Join us for Southeast Institute for Innovation in Palliative and Supportive Care (SIIPSC): Forging the Future of Palliative Care 2026 Innovation Summit.
The mission of the Southeast Institute for Innovation in Palliative and Supportive Care at UAB is to expand palliative and supportive care expertise and increase access for people living with a serious illness in the Southeast and their loved ones. Through collaborative research and interdisciplinary training opportunities, we intend to build a network of professionals committed to growing palliative and supportive care services.
Details
Date: Wednesday - Saturday, Aug. 26-29, 2026
Location: The Lodge at Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, Alabama
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Wednesday, August 26, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Full Day Pre-Conference: Southeast Regional Wellness and Healing/Contenu Retreat
Thursday, August 27, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Pre-Conferences
Pediatric Pre-Conference – Bereavement
Robert Smith, Hannah Randall, Jennifer Doyle
African American Communities Speak
Dr. Ronit Elk, Dr. Ashley Nichols, Rev. Moneka Thompson, and Dr. Carolyn Kezar
Palliative Care in Transplant Medicine
Dr. Jabeen Taj, Dr. Thomas Morel, Dr. Tonya Hershman
12:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Opening Remarks & Lunch Plenary Session
State of Palliative Care from a National Perspective
Brynn Bowman, CEO of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Concurrent Session Breakouts
Integrative Care
Dr. Ken Busby
“Is Cultural Suffering the Fifth Domain?”
Panel: Rev. Moneka Thompson, Kalisa Mickell, Beverly Ellis, and Tiffanie Lyon
Paused but not Erased - Updates in Sexual and Gender Minorities at End of Life and Hospice
Dr. Lawson Marcewicz and Dr. Korijna Valenti
Competitive Abstract Session – TBD
3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Afternoon Plenary Session
The Evolving Way we Train and Communicate in Palliative Care
Dr. Holly Yang
4:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Poster/Networking Reception
Friday, August 28, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Morning Plenary Session
Making the Grade: Efforts to Enhance Access to Palliative Care in the South
Panel: Dr. Rodney Tucker (moderator), Marisette Hasan, Jennifer O’Neill, Josh Dower
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Concurrent Session Breakouts
State of the Science in Pediatric Palliative Care
Dr. Susie Buckingham, Dr. Khaliah Johnson, Dr. Emily Johnston, Dr. Cia Bishop
Equity for All
Dr. Kim Curseen
The Role of Death Doulas in Palliative Care and Hospice
Dr. Korijna Valenti, Amiyah King, and Erin Street
Competitive Abstract Session - TBD
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Concurrent Session Breakouts
Trauma-Informed Care in Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care
Dr. Kelsey Largen and Dr. Linda Radbill
Bridging the Rural Supportive Care Gap: A Model for Supportive Care; Developed in Full and Equitable Partnership with Rural Communities of Tennessee
Dr. Sandhya Mudumbi and Dr. Ronit Elk
Caregiving Across the Continuum – Caregiving in Serious Illness
Dr. Nick Odom and Dr. Frank Puga
Tips for Palliative Care and Hospice from a Pharmacist
Dr. Tonya Hershman
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch Plenary Session
Ethics in Pediatric Palliative Care
Dr. Jennifer Walter
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Concurrent Session Breakouts
Ethics Case-based Breakout
Dr. Jennifer Walter
Substance Use Disorder in Palliative Care and Hospice – Important Considerations
Dr. Leah Leisch
Southern Voices of Hospice and Palliative Care
Panel: Dr. Sonia Malhotra (moderator), Dr. Rodney Tucker, Dr. Shena Gazaway, and Lawson Marcewicz
Competitive Abstract Session - TBD
Saturday, August 29, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Morning Plenary Session and Closing Remarks
Bending the Arc Toward Sustainability: Lessons from Adult and Pediatric Ambulatory Palliative Care
Dr. Kim Curseen and Dr. Katharine Brock
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Networking Tables
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Concurrent Session Breakouts
Concurrent Care
Kayla Overstreet and Sharon Beall
Palliative Psychiatry/Mental Health in Palliative Care and Hospice
Dr. Barley Halton and Kaley Brand
“Scatterbed” Hospice
Dr. Tammie Quest
Competitive Abstract Session – TBD
Partners
Aligned with our mission, we are excited to announce that we have partnered with some wonderful organizations to co-host the Forging the Future of Palliative Care 2026 Innovation Summit: Culture, Communication, and Care in the American South.
The following organizations are partnering with us to bring a wonderful selection of speakers and topics to this year’s Summit: Children's of Alabama, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine-Division of Palliative Medicine, Alabama Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, North Mississippi Health Services, Ochsner Health System, Tennessee Oncology, LCMC Health/Tulane University, and the University of South Alabama Health.
Purpose
The purpose of this three-day conference is threefold:
Connecting - Connecting clinicians, educators, researchers, and administrators dedicated to the field of palliative medicine in the Southeast.
Learning - Learning about evidence-based practice, strategies to reduce health disparities, and effective cultural communication.
Sharing - Sharing of palliative care expertise and evidence, which can address gaps and challenges to providing palliative care everywhere for everyone.
Pre-conference Information
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Contenū – Day of Wellness and Healing (Wednesday, Aug. 26 - 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.)
Contenū is excited to be able to offer a day of wellness and healing activities to health care professionals, and caregivers, who take care of those with serious illness, or who have a serious illness. This retreat, located at The Learning Campus at Gulf State Park (close to the conference hotel), will focus on health and wellness activities with the aim of giving attendees a space to refresh, recharge, and relax. We hope you can join us for a full-filled day of activities and community. This retreat will focus on health and wellness activities with the aim of giving attendees a space to refresh, recharge, and relax. To learn more about Contenū, please check out their website at www.contenuhealing.org. (Cost - $100) -
Clinical Pre-conference (Thursday, Aug. 27 - 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.)
Palliative Care in Transplant Medicine - The role of palliative care in transplant medicine has been evolving over the past several years from primary palliative interventions, such as support and goals of care conversations, to more specialized palliative care, including symptom management and hospice care. This preconference aims to guide participants through the journey of transplant care; the various inflection points at which palliative care can provide nuanced support and counseling for specialized situations, such as complications, high symptom burden, the impact on quality of life, and education about hospice when indicated. (Cost - $100) -
Pediatric Hospice Pre-conference (Thursday, Aug. 27 - 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.)
Join us for this invaluable opportunity to enhance your skills and confidence in pediatric hospice care! (Cost - $100) -
African American Communities Speak (AACS) Pre-conference (Thursday, Aug. 27 - 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.)
The African American Communities Speak (AACS) Program is a cultural communication training workshop. It seeks to equip providers with communication skills to enhance goals of care conversations and medical decision making. This training was created from the collective voices of patient experiences to promote best practices and bridge cultural divides. (Cost- $100)
Registration Rates
| Category | Early Bird Price (on or before 6/30/2026) | Regular Price |
|---|---|---|
|
Physicians/Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants |
$375 |
$425 |
|
Nurses/Residents/Fellows/IDT Members |
$325 |
$375 |
|
Students |
$230 |
$280 |
Conference Fees: Fees include lunch on Thursday and Friday, breakfast on Friday and Saturday, evening reception with appetizers on Thursday at the hotel.
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Hotel Information
The Lodge at Gulf State Park
21196 East Beach Blvd. Gulf Shores, AL 36542
The online link is set for the peak nights of Aug. 27 and 28. Travel dates at the top of the landing page should be modified to review availability for additional nights. If the requested dates are not available at the group rate, guests should reach out to Central Reservations at 1-800-618-4350 and mention our group code 91W for assistance.
For online reservations, please use the link below. Call-in reservations are processed exclusively through Hilton Central Reservations Department at 800-618-4350 with our group code 91W.
Deadline to reserve rooms at the conference rate is Monday, July 27, 2026.
All room block reservations include a 5-day cancellation policy. Changes or cancellations to any reservation less than 5 days in advance of arrival will incur a one-night room and tax penalty.
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