About The Shenkman-Weisberg
Caring Coalition Conferences
The Shenkman-Weisberg Caring Coalition Conferences are presented by The Caring Coalition, a diverse group of southeast Michigan hospices, hospitals and community organizations whose purpose is to educate health care professionals and the general public about issues related to hospice and palliative care. Our attendees serve the physical and emotional needs of thousands of patients and their families throughout southeast Michigan and bordering states. More than 80 members of the Caring Coalition have worked together since 2008 to present accredited conferences featuring nationally known and local experts, attracting more than 1,000 health care professionals each year.
The 2019 conference presenters included Dale Larson, PhD, Daniela Lamas, MD, Matthew Loscalzo, LCSW, Marcus Engel, MS, Michelle Davila, ND, Catherine Runjie Yu, LPTA, Rachael Lupton, MA-MT-BC and Kaitlin Ridgway, MM-MT-BC.
2018’s Shenkman-Weisberg Caring Coalition Conference featured Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD, Steven Pantilat, MD, William Breitbart, MD, FAPM, and Sherri Mandell, MA, with presentations from Lyndsy Adamson, MT-BC, Joyce Simard, MSW, and Gail Elliott Patricolo, MA.
2017’s The Best Care Possible marked our 10 year anniversary providing the best education possible. We welcomed back to the stage the leading voice in end-of-life care Ira Byock, MD, and featured national presenters Sheldon Solomon, PhD, Jessica Zitter, MD and David Pinsky, MD. The program also included a viewing of the award winning documentary “Extremis” as well as an Experts Panel moderated by Hospice of Michigan’s vice president of medical affairs Michael Paletta, MD. Panelists included our conference speakers as well as local experts Corey Kennard, MACM and Michael Miller. Jeffrey Forman, MD, closed the conference with the story of his personal journey.
In 2016 we standardized the title of the conference The Best Care Possible. Featured presenters included neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky, PhD, geriatrician Joanne Lynn, MD, oncologist Richard Payne, MD, Marcus Engel, and Michael Paletta, MD.
The 2015 conference, Caring for the Whole Person featured Rawandan survivor Immaculeee Ilibagiza, grief specialist David Kessler, psychologist Dr. Dale Larson, and cancer researcher Dr. Sofia Merajver.
In 2014, Pain, Loss and Suffering presented journalist and author Joshua Prager, physicians Stacie Pinderhughes and Michael Levy, and local grief survivor Gary Weinstein.
The 2013 conference, Values, Ethics and Culture at End of Life, with keynote speaker bioethicist Arthur Caplan, focused on the impact of values and ethics on end of life experiences.
The 2012 conference, On My Terms: Patient Directed Care focused on patient centered care, and featured nationally recognized hospice physician and author Ira Byock, M.D.
Our 2011 conference, The Science of Comfort Care, explored evidence-based practices and philosophies offering comfort to those affected by chronic and life-limiting illness.
The 2010 conference, Handle with Care: Powerful Compassionate Care Giving drew attendees to a conversation about best practices in caregiving.
In 2009, our conference, The War on Pain, addressed the under treatment of pain in patients with chronic and terminal illness.
In 2008, The Same But Different symposium explored the similarities and differences in rituals and customs practiced by different faiths at the end of life.
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