Palliative Perspective Podcast

In this episode, Shena Gazaway joins us in a discussion of her nurse-led research, providing primary palliative care in patients’ homes— where this care is urgently needed but often overlooked. We explore how she leads serious illness conversations, manages complex chronic conditions, and builds trust with patients and families to ensure care aligns with their values. From qualitative studies to pilot-tested toolkits that empower patients and caregivers—especially in underserved Black communities—we explore what it truly means to lead with empathy, equity, and evidence. Whether you're a nephrology nurse wondering how to deepen your role or a provider curious about innovative palliative care pathways, this episode offers practical insights, personal stories, and a call for more providers in this vital space. Shena Gazaway PhD, RN, CHPN® Shena Gazaway PhD, RN, CHPN® is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As a registered nurse working within the community, her practice experience stimulated her research interest in supporting upstream decision-making of seriously ill patients and families, particularly those who live in built environments that limit access to specialty palliative care services. In addition, her work centers on the belief that individuals living with serious illness are the best navigators of their illness experience, and interventions must incorporate local knowledge, beliefs, and practices for long-term success. Specifically, her research is focused on developing and optimizing community-informed decision-support interventions for individuals living with advanced chronic kidney disease and their caregivers. Shena is currently funded on a K23 from the NIDDK and a pilot grant the Forge AHEAD center, a P50 center grant funded by NIMHD. She and Dr. Wells also serve as co-I’s on a pain heart failure intervention funded by the Alex and Rita Hillman Foundation. She is a past recipient of the Palliative Care Research Cooperative Pilot Grant Program and multiple internal funding mechanisms. Above all Shena is a mother, wife, daughter, friend, and sister, and so excited to share the next hour with you all today. Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANPDr. Brett Snodgrass has been a registered nurse for 28 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for 18 years, practicing in multiple settings, including family practice, urgent care, emergency departments, administration, chronic pain and palliative medicine. She is currently the Operations Director for Palliative Medicine at Baptist Health Systems in Memphis, TN. She is board certified with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is also a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. She completed a Doctorate of Nursing Practice at the University of Alabama – Huntsville. She is a nationally recognized nurse practitioner speaker and teacher. Brett is a chronic pain expert, working for more than 20 years with chronic pain and palliative patients in a variety of settings. She is honored to be the HPNA 2025 podcast host. She is married with two daughters, two son in laws, one grandson, and now an empty nest cat. She and her family are actively involved in their church and she is an avid reader.

In this special episode, recorded on June 24 and released on June 25, we bring you a timely dispatch from Washington, D.C., where the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) leadership and staff engaged in direct advocacy on Capitol Hill. Join Gayle Gerdes, Vice President of Health Policy Source and consultant to HPNA, and HPNA Manager of Advocacy and Health Policy Sarah Potter as they reflect on their experiences meeting with congressional staffers about HPNA’s public policy priorities and amplifying the voices of hospice and palliative care nurses. This episode offers an insider look at the policy priorities that matter in 2025, from protecting federal programs that support nursing research, education, and workforce development to enactment of policies that improve access to quality hospice and palliative care—and how HPNA is uniquely positioned as an interprofessional voice in the conversation. Key highlights include: The purpose and power of advocacy—why storytelling matters Updates on the current climate in Washington, proposed cuts to healthcare programs that impact the interprofessional team and patient access to care, and HPNA’s efforts to advance legislation supporting hospice and palliative care nursing HPNA’s collaborations with national coalition partners and legislative champions in the House and Senate Reflections on the importance of nurse-led advocacy and new opportunities for HPNA members to share their stories and effect policy change at the state and national levels Whether you’re new to policy or a seasoned advocate, this episode will leave you inspired to raise your voice—and equipped to do so effectively. Gayle Gerdes Gayle Gerdes is Vice President at Health Policy Source, a government relations firm in Washington, D.C. that provides strategic consulting and lobbying services to a broad group of clients in the health care space. Her health care background is an extensive mix of government and private sector experience. She spent several years on Capitol Hill where she worked in both the House and the Senate focusing her time on health care legislation. Later she moved to The Concord Coalition where she worked with the media, Members of Congress, and related organizations to educate the public on the federal budget and deficit. In particular, she delved into the relationship of Medicare and Social Security with the federal budget. In addition, Gayle has experience serving on the board of the Los Alamos Medical Center, and she has recently consulted for The Brooks Group and The Concord Coalition. Gayle graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in English and Communications. Sarah PotterSarah Potter is the Manager of Advocacy and Health Policy at the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA). Sarah has more than 20 years of experience in government relations, health policy, and communications, with a focus on healthcare workforce issues, Medicare, Medicaid, children’s health, quality improvement, and the Affordable Care Act. She has developed and implemented state and federal advocacy campaigns and advocacy education programs for several national organizations, including the Pew Charitable Trusts, Independent Sector, the Premier Healthcare Alliance, and the Brookings Institution. Sarah began her career on Capitol Hill as a legislative and communications staffer for Rep. Karen McCarthy of Missouri and Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and holds dual degrees in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Missouri Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANPDr. Brett Snodgrass has been a registered nurse for 28 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for 18 years, practicing in multiple settings, including family practice, urgent care, emergency departments, administration, chronic pain and palliative medicine. She is currently the Operations Director for Palliative Medicine at Baptist Health Systems in Memphis, TN. She is board

In this deeply personal and resonant episode, longtime hospice nurse and podcast host of The Heart of Hospice, Helen Bauer, BSN RN CHPN®, shares an intimate look at the soul of hospice nursing — the part that’s rarely documented but always deeply felt. With more than seven years behind the mic and a career alongside patients and families at the bedside, Helen reflects on the intimacy and intensity of hospice care, and the challenges of translating those sacred moments into clinical notes and checkboxes. Together, we explore the personhood-centered mindset that defines exceptional hospice nursing: arriving as a blank slate, open and eager to learn who the patient is, then crafting care that honors the individual’s story, values, and needs. Helen speaks candidly about the emotional toll of the work, the cumulative grief nurses carry, and the resilience it takes to keep showing up — not just for patients, but for ourselves. Listeners will hear reflections on: The artistry and difficulty of painting a picture through documentation How hospice nurses excel at education and advocacy, even outside traditional care settings What we’re doing well as a community — and where we can grow The value of Hospice Navigation Services and empowering families with information The quiet power of showing up, day after day, with care and presence This episode is a tribute to hospice nurses everywhere — a reminder that your work matters, your presence is powerful, and you are just as important as the care you provide. Whether you're a hospice nurse, a health care professional, or a family member navigating end-of-life care, this episode will speak to the heart of what it means to accompany someone at life’s end — with compassion, courage, and creativity. Helen Bauer, BSN RN CHPN® Helen Bauer is a highly experienced hospice nurse with more than 15 years dedicated to end-of-life care. Her expertise spans across bedside care, caregiver support, nursing leadership, and hospice consulting. Since 2016, she has been the voice behind The Heart of Hospice podcast, where she shares her deep knowledge and compassionate approach to end-of-life care. As the founder of Hospice Navigation Services, Helen provides unbiased, expert guidance and support for individuals and families navigating the complexities of hospice and serious illness. Her work as an End of Life Educator and Advocate focuses on empowering caregivers and hospice workers, ensuring that those facing serious illness experience the best possible care at the end of life. Known for her compassion, empathy, and respect, she remains a trusted resource in the field of hospice care. Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANPDr. Brett Snodgrass has been a registered nurse for 28 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for 18 years, practicing in multiple settings, including family practice, urgent care, emergency departments, administration, chronic pain and palliative medicine. She is currently the Operations Director for Palliative Medicine at Baptist Health Systems in Memphis, TN. She is board certified with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is also a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. She completed a Doctorate of Nursing Practice at the University of Alabama – Huntsville. She is a nationally recognized nurse practitioner speaker and teacher. Brett is a chronic pain expert, working for more than 20 years with chronic pain and palliative patients in a variety of settings. She is honored to be the HPNA 2025 podcast host. She is married with two daughters, two son in laws, one grandson, and now an empty nest cat. She and her family are actively involved in their church and she is an avid reader.

Join us for an insightful episode featuring seasoned Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Meggan Mikal-DeMont DNP, APRN-FPA, PCNS-BC, CPNP-PC, CHPPN ®, FPCN® with more than10 years of experience in palliative care and pain management. In this whole-hearted interview, she reflects on her husband’s nine-month experience with Stage IV colorectal cancer and offers an insider’s perspective as both a palliative care clinician and caregiver- how as a couple they navigated the miracle they were hoping for within the system, how these experiences have transformed Meggan's clinical practice, and how life has unfolded since then. Listen for what the health care teams did well, areas where they could improve, and how administrators can champion hospice and palliative care services to make end of life easier for patients and their families. Meggan Mikal DNP, APRN-FPA, PCNS-BC, CPNP-PC, CHPPN®, FPCN®Meggan Mikal-DeMont is the nurse practitioner of Pediatric Advance Care Team - Palliative & Pain at Advocate Children’s Hospitals in Oak Lawn, IL. Pursuing her interest in working with families that have children living with complex and series illnesses, Meggan has completed a fellowship in pediatric neurodevelopmental disabilities through the Illinois Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. She also has completed a fellowship in pediatric palliative and hospice nursing through University of Illinois in Chicago and through the Coleman Foundation. This led her to also become a board-certified pediatric hospice and palliative nurse in 2009. Meggan, along with an interdisciplinary committee, started the Pediatric Palliative and Supportive Care program at Advocate Children’s Hospital - Oak Lawn in October of 2012. Her background as a pediatric intensive care nurse is where her love and passion for working with children with critical and chronic illness grew. She is an End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) trainer and received that training at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, TN. Meggan is an active member of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) where she serves on the Advocacy and Legislative Committee. She participated as both an item writer and chair for the pediatric hospice and palliative nurse exam from 2010-2016. Meggan was also recently inducted as a Fellow of Palliative and Hospice Nursing (FPCN®) and is so thrilled to be recognized for her true passion and purpose to this field. Becoming a widow and a solo parent in 2017 after her husband Andrew died from advanced colorectal cancer has only grown her passion for delivering and advocating for nothing short of the best delivery of palliative and hospice care. Meggan is blessed to be given a new chapter and now lives with her husband Nate, eight year old son Andy, bonus seven year old daughter Elizabeth, and two and a half year old rescue dog Zoey, in Plainfield. Within palliative care, Meggan has a strong interest in the areas of patient-provider boundaries, patient and family advocacy, and the delivery of diverse, equitable, and inclusive care. Meggan believes that caring for children with serious illnesses truly starts at the grassroots of relationships. She believes that the family is the center of the care being provided and it is a relationship built on partnership. Helping children live life to their fullest ability without burdensome symptoms is something that she strives to achieve each day. Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANPDr. Brett Snodgrass has been a registered nurse for 28 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for 18 years, practicing in multiple settings, including family practice, urgent care, emergency departments, administration, chronic pain and palliative medicine. She is currently the Operations Director for Palliative Medicine at Baptist Health Systems in Memphis, TN. She is board certified with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is also a Fellow of the Ame

In this episode, we explore two innovative projects—Project UPHOLDS (Utilizing Palliative care for Heart failure Optimized using Lay navigators to Decrease Suffering) and Project ADAPT HF (ADdressing All Pain Through navigator-led palliative care optimized for Heart Failure)—which focus on utilizing community-based lay navigators to optimize palliative care for heart failure, especially among older Black adults. We delve into the importance of shared decision-making and how co-designed interventions are shaping pain management trials, with a special emphasis on inclusivity and addressing under-representation in research. Rachel shares her personal journey and career trajectory, highlighting the privilege of being able to advocate for these communities and the impact of culturally responsive care. Rachel Duncan Wells, PhD, MSN, RN, CNLDr. Rachel Wells is an Assistant Professor and Core Mixed Methods Faculty in the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. As a nurse and Clinical Nurse Leader with more than 10 years of clinical experience in cardiac critical care, palliative medicine, and rural health, her research bridges the fields of chronic illness care and early palliative care and is focused on refining palliative care access for under resourced older adults living with serious illness. Specifically, Dr. Wells has focused on the development and testing of highly efficient and effective models of early palliative care for those living with advanced heart failure. Her emerging program of research focuses on the examination of active palliative care intervention elements and dosing of palliative care to develop optimized interventions that uniquely address palliative care needs, a novel approach to addressing health disparities in under resourced palliative care populations. She has been involved with a number of federally-, foundationally-, and intramurally funded grants as a PI and Co-I that have involved intervention development and tailoring and clinical trials testing and implementation of models of early palliative care for those living with serious illness and their family caregivers. Dr. Wells is regularly engaged in the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, where she has championed efforts to educate clinicians and others to identify, monitor, and intervene early for cardiovascular challenges in under resourced populations. Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANPDr. Brett Snodgrass has been a registered nurse for 28 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for 18 years, practicing in multiple settings, including family practice, urgent care, emergency departments, administration, chronic pain and palliative medicine. She is currently the Operations Director for Palliative Medicine at Baptist Health Systems in Memphis, TN. She is board certified with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is also a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and an Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. She completed a Doctorate of Nursing Practice at the University of Alabama – Huntsville. She is a nationally recognized nurse practitioner speaker and teacher. Brett is a chronic pain expert, working for more than 20 years with chronic pain and palliative patients in a variety of settings. She is honored to be the HPNA 2025 podcast host. She is married with two daughters, two son in laws, one grandson, and now an empty nest cat. She and her family are actively involved in their church and she is an avid reader.

In this episode, host Lynn Reinke, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, FPCN®, ATSF discusses approaches to philanthropy with Amy Jacobs, MSN, RN and Catherine Pyke, M.A. Ed., board members of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation. Related Resources: Learn more about the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation (HPNF) Contribute to HPNF's 2024 Annual Appeal About the Speakers: Amy Jacobs, MSN, RNAmy Jacobs received her BSN from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and her MSN from the University of South Alabama. Amy is currently a Hospice Compliance RN for Compassus. Prior to her current position, she held leadership positions in hospice, palliative care, and quality with BJC Homecare in St. Louis. She was an integral part in the development and opening of Evelyn’s House, a 16-bed hospice inpatient house, in St. Louis. She also assisted in the implementation of a system-wide palliative care program. She has volunteered with HPNA and HPNF for several years as an award reviewer, member of the planning committee for the annual assembly, and a member of the HPNA Professional Development Advisory Council. She is especially proud to have facilitated support for the Emerging Leaders Award with HPNF and the BJC Institute for Palliative and Supportive Care. Catherine Pyke, M.A. Ed. Catherine Pyke worked for thirty years in non-profits in the San Francisco Bay Area, primarily as a program officer for the Hearst Foundations and more recently as a Philanthropic Advisor for the Gladstone Institutes in Mission Bay. She is the founder of Centerpiece Philanthropy, a consultancy that provides philanthropic advising and coaching, grant writing, strategic planning and group facilitation. She is the author of Jane Lathrop Stanford, Mother of a University. In addition to serving on the HPNF board, she serves as the Communications Chair for the San Francisco Region of the Order of St John, an international volunteer organization whose mission is to support St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital and social and health care needs in the U.S. She recently completed two terms on the board of the Episcopal Impact Fund in San Francisco. An alumna of Scripps College in Claremont California, with a Masters in Education from Stanford University, she came to appreciate the contributions of innovative philanthropists, while visiting colleges, universities, medical centers arts organizations and social service agencies throughout the West. A native of Salt Lake City, she currently lives in Santa Rosa, California.

In this episode, Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD, PhD, FAAHPM and Alexandra L. McPherson, PharmD, MPH discuss a complicated case involving a patient in her mid-50s from East Africa who is suffering from metastatic cancer. The conversation highlights the challenges of complex pain & symptom management while supporting a patient's goals of care. Related Resources: Down on the Pharm: Contemporary Issues in Pharmacopalliation About the Speakers: Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD, PhD, FAAHPMDr. McPherson has practiced hospice and palliative care as a clinical pharmacist her entire career. She is a professor at the University of Maryland and executive program director of the online Graduate Studies in Palliative Care (Graduate Certificates, MS, PhD) program. She has served as a resource to medical staff for pain and symptom consultations, opioid conversion calculations, methadone dosing and other medication-related issues. McPherson is particularly interested in assuring patients with a serious illness receive goal-concordant medication therapy. She has authored five books including the popular Demystifying Opioid Conversion Calculations: A Guide to Effective Dosing and numerous peer-reviewed articles and chapters. Alex McPherson, PharmD, MPH Dr. McPherson received her Bachelor of Science in International Business from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, followed by her Master of Public Health (MPH) with a dual certificate in International Health and Pharmaceutical Assessment, Management, and Policy from Boston University in Boston, MA. She went on to receive her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, MD. Subsequently she completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA and Pain Management and Palliative Care Specialty Residency at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy/MedStar Health. She is currently a Palliative Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, where she serves as faculty in the interdisciplinary Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship program. In addition, she serves as a faculty member for the nation’s first M.S. in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics (University of Maryland School of Pharmacy), and M.S. in Palliative Care (University of Maryland Graduate School) programs. She is an active member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists and has published and presented internationally on topics pertaining to pain management and palliative care. Her academic interests include early integration of palliative care in advanced illness, navigating transitions of care at the end-of-life, and the pharmacologic management of symptoms in serious illness. Her newest interest includes the integration of narrative medicine practices as a tool for reducing burnout and improving resiliency among palliative care providers.

In this episode, HPNA and HPNF board members Rikki Hooper and Yvonne Ruathaiwat expand on their perspectives and experiences regarding the palliative continuum of care, and how they break down the silos between palliative care and hospice. About the Speakers:Moderator: Lynn Reinke, PhD, ANP-BC, FAAN, FPCN, ATSF Featuring: Richelle (Rikki) Hooper, MBA, MSN, FNP-BC, ACHPN, NE-BC, FPCNYvonne Ruathaiwat, RN, MSN, GCNS-BC, NE-BC Rikki Nugent Hooper MBA, MSN, FNP-BC, ACHPN® NE-BC, FPCNRikki Hooper joined Four Seasons, a not-for-profit Hospice and Palliative Care organization, in 2005 as a palliative care nurse practitioner and has been providing patient care since that time. Initially in a full-time clinical role she has also served in various leadership roles including Palliative Care Professional Development Director, Regional Director of Palliative Care, Vice President of Palliative Care and now Chief Clinical Operations Officer with leadership for both Hospice and Palliative Care programs. As a strong believer in quality care at end of life, Rikki consistently advocates for her patients and families to achieve their goals. Certified in Advanced Hospice and Palliative Nursing, she provides care for patients in all settings, both pediatric and adult in Palliative Care and Hospice services. She has presented at regional and national meetings on a variety of topics related to serious and advanced illness as well as operation of community-based programs and has served on the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) Task Force for Quality, and on the Home-Based Workgroup for the Center to Advance Palliative Care. She has been part of the long-term care faculty for Bootcamp at the CAPC annual seminar for 3 years and facilitated Virtual Office Hours since 2018. Rikki is the author of several book chapters in APRN textbooks and Core Competencies and contributed to a number of articles published in HPM journals. She has been part of the core team for several Project Echo projects at Four Seasons. Rikki has provided both didactic education and mentoring to APRNs on Palliative Care and Hospice to local students over multiple years. Most recently she has attained certification as a Nurse Executive and was inducted as a 2023 Fellow in Hospice and Palliative Nursing. She has volunteered on the HPNA Clinical Forum planning committee, the AAHPM/HPNA Annual Assembly Abstract Review Committee, served as the Co-Chair for the Community Palliative Care SIG and currently serves as State Ambassador for North Carolina and on the FPCN Application Review Committee. Yvonne Ruathaiwat, MSN, RN, GCNS-BC, NE-BC, CCM, PHNYvonne Ruathaiwat has a diverse clinical and leadership background across the care continuum. Yvonne most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer/Senior VP of Clinical Services for Hospice of the East Bay in Northern California. Her previous experience involved operations and quality improvements for Palliative Care service line, transition of care programs, post-acute ambulatory care, skilled nursing facility partnerships, and population health management for medical respite/high utilizer groups. Yvonne’s past roles ranged from advanced practice nurse to adjunct professor. Yvonne obtained her Master of Science degree as a Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist with specialty in Nursing Education. With a passion to deliver seamless and timely access to services, Yvonne is certified as a nurse executive, case manager, and in hospice operations. She is active with the schools in her community to foster creativity and opportunities.