What Really Matters at the End of Life?
What Really Matters at the End of Life? In-Person
Enjoy a TED Talk with Dr. B.J. Miller who shares his personal experiences on what matters at the end of life, followed by a panel discussion with the audience. This interactive presentation will challenge thoughts about the end of life, and promote understanding.
Panel Discussion Members
- Dr. K. Ellissa Tiller, MD FAAHPM, CPE Vice President for Medical Affairs, HopeWest
- Pam Anderson, LCSW, Senior Clinical Director of Support Services
- Chaplain Bryan Newman Jr., M.Div., BCC Manager, Spiritual and Palliative Care St. Mary's Medical Center.
Panel Discussion Moderator
- Dyann Walt, BSW, Adult Services Supervisor, Department of Human Services
Presenter Bios
K. Ellissa Tiller, MD FAAHPM, CPE Vice President for Medical Affairs, HopeWest
Dr. Tiller joined HopeWest in December 2016. Prior to HopeWest, she started the Sentara RMH Palliative Care Program in Harrison burg, VA, and served as Medical Director for both the Hospice and Palliative Care programs there for 6 years. Dr. Tiller is Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and was made a Fellow of the American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine in 2016. She finished an Internal Medicine Residency program at the university of Virginia Roanoke-Salem program in 2000. She completed medical school at the University of Queensland in Australia and worked as a general University practitioner in Australia. Her awards include the Donnelly Award for best all-round internist in 2000 and the RMH Golden Stethoscope Award for excellence in patient care, customer service, communication and teamwork in 2010. She is also recoginized as a Certified Physician Executive (CPE).
Pam Anderson, LCSW, Senior Clinical Director of Support Services
Pam Anderson is a social worker at HopeWest Hospice and the Director of Adult Grief Programs. She's been enjoying work there for 10 years which competes 16 year of hospice experience. She has also worked in child protection and child foster care. In addition to her work at HopeWest, Pam is an adjunct professor at Colorado Mesa University where she teachers in their social work program. She has a BSW from Colorado State University and an MSW from New Mexico State University. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing, hiking, camping and traveling to unknown lands for epic adventures. Her life motto is "Show up, be present, speak your truth and let got of the outcome." She loves dogs and cats and old people. She likes to think she's a voracious reader, but buys more books than there's time for.
Chaplain Bryan Newman Jr., M.Div., BCC Manager, Spiritual and Palliative Care St. Mary's Medical Center.
Bryan Newman is the Manager of the Spiritual Care and Palliative Care Departments at St. Mary's Hospital located in Grand Junction, Colorado. Bryan began as a chaplain with St. Mary's in 1999 serving as a staff chaplain and later moving into the role as Manger overseeing the six member chaplain staff and 60 Spiritual Care volunteers. He ahs additional responsibility as the Palliative Care service Manager overseeing a Chaplain, Physician Assistant and Physician.
Bryan graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1973 and received his BA in Business in 1977 from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. After working in business for five years he began Seminary studies in 1981 and received a Masters of Divinity degree in 1984 from the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, CA. After serving in pastoral leadership in three churches between 1984-1997, Bryan stepped out of local church leadership in 1998 to complete a twelve month Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Internship at the Methodist Medical Center in Peoria IL. In 2003 he received Chaplain Board Certification through the Association of Professional Chaplains.
Bryan is also an Associate member of hte National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) and has serve on teh Advance Care Planning Task Force since its inception in 2003.
Dyann Walt, BSW, Adult Services Supervisor
Dyann Walt has worked for 20 years at hte Mesa County Department of Human Services as a Case Manager Supervisor. She received her bachelors in Social Work from Colorado State University and has more than 30 years' experience in working in the human services field. She has been a member of the Mesa County Advance Care Planning Task Force since its inception in 2003 and is very passionate about her work in educating the public regarding advance care planning. Dyann loves spending time with here family and her Yorkies, camping, riding ATVs and outdoor photography (moose primarily).
