to a Family’s Journey of Finding Light in the Darkness- Marianne Muzic, LCSW, APHSW-C, PMH-C, Palliative Care Program Manager, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children and Dori Resnick, MSW (in-person) Click here for session handouts
1B. Best Practices for Symptom Management at End of Life: For the Inpatient Provider– Katlynn Van Ogtrop, MD, Northwell Health (in-person) Click here for session handouts
1C. *Living with 9/11 Cancer: A Support Group Aimed at Helping WTC Health Program General Responders and Survivors Diagnosed with 9/11 Related-Cancer and the Introduction of Patient Centered-Goals and Discussing Treating the Person vs Treating the Disease - Sharon Daneshgar, LCSW-R, 0SW-C, Gabrielle Mauro, LCSW and Georgianne Kraft, LCSW-R, OSW-C (in-person) Click here for session handouts
1D. *Cultural Competence DEI - Scott Demeranville , Senior Director of Leadership & Organizational Development at MJHS and Reginald Sanders, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at MJHS (in-person) Click here for session handouts
1E. Wounds at the End of Life– Deborah Walker MA, ANP-BC, ACHPN; Nurse Practitioner, Education Manager Hospice Care Network-Northwell Health; Diana Kovarik BSN, RN, WOCN, Northwell Health and Dorothy Michaels MSN, AGNP-BC, WOCN-C (in-person) Click here for session handouts
1F. *The Journey and Struggle in Setting Healthy Boundaries For Ourselves - Paula Pagan, LCSW-R, Long Island Elder Care (in-person) Click here for session handouts
1G. *Leadership/Counseling and Coaching Staff - Joyce Palmieri, MS, RN, CHPN, FPCN, Senior Vice President of Clinical Services, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care (in-person) and (virtual) Click here for session handouts
1H. *Being In-Between: Caretaking and Grief in Palliative Care - Jennifer Scuro, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Molloy University (virtual) Click here for session handouts
1I. *Supportive Oncology: A Journey of Evolving Goals of Care - Christine Gallo, LCSW, GC-C, YTT, Palliative Medicine, PBMC-Northwell Health and Dr. Lindsey Semprini, MD, Palliative Medicine, Northwell Health (in-person) and (virtual) Click here for session handouts
1J. *Strategies to Balance Compassion Fatigue while Supporting Grieving Families - Steven Krul, LCSW, CJCS-Bereavement Counselor, MJHS Hospice & Palliative Care Programs (in-person) and (virtual) Click here for session handouts

* These session are approved for SW CE credit

Concurrent Session II: 12:30-2 p.m.
2A. Addressing Hospital Readmissions with Goals of Care Discussions - Perihan El-Shanawany, MD, HEC-C; Associate Medical Director-Staten Island University Hospital, Attending Biomedical Ethics, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine-Zucker School of Medicine(in-person) and (virtual)
2B. *Ethical Palliative Allocation Crisis Standards – Renee McLeod-Sordjan, DNP, PhDc, FNP-BC, AACNP-BC, Fellowship Program Director, Medical Ethics, Northwell Health(in-person) and (virtual)
2C. *Integrating Music Therapy with the Hospice Interdisciplinary Team - Charla Burton, LCAT, MMT, MT-BC and Meredith Ferrel, LCAT, MA, MT-BC (in-person) Click here for session handouts
2D. *Lynda Cooper Mentoring Session for Those New to Palliative Care - Sue Degnan, MSW,  and Joyce Palmieri, MS, RN, CHPN , FPCN, Senior Vice President of Clinical Services , MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care (in-person) Click here for session handouts.

2E. *Working with Gender Fluid Patients & Family: Body, Mind, and Spirit- Adrian Mazur, M.Div., BCC, Chaplain, Cohen Children’s Medical Center (in-person) Click here for session handouts
2F. *Changes in Policy & Legislation for Supporting Family Caregivers - Tara Anglim, EdD., LCSW-R, ACHP-SW; AED of Culture and Experience Peconic Bay Medical Center-Northwell Health, Alyssa McCready, LCSW and Kacey Farber LMSW (in-person) and (Virtual) Click here for session handouts
2G. Sensory Sanctuary: Redefining Pediatric Palliative Care with Sensory Innovation - Michael Matos, LMT and Francesca Miller, MT-BC, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children (in-person) Click here for session handouts
2H. *Caring for the Whole Person: The Importance of Social Determinants of Health in Community Based Palliative Care Support - Lori Hardoon, LCSW, Senior Director, JASA, Palliative Care Supportive Services and Maria Lever LMSW, Clinical Supervisor, JASA Palliative Care Supportive Services (in-person) and (virtual) Click here for session handouts
2I. *Reviewing Palliative Care Cases Through the Lens of Ethical Considerations-Richard A. Balter, MD, FACP, HMDC, Sue Puckey, LCSW, ACHP-SW, Sr. Edith Menegus, OSU, BCC, ThM, Director of Pastoral Care, St. Charles Hospital & St. Catherine of Siena Hospital,. St. Charles Hospital. (in-person) Click here for session handouts
2J. Holistic Healing for Yourself and Your Patients - Joanne Christophers, RN, BSN, BPS, Diplomate of Asian Bodywork, Holistic Nurse Educator, Center for Wellness and Integrative Medicine, a Division of Northwell Health (in-person) Click here for session handouts

* These session are approved for SW CE credit

Concurrent Session III: 2:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
3A. *Crisis of Faith: Spirituality - Sr. Edith Menegus, OSU, BCC, ThM, Director of Pastoral Care, St. Charles Hospital & St. Catherine of Siena Hospital; Rabbi Deborah Miller, BCC, Chaplain at Northwell Health and Dr. Tanveer Mir, Chair, Department of Medicine, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center (in-person) This session has no handout.
3B. Integrating Hospice and Palliative Care in Undergraduate Nursing Education: Results from a Delphi Survey in New York State - Zainab Toteh Osakwe, PhD, RN, NP, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing and Public Health, Adelphi University (in-person) Click here for session handouts
3C. *Promoting Respectful and Inclusive Serious Illness Care for the LGBTQ+ Community: Practice, Research, and Policy Perspectives - Cathy Berkman, PhD, MSW, Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service, Adam Schoenfarber, MSW; Westchester Medical Center, Palliative Care Service, Noelle Marie Javier, MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Palliative Care (in-person) and (virtual) Click here for session handouts
3D. *Goals of Care and Advocating for What Matters Most for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - Christine Gallo, LCSW, GC-C, YTT, Palliative Medicine, PBMC-Northwell Health and Zairia Finch, LCSW-R, MS, Advisor and Social Work Educator, Northwell Health (in-person) and (virtual) Click here for session handouts
3E. Supportive Oncology: Perspectives from a Palliativist and an Oncologist - Dr. Diana Martins-Welch, Director, Supportive Oncology, Palliative Care, Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Northwell Health and Dr. Richa Thakur, Northwell Health (in-person) and (virtual) Click here for session handouts
3F. Holistic Services in An Acute Care Hospital Setting: A Ten-Year Journey from Vision to Culture Change - Kathleen O’Kane BSN, RN, HWNC-BC, CCAP; Christina Rossi, RN, MSN, AHN-BC, HWNC-BC; Amy Luckman, BSN, RN, CPN, HWNC-BC, all from BSN, RN, CPN, HWNC-BC, all from Cohen Children’s Medical Center. (in-person) and (virtual) Click here for session handouts
3G. *Lasting Memories: Legacy Building Through Music, Art, and Play - Jennifer Reeves, MS, CCLS, Child Life Specialist , MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care and Chris Bobbins, MA, MT-BC, LCAT, Creative Arts Therapist/ Music Therapist, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care (in-person) Click here for session handouts

* These session are approved for SW CE credit