Concurrent Sessions

Palliative Care Conference
June 05, 2026

2026 Concurrent Topics

Conference participants will be able to pick from a variety of topics presented during two (2), 1.5-hour concurrent sessions: from 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 - 2 p.m.

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 note that there will be less concurrent sessions to choose from in the Zoom format. We will have 4 Zoom sessions to choose from in each of the 2 concurrent sessions

Opening Keynote Session: 8:45 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Dr. Cristian Zanartu, Physician, MJHS and Zanartu Medical PLLC
Topic: "Trauma Informed Palliative Medicine". Click here for his bio and the the learning objectives. The keynote session will be held in the Madison Theatre.

Conference Concurrent Session Topics
Concurrent Sessions I: 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
1A. *End-of-life Doulas, particularly in Pediatric Settings - Marianne Muzic, LCSW, APHSW-C, PMH-C, Palliative Care Program Manager, St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children (Click here for session description)
1B. *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 and Georgianne Kraft, LCSW-R, OSW-C (Click here for session description)
1C. *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; Sanaa Nadim, Director-Islamic Society SBU, Chair-Interfaith Center SBU, Chaplain-Spiritual Care Dept. SBUH; Reverend Karen Jones, MA, MDiv, Hospital Director, Spiritual Care Services, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island (Click here for session description)
1D. *Building Novice Staff Confidence in End-of-Life Care Using Interprofessional Simulation Dr. Kathleen Wagner, DNP, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CPN, Director Clinical Professional Development, Magnet Program at Peconic Bay Medical Center, Zoom and In Person
1E. *A Cross-Cultural Analysis of the Uses of Music in Death and Grief: Considerations for Clinical Music Therapy Practice - Kaitlyn Kelly, MS, LCAT, MT-BC, Molloy University, Zoom and In Person (Click here for session description)
1F. *Toolkit for New Leaders on Coaching and Development Joyce Palmieri, MS, RN, CHPN , FPCN , Senior Vice President of Clinical Services , MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care and Jade Johnson, LCSW, ACHP-SW, AD of Hospice Clinical Practice, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care, Zoom and In Person (Click here for session description)
1G. *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; Logan Jardine, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellow, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and Noelle Marie Javier, MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Palliative Care, Zoom and In Person (Click here for session description)
1H. *Advanced Care Planning for Dementia Patients Dr. Emilin Pandian, Palliative Medicine Physician at Northwell Health
1I. *What Matters Most and Implementing Goals of Care for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Supported by OPWDD - Dr. Lindsey Semprini, MD, Palliative Medicine, Northwell Health & Christine Gallo, LCSW, GC-C, YTT, Palliative Medicine, PBMC-Northwell Health (Click here for session description)

Concurrent Sessions II: 12:30-2 p.m.
2A. *The Journey and Struggle in Setting Healthy Boundaries For Ourselves - Dr. Jay R. Horton, PhD, ACHPN, FNP-BC, MPH, Thyme Care, Zoom and In Person (Click here for session description)
2B. *The Mindful Practioner: Developing an Artful Contemplative Practice, Dr. Katherine Patterson, Molloy University (Click here for session description)
2C. *Lynda Cooper Mentoring Session for Those New to Palliative Care - Sue Degnan, LMSW, OSW-C, ACHP-SW and Joyce Palmieri, MS, RN, CHPN , FPCN , Senior Vice President of Clinical Services, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care (Click here for session description)
2D. *Supporting Family Caregivers Through Empathy, Education, and Empowerment – Patricia Daly, LCSW, APHSW-C, Sr. Program Manager, Serenity Family Caregiver Program, Northwell Health LIJ Medical Center (Click here for session description)
2E. *When Grief Gets Complicated – Gail Carter, LCSW-R, Bereavement Social Worker, Northwell Health, Hospice Care Network (Click here for session description)
and Christine Gallo, LCSW, GC-C, YTT, Palliative Medicine, PBMC-Northwell Health
2F. *Carrying our Roots in Song: Music Therapy as a Modality to Explore Ideas of Home, Identity, and Connection at the End-of-Life, Charla Burton, MMT, MT-BC, LCAT, Creative Arts Therapy Clinical Training Program Coordinator, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care; Meredith Ferrel, MA, MT-BC, LCAT, HPMT, CT, FT, Creative Arts Therapy Team Leader, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care and Robin Mitchell, MA, MT-BC, LCAT, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapist, Creative Arts Therapist, MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care, Zoom and In Person (Click here for session description)
2G. *Comfort, Connection and Care: Child Life Support During End of Life Across the Healthcare Setting Emily Altstadter, MS, CCLS, Child Life Specialist, Cohen Children's Medical Center and Marianne Porzelt, MS, CCLS, Certified Child Life Specialist, Cohen Children's Medical Center (Click here for session description)
2H. *Current Issues Affecting Veteran’s Health at End-of-Life - Ashton Stewart, Veteran Program Manager, MJHS Health System, Zoom and In Person (Click here for session description)
2I. *Ripples of Grief: Music Psychotherapy from First Moments to Last - Lauren Fagan-Antonelli, MS, LCAT, MT-BC and Lillie Klein, MS, LCAT, MT-BC, Molloy University, Zoom and In Person (Click here for session description)