We wanted to start introducing you to the teachers and colleagues you will be sharing time and knowledge with in Aspen.  First up, a few of the members of our Vital Talk team: Tony, James, Kelly, Holly and Bob will be instructing during the conference and Lisa is helping to make sure your stay in Aspen and conference experience goes smoothly!

We are hoping to do a small profile feature on all participants, so after reading these it would be great if you could fill out your own profile using this same format and send a picture to: Lisa@vitaltalk.org. 
 
Featured Profiles 8/26:
 

Name: Tony Back

Location: University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

What are you working on currently: Just wrapping up a project exploring new kinds of conversations possible now with patients; trying to disseminate VitalTalk; starting a new project on feedback to clinicians about patient preferences; and another project developing a theory of clinical interactions by studying clinicians with contemplative practices; redesigning a backyard garden to get the right balance of informal and formal; still deep in a Zen practice because it makes me much nicer to be with.

 

Something I love: I'm developing some 'small acts of courage' videos--a terrific challenge. I'm getting married to my partner Ted after 30 years--never thought this would happen! Watching hummingbirds in our weekend garden on Vashon Island. 

 

 

 Name: James Tulsky

Location: Duke University

What are you working on currently:  Creating comprehensive, integrated palliative care across Duke Medicine - from cradle to grave, and home to hospital.  I am also studying an intervention to increase the likelihood that cancer patients get their emotional needs met from their oncology providers, and have just started a new project looking at to what extent patients, doctors and family members make decisions because of what they think the other members of the triad want, rather than knowing what they want.

Name something you love about one of your current projects: I love working with an incredibly diverse interdisciplinary research team - physicians, nurses, chaplains, social scientists, behavioral economists.  In a couple of weeks I'm meeting with a Duke Slavics professor who is also a hospice social worker!  I realize I learn so much more from people unlike me.

 
 
Name: Bob Arnold

Location: Pittsburgh

What are you working on currently: Trying to embed Palliative care into our health care system; Working to develop better train the trainer programs in palliative care communication

Name something you love about one of your current projects: How much I am learning about what it is to be a good teacher - largely from the K-12 literature!

name: Holly Yang

Location: San Diego, California

What are you working on currently:

Masters in Health Professions Education at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Professions,
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Director at Scripps Mercy Hospital, teaching medical students, residents, fellows, and international physicians Hospice and Palliative Medicine skills, including communication skills
and multiple projects with the Vitaltalk community.

Name something you love about one of your current projects:
I love the people that I encounter in each of these areas of my professional life… excited, committed professionals, all striving to grow, learn and teach with compassion and joy.


Name: Kelly Edwards

Location: University of Washington, Seattle

What are you working on currently: I am working on several grant-funded projects and educational initiatives within our School of Medicine and School of Public Health, and also within the Graduate School more broadly.  While there are many diverse projects and audiences, a common thread is working with trainees, faculty, and systems to achieve their potential.

Name something you love about one of your current projects:  I love being in conversation with others about ideas that transform our thinking, our systems, and our ways of being.  In my projects I strive for a balance between conceptual work – remembering what's at stake – and moving forward toward action, experimentation,  learning, and growth.  Work that is fun, relational, and action-oriented is the best.    

Name: Lisa Ravenel

Location: Seattle, Wa

What are you working on currently: I am working part time as the project manager for Vital Talk - helping the team to make this great organization grow.  I also work part time on a candle company that I founded 2 years ago. 

Name something you love about one of your current projects: Learning about a world that is completely new to me (doctor patient communication) realizing how important it is and meeting great people along the way.

These are just a few of the faces you will meet through PalliTalk, we look forward to introducing you to more over the next few weeks!

 

Pallitalk updates

Hi PalliTalkers!

We have a few important updates as you make your arrangements for the conference.  Again, if you have any questions not covered here, don't hesitate to ask!

1. Hotel: The original e-mail that went out contained information about booking your own hotel rooms, however this is no longer correct.  We will now be booking a block of hotel rooms on your behalf and assigning rooms.  Bookings will be made for double occupancy rooms.  If you are interested in staying in a single occupancy room you will be responsible for the additional cost of $83.50/night (reply to let us know if you want this option).  We will be paying for hotel for Monday - Thursday night. If you would like to stay for any additional nights please book with the hotel directly.  

2. Payment:   For the remaining tuition balance of $900 you can choose to pay either with credit card through Paypal or by sending a check. If you would like to pay via check please make checks out to Vital Talk.  Checks should be sent to:
Vital Talk
Attn: Tony Back
901 Harvard Ave E
Seattle WA 98102

To pay with credit card, please send an e-mail to Lisa@vitaltalk.org and indicate you would like to pay via credit card.  We will then send you an invoice to make payment through Paypal.

3. Conference dates:  We have fielded a few questions about conference dates.  To clarify, most participants will likely choose to arrive on Monday Sep 30th,  conference materials begin Tuesday October 1st at 8am and run through Thursday night.  Again, we are providing hotel for check-in on Monday check-out Friday.


Thanks,
The PalliTalk Team

Pallitalk Confrence Information

Hello PalliTalkers!

We are busy designing an amazing course for you – drawing on all our experience with Oncotalk, IntensiveTalk, and workshops at AAHPM. We’re returning to Aspen to create a creative thinking space for our work. So while we know it takes a lot to clear your schedule, we also know that getting yourself ready to plunge in to this learning is important—so try to bring as little outside work as possible.

This post contains important logistical information for Pallitalk. Please email us at Lisa@vitaltalk.org if you have any questions not covered here, and we’d be happy to talk on the phone if you have other questions (best to email to arrange an appointment). 

1. Travel to Aspen: All participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the conference (we will provide the hotel with your arrival and departure times).

2. Arrival/Departure:  Please make travel arrangements to insure you will be present to start the conference by 8 am October 1st.  The conference will conclude with dinner on October 3rd. 

5. Meals: All breakfasts and lunches are included with your registration for the conference, in addition we will be providing dinner on the first and last night. Participants will be free to make their own dinner plans on the 2nd night. 

6. Spouses: The conference is intensive and designed for immersion.  If your spouse wishes to join you in Aspen we recommend they do so on the last day and are welcome to come to the final dinner. 

If you have any logistical questions not answered here don't hesitate to ask. 

Thanks and looking forward to a great week together.

Sincerely,

The Pallitalk team
(Tony, Bob, James, Kelly—and others we’ll introduce soon!)