Speaker Series

The Schwartz Center began its speaker series to raise awareness about the patient-caregiver relationship to the general public. These events are open to the public and free of charge. They offer a chance for non-clinicians and clinicians alike to share their experiences through the presentation and question and answer format.

2010 - Fall
"In the Wake of An Adverse Event: Healing the Healers"
Thursday, September 23, 2010
5:00 pm Registration and Refreshments
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Program
The Inn at Longwood Medical Longwood Hall
342 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA
Click here to register!

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Medical Society in Collaboration with CRICO/RMF and the Kenneth B. Schwartz Center.

Panelists:
Richard Parker, MD, Medical Director, Beth Israel Deaconess Physician Organization; Sue Nevins, RN, Patient and Clinical Leader, Salem Hospital, North Shore Medical Center; Luis Sanchez, MD, Director, Physician Health Services, Inc., A Massachusetts Medical Society corporation

Moderator:
Jo Schapiro, MD, Chief, Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Director of the Center for Professionalism and Peer Support, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School.

Description:
It is important to understand that the patient and patient’s family are not alone in their suffering after an adverse event takes place. The entire clinical team, especially physicians, bear emotional burden that can escalate to physical harm as well. A systems-change is needed whereby health professionals can immediately seek help within the clinical setting as not to feel that they are going through this difficulty alone. Hospitals need to provide resources for this area. Communication and ongoing dialogue between the physician and patient (patient’s family) must take place before, during and after a procedure. Examples of best practices will be cited where due to good communication, patients and clinicians have been able to help each other following an unanticipated outcome.

Participants in this activity will receive recommendations as to how to develop a response system within their institution; what skills are required to sustain its effectiveness and, what physicians and other members of the clinical teams can do to improve their patient to clinician and colleague to colleague communication.

Objectives:
After participating in this activity, attendees will able to:

• Cite the core elements required to initiate a peer support entity at their institution
• Identify resources within their own institution to support and sustain a peer support entity
• Explain to colleagues the benefit of ongoing communication with patients and their families
• Modify behavior towards seeking help when involved or confronted with an adverse event
  

CME Credit/Accreditation:
The Massachusetts Medical Society designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management study. The Massachusetts Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

2009 - Fall
"Patient-Centeredness and Patient Safety: How Are They Interconnected?"
Featured Speaker: Donald M. Berwick, MD, MPP, FRCP, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, President and CEO
Panelists: Pat Folcarelli, RN, PhD, Director, Patient Safety, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Tejal Gandhi, MD, MPH, Executive Director of Quality and Safety, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Kari Dudley, Patient, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Click here to view Dr. Berwick's program presentation, "Designing on Purpose"

2009 - Winter
The Christian Minard Memorial Forum: Promoting Compassionate Care for Patients with ALS
"A Positive Outlook on Negative News."
Panelists: Matt Bellanich, NP; Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc, Director Neurology Clinical Trials Unit and ALS Clinic Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School; Darlene Electa Pulley, Clinical Trials Unit, Program Manager
Facilitator: Lawrence Kron, PhD, Former Co-Director, Center for Coping with Chronic Illness and Psychologist, Private Practice

2008 - Fall
"Compassionate and Effective Communication at End of Life: Overcoming the Barriers."
Panelists: Susan Block, MD, Chair, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Professor, Harvard Medical School; Lois Green, MPA, Cancer Patient, Board Chairman, Better Ending Partnership, Director of the Geriatric Clerkship, UMass Medical School; Barbara Moscowitz, MSW, LICSW, Social Worker, Massachusetts General Hospital Geriatric Medicine Unit, Schwartz Center Compassionate Caregiver Award 2007 recipient; Christine Rachwal, RN, MS, Educator, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Hospital Boston; Sheila Trugman, MD, Medical Director, Jewish HealthCare Center and Jewish Home Hospice, Assistant Professor, UMass Medical School.
Moderator: Lynn Nicholas, FACHE, President and CEO, Massachusetts Hospital Association.

2008 - Spring
"Compassionate and Effective Communication at End of Life: Overcoming the Barriers."
Panelists: Lois Green, MPA, Cancer Patient, Board Chairman, Better Ending Partnership
Director of the Geriatric Clerkship, University of Massachusetts Medical School; Helen Mullen, RN, Pediatric Oncology Nurse, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Schwartz Center Compassionate Caregiver Award 2004 recipient; Sheila Trugman, MD, Medical Director, Jewish HealthCare Center and Jewish Home Hospice Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Moderator: Eric Shultz, President and CEO, Fallon Community Health Plan.

2007
"Caregivers as Patients: Transforming Personal Experiences into Better Care"
Panelists: Rosanna DeMarco, PhD, APRN, BC, ACRN, Associate Professor, William F. Connell School of Nursing at Boston College; Susan Edgman-Levitan, PA Executive Director, John D. Stoeckle Center for Primary Care Innovation, Massachusetts General Hospital; Fredric Frigoletto, Jr., MD
Associate Chief, Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology Services, Massachusetts General Hospital; Paula O'Connor, MD, Medical Director, Tarceva, Genentech, Inc. Facilitator:  Richard Bohmer, MD, MPH, Senior Lecturer, Technology and Operations, Harvard Business School

2006
‘‘Patient and Family Voices: What it Takes to Really Listen’’
Jim Conway, Senior Fellow, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and Senior Consultant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston

2005
‘‘The Power of Apology’’
Lucian Leape, MD, Adjunct Professer of Health Policy and Mangement, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston

2004
‘‘Literature and Medicine: Bridging the Divide’’
Rita Charon, MD, PhD, Director of the Program in Narrative Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York

2003
‘‘Hurry Up and Relax’’
Ann Webster, PhD, Mind/Body Medical Institute, Boston

2002
‘‘Healing Stories: Remember Our Power’’
Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, renowned physician and author of the New York Times bestseller Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal