ABOUT THE CONFERENCE AND RELATED INFORMATION
The 23rd Annual Good Grief Conference theme is “The Prophetic Voice: Navigating the
Difficult Journey of Loss and Grief.” The Good Grief conference promotes education to
the community that serves patients and families experiencing loss and grief. The target
audience includes: nurses, physicians, chaplains, counselors, social workers, child life
specialists, volunteers, students and other specialists who work with persons experiencing loss and grief.
OBJECTIVES
1. Explore the nature of suffering with illness and end of life, and the health care provider’s role in relieving
distress.
2. Examine the causes, effects and resolution of moral distress experienced by the health care provider.
3. Enhance bedside communication skills in the midst of illness, suffering and loss.
4. Discuss spirituality within the journey of loss and grief.
Venue & Parking
The Jonah L. Larrick Student Center
is located at 900 Turpin St. The main
entrance is located near the compass at 9th and Turpin Streets,
providing convenient access to the
8th Street parking deck and a short
walk from the VCU Campus Connector’s stop at the MCV Campus
Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
The 8th Street Parking Deck is located at
659 N. 8th Street and available for visitor
parking. The Parking and Transportation
Customer Service Office is located on the
first level.
VCU employees are asked to park in your
respective deck.
Planning Committee: Angela Duncan, Ann King, Faith Piechowiak, Ellie Coyne, Carol Roberts, Unicia Buster, Tom David
Siebert, Cari Chandler, Yvonne Allen, Clareen Wiencek, Walter Lewanowicz, Pat Gault-Coles and Susan Beavers.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Nessa Coyle, is a consultant in
palliative care, end-of-life care
and clinical ethics in oncology.
Former Director of the Supportive Care Program of the Pain and
Palliative Care Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), and founder of the Services nurse
practitioner clinical fellowship Program, she retired in 2012 after 42 years of service. Dr. Coyle
continues to be involved in numerous organizations and is on the editorial boards of several
interdisciplinary palliative care journals.
Ann Hamric, is the Associate
Dean for Academic Programs
at Virginia Commonwealth
University in Richmond, Virginia, and a Professor in the
School of Nursing. She has
two areas of scholarship:
advanced practice nursing
and ethics with a focus on moral distress. She
has served as senior editor of seven books,
including five on advanced practice nursing. In
the areas of ethics, Dr. Hamric has served on
five interdisciplinary ethics committees beginning in 1975, and currently is a member of VCU
Health System’s Ethic Committee.
Clareen Wiencek, has over
37 years of experience in
critical care nursing and over
10 years in palliative care.
Formerly she was assistant
professor for nursing at the
Frances Payne Bolton School
of Nursing, Case Western
University in Cleveland, Ohio. She now serves
as Nurse Manager and Nurse Practitioner for
the Thomas Palliative Care Unit of VCU Health
System. Dr. Wiencek’s program of research is
focused on the chronically ill, symptom burden, communication and integrating palliative
care in critical care. She is serving a three year
term as Director for the American Association
of Critical Care Nurses. Her mission is to drive
the integration of critical care and palliative
care.
7:30—8:00 am
Registration
Vendors/ Continental Breakfast
8:00—8:15 am
Welcome
by Russell Davis, PhD & Ken Faulkner, MS, MDiv
8:15—9:45 am
General Session
The Nature of Suffering and the Goals of Care
by Nessa Coyle, PhD, RN, ACHPN, FAAN
9:45—10:15 am
Break and Exhibits
10:15—12:15 pm General Session
Moral Distress and the Health Care Provider
by Ann Hamric PhD, RN, FAAN
12:15—1:15 pm
Lunch and Exhibits
1:15—2:45 pm
Communication, Communication, Communication!
by Clareen Wiencek, PhD, CNP, ACHPN
2:45—3:00 pm
Break
3:00—4:15 pm
Multi-Faith Panel
Moderator: Angela Duncan PhD, MS, MDiv
Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Islamic
4:15—4:30 pm
Closing Remarks and Evaluations
by Angela Duncan PhD, MS, MDiv
Continuing Education 6.5 contact hours .
The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center is an approved provider of
continuing nursing education by the Virginia Nurses Association, an accredited
approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
CE Hours: Available to other conference participants upon request.
23rd Annual Good Grief Conference Registration
REGISTRATION NOTES
Cancellation Policy:
Full refund minus $20 processing fee given for
written cancellations received by October 7,
2013. No refunds will be given for cancellations
postmarked after this date. Due to the popularity of this conference, we urge you to register
early. Registration will be accepted on a first
come, first serve basis.
Registration Fee:
Includes plenary and concurrent sessions, program materials, CE contact hours certificate,
breakfast, and lunch. Minimum and maximum
numbers for attendance for the conference
have been established, and we reserve the right
to substitute speakers, topics, or cancel if necessary.
Make Payment to:
The Department of Patient Counseling indicate
for “Good Grief Conference”
Mail Registration to:
Patricia Gault-Coles
Pastoral Care Department
PO Box 980664
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0664
Questions:
For more information, call (804) 828-0928 or
email pgault-coles@mcvh-vcu.edu
Special Accommodations:
If special accommodation is needed, please
contact us at (804) 828-0928. Every attempt
will be made to facilitate your participation in
this conference.
Name
Address
Employer/ Position
(Unit Name for VCUHS Employees)
Email Address
Home / Cell
OPTIONS FOR PAYMENT:
Registration Deadline is October 7, 2013
1. Personal Check 
2. Master Card 
Visa 
Card Number:________________________________________
Exp. Date:_________________
Signature:___________________________________________
Send a copy of purchase order form PO#____________
Online Registration:
http://www.support.vcu.edu/event/goodgriefconference
Community Fee = $75.00
VCU/VCUHS Staff Fee = $60.00
Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal
opportunity/affirmative action institution and
does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, ethnic origin or disability.
AMEX 
Student Fee = $25.00
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