The 2025 Conference
The 17th annual Caring Coalition Conference, The Best Care Possible, to be held on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Southfield, Michigan, will bring together nurses, social workers, physicians, clergy, case managers, nursing home administrators and other health care professionals from Southeast Michigan and bordering states. The intent of this conference is to increase understanding of the complex issues related to serious and terminal illness. Conference participants will receive continuing education credits, along with the opportunity to network with others in their field.
Co-chaired by Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network CEO Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff and Cheryl Weiss, JHCN director of education, this symposium will feature national experts Shelley Henry, R.N., CPHRM, CHPN and Christopher Kerr, M.D., Ph.D.; local expert Karent Monts, M.S., L.B.S.W.; filmmaker Sue Bourne; and inspirational speaker Jason Schechterle.
ABOUT THE CARING COALITION
The Best Care Possible conference is 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 75 members of the Caring Coalition have worked together since 2008 to present accredited conferences featuring nationally known and local experts, and have each attracted more than 900 health care professionals.
• 2024 conference presenters feature national experts Timothy Ihrig, M.D.; Mary-Frances O’Connor, Ph.D.; David Nathanson, M.D.; inspirational speaker Colin Campbell; and local experts Leslie Katz, L.M.S.W. and Natalie Rosenfield, B.S.W.
• 2023 conference presenters featured national experts David Fajgenbaum, MBA, MD; Phyllis Kosminsky, MSW, PhD; inspirational speaker Robert Paylor; Jill Gafner Livingston, BS, CDP; Jennifer Kileny, CCC-SLP; Becca Wallace, CCC-SLP; Jennifer Smith, MM, MT-BC; and Christina Torres, MTBC
• 2022 conference presenters featured national experts Jessica Zitter, M.D., Kristin Meekhof, M.S.W., Howard Schubiner, M.D., Gail Patricolo, and Dale Larson, Ph.D.
• 2021 conference presenters featured national experts David B. Feldman, PhD; Jayson Greene; Michael Paletta, MD; and Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, all of whom were scheduled to appear at the 2020 event, which was postoponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 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.
• The 2018 conference featured Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD, Steven Pantilat, MD, William Breitbart, MD, FAPM, and Sherri Mandell, MA, with presentations from Joyce Simard, MSW, Gail Elliott Patricolo, MA, and Lyndsy E. Adamson, MT-BC.
• The 2017 conference featured national experts Dr. Ira Byock, Dr. Sheldon Solomon and Dr. Jessica Zitter, who brought us her award-winning documentary, “Extremis”.
• Our 2016 conference featured 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 Rwandan 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.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Location: Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield, Michigan and live-streamed. (Registered virtual attendees will receive a link to the livestream via e-mail.)
Agenda
7:45 a.m. – 8:25 a.m. –
Doors open / Sign-in / Exhibits / Continental Breakfast
8:25 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. –
Welcome and announcements
Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Dr. Christophern Kerr, M.D., Ph.D.
“Death Is But A Dream”
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Shelly Henry, R.N., CPHRM, CHPN
“Collaborative Care: Tackling Challenges Together”
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Break / Exhibits
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
A documentary film presentation with an introduction by filmmaker Sue Bourne
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch / Exhibits
1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.
“Voices from the Field” panel discussion with Shelly Henry, Christopher Kerr, Karen Monts, M.S., L.B.S.W., and Sue Bourne. Moderated by Rabbi Joseph H. Krakoff.
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Judge Michael L. Stacey Trust Hospice Hero Awards
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Break / Exhibits
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Jason Schechterle
“Burning Shield” “
3:30 p.m. – Evaluations
Objectives
• To describe the impact of end-of-life experiences on the bereaved.
• To explain the value of a unified and collaborative approach in hospice care.
• To understand the impact of outlook/attitude on the end-of-life experience.
• To describe the hospice perspectives of various disciplines.
• To describe the power of vision, faith and determination in the face of adversity.
