Join us for our 17th Annual Conference on Grief and Loss on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Dignity at the end of life and during one's journey through grief has always been important, but dignity-in-care is not always delivered. Harvey Max Chochinov notes that patients can have challenges that "chip away" at their sense of self and their pride whether they are referred to by medical caregivers as their malady (the "cancer in room 512"), or feeling like their fear is not recognized ("there's nothing to be afraid of"). Chochinov notes: "Being a patient can assault one's sense of self...patienthood threatens to eclipse personhood." For many care providers, making one's way through a busy day can sometimes lead to forgetting that the patient is a person - a person with feelings. Chochinov reminds us of the words of Sir William Osler: "the good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease."

To understand dignity in caring for others requires a deep understanding of what it means to be a patient with a life-limiting medical condition; what it means to grieve; what it means to grapple with uncertainties and risks; and what it means to feel vulnerable. This can be challenging and requires caregivers to ensure physical comfort; respectful communication; and emotional validation.

This presentation offers a compassionate, comprehensive examination of strategies for supporting individuals and families at end-of-life and in grief. It is designed to equip healthcare providers, caregivers, and community members with the knowledge needed to provide dignified, person-centered care and meaningful emotional support.

The Annual Conference on Grief and Loss is the result of the collaborative efforts of several bereavement professionals in the Greater Cincinnati area. Our goal is to offer a one-day program featuring a nationally recognized speaker to local bereavement providers in an affordable venue.