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Message 2025 ConferenceApril 7 & 8Radisson Blu Mall of America651-917-4616info@mnhpc.orgwww.mnhpc.org

Minnesota Network ofHospice & Palliative Careemail: info@mnhpc.orgphone: 651-917-4616www.mnhpc.orgStaff Kristina Wright-PetersonIncoming Executive DirectorDave BlomquistInterim Executive DirectorAra ElizabethDirector of Marketing, Development & EngagementLores VlaminckConsultantWe strive to ensure that everyone has the help they need to liveand die according to their wishes. We do this through educationand advocacy around serious illness and end-of-life care. Mission

Welcome to the Minnesota Network of Hospice & PalliativeCare’s 2025 Conference: Charting New Paths!It is truly an honor to welcome you to this year’s conference. As the incoming Executive Director, I’meager to connect with as many of you as possible over the next two days. However, in case our pathsdon’t cross, I’d love to take a moment to introduce myself.I live in Rochester with my two children, Harper (12) and Heath (9). Our family loves outdooradventures, cozy movie nights, and—like many parents—I spend much of my time as their personalchauffeur to basketball, lacrosse, baseball, hockey, and singing lessons. We also share our home withtwo wonderful dogs, Rosie and Simba. My mom lives just a few miles away with her dog, Griffin, makingour family circle even bigger!Professionally, my journey began as a registered nurse, with experience at Mayo Clinic and OlmstedCounty Public Health, before transitioning into hospice care at Seasons Hospice. I started as a volunteerand later joined the residential hospice team as a supplemental nurse—an experience that deepenedmy appreciation for this incredible field and ultimately led me to this role.Hospice and palliative care are deeply personal to me. Early in my nursing career, I worked on amedical oncology unit and saw firsthand how palliative care teams transformed patient experiences,providing comfort in ways no other specialty could. Later, at Seasons Hospice, I witnessed the profoundimpact of hospice care on both patients and their loved ones. My passion for this work is also shapedby personal experience—when I was nine years old, my father passed away from leukemia. Lookingback, I know how different that journey could have been if hospice and palliative care had been part ofour experience. That perspective fuels my commitment to ensuring families have access to the careand support they deserve.As we move forward, we face challenges—changing regulations, reimbursement concerns, workforceshortages, and the ongoing need for public and professional education. But I know that through yourdedication and innovation, we can continue to strengthen access to high-quality, compassionate careacross Minnesota.I’m excited to learn from all of you in the coming months and to work alongside you to advance thisimportant mission. If you’d like to connect, I’ll be at the MNHPC Wellbeing Orbit Reception table onMonday, April 7th from 4:45 to 5:45 in Lakes C, and will also be facilitating the Lunch & Learn onTuesday on Residential Hospice Houses in Minnesota—I hope to see you there!Thank you for the work you do, and I hope you have a wonderful conference experience!Kristina Wright-PetersonIncoming Executive Director

MNHPC ANNUAL CONFERENCEAPRIL 7 & 8, 2025Radisson Blu at Mall of America2100 Killebrew DrBloomington, MN 55425

Breakfast is 7:00am - 8:00am Monday andTuesday. Buffets will be in the Lakes Foyerand Sky Bridge. Registration Desk will be open 6:00am-5:00pm Monday and Tuesday.Questions about CEUs? Visit the MNHPCtable in the Lakes Foyer. Up-to-dateinformation is also on the event website.The Wellbeing Orbit will take place onMonday from 2:45pm to 5:45pm.The Bardo Lunch & Learn takes place onMonday at 12:45pm in Lakes C. Pleasepromptly grab your lunch from any of thebuffet lines and then grab a spot at anytable.The Hospice Houses Lunch & Learn takesplace on Tuesday at 12:45pm in Lakes C,and Better Impact Lunch & Learn takesplace on Tuesday at 12:45 in Lakes D. Lunch is Monday and Tuesday from11:45am to 1:15pm. Buffets will be in theLakes Foyer and Sky Bridge. Attendees arewelcome to eat in Lakes Ballroom and in theback of FireLake Grill House.

Visit every exhibit table and haveyour constellation card marked to beeligible for the game's prize.Return your completed game card tothe MNHPC table in the Lakes Foyer.Winners will be awarded Monday andTuesday afternoon.Constellation Card GameConstellation Card Game

Judi Lund Person is the principal of the newly established Lund Person & Associates, LLC,hospice consulting. For 21 years, she served as the Vice President, Regulatory and Complianceat the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, where she served as a key contactwith the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, other federal agencies, helping to ensurethat NHPCO’s voice was heard with policymakers. She is known for translating complexregulations into “plain English” for hospice providers and providing resources for regulatorycompliance.Prior to joining NHPCO, Judi served for 22 years as the President and CEO of The CarolinasCenter for Hospice and End of Life Care, where she provided support and resources forhospice providers and end of life care coalitions in the Carolinas.Early in her career, Judi was a part of a small group of advocates that worked for the passageof the Medicare Hospice Benefit in Congress. That advocacy work resulted in the addition ofhospice to Medicare in 1982, with the original Medicare hospice conditions of participationpublished in 1983.Monday Keynote: The Past Guides the FutureJUDILUNDPERSONJUDILUNDPERSON

This keynote will highlight the six dimensions of the University of Minnesota’s Earl E. BakkenCenter for Spirituality & Healing Well Being Model developed by Bakken Center founder anddirector, Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN, and its application in fostering resilience in individuals. Itwill also include examples of wellbeing practices and tools for supporting resilience and wellbeing,and an opportunity to practice mindfulness, which is an evidence-based wellbeing practice.Mariann Johnson is a wellbeing and mindfulness instructor for the University of Minnesota’s EarlE. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. She has studied and practiced mindfulness meditationfor over 25 years and is a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction instructor through BrownUniversity’s Mindfulness Center. Before dedicating her professional life to teaching mindfulness,Mariann served as an organization development consultant and mediator, working with leaders ofFortune 500 companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Her writings onmindful leadership have appeared in the Huffington Post and Mindful Magazine.Monday Keynote: Enhancing Personal WellbeingMARIANNJOHNSONMARIANNJOHNSON

Mary CarlsenModeratorBarbara MorrisPanelistRosie GastonPanelistThaddeus PopePanelistMAiD Panel - The Intricate Landscape of Medical Aid inDying: Preparing for Changes in Policy and PracticeAs Minnesota considers the potential passing of the End-of-Life Option Act, there is anurgent need to educate and prepare healthcare professionals for the complexities ofmedical aid in dying (MAID). This session aims to equip participants with the knowledgeand introspection necessary to navigate this emotionally charged topic with competenceand compassion. Patients and their families are already seeking guidance on MAID fromclinicians. MNHPC is uniquely positioned to lead the way in ensuring that healthcareproviders are prepared to deliver thoughtful and ethical care while honoring their neutralposition. This keynote will feature an interdisciplinary panel of experts who will delve intothe history, legislation, and practice of MAID, offering diverse perspectives from within themedical community and broader society. Recognizing the deeply personal and ethicalconsiderations involved, this session will also provide a vital space for healthcareprofessionals to reflect on their beliefs and values with their fellow colleagues. A breakoutsession will allow participants to engage in guided discussions, fostering connection anddeeper understanding of how MAID may impact their practice.

Rosie is a passionate and energetic clinical social worker with over a decade of experiencededicated to guiding individuals, families, communities, and fellow professionals through theintricate journey of end-of-life care. Her path began as a hospice volunteer, igniting her pursuitof a Master of Social Work degree to deepen her understanding of the experiences and needsof those facing life-limiting conditions, caregiving, grief, and bioethical dilemmas.Throughout her career, Rosie has worked alongside exceptional interdisciplinary teams indiverse healthcare settings, specializing in oncology, palliative care, and hospice. She has alsomade significant contributions to the field through research and presentations at both localand national levels.In 2022, Rosie established "A Better Ending," her own venture, driven by her three corepassions: providing personalized support, community education, and fostering professionaldevelopment in the end-of-life care domain.Tuesday Keynote: Don't Wait: Lessons on Living from the DyingROSIEGASTONROSIEGASTON

Full conference session descriptions,learning objectives and moreinformation can be found on theconference website. Visit MNHPC.org or scan the QR codefor direct access to the program page.CONFERENCESESSIONS

8:00 - 9:30Welcome and Opening Keynote:The Past Guides the FutureJudi Lund Person, MPH, CHCLakesBallroom9:30 - 10:15 Networking & Exhibit BreakLakes Foyer& Skybridge10:15 - 11:30Regulatory Deep DiveJudi Lund Person, MPH, CHCLakesBallroom10:15 - 11:30VSED: Top 10 Things MinnesotaClinicians Must Know When Patientsor Surrogates Decide to Stop Eatingand DrinkingVic Sandler, MDThaddeus Pope, JD, PhDLakesBallroom10:15 - 11:30It’s Not a Miracle, It’s MusicTherapy: How Current Practices,Interventions and Experiences CanInform How We Care for HospicePatients in the FutureLeanne Barck, MME, MT-BCAnnie Majure, MT-BC, NMT Linnea Bowens-Larson, MT-BC Harriet10:15 - 11:30Trauma Informed Care in theHospice Population: An Intro for theHealth Care Team Amy Greminger, MDLizzie Easter, BAS, MBA,Certified Grief SupportSpecialist Meredyth Fifield,MSSA,MA,LICSW(MN), LCSW (WI)CedarMonday, April 7, 2025Monday, April 7, 2025Breakout Session OneBreakout Session One

10:15 - 11:30Optimization of the NP role in aWell-Established CommunityNonprofit HospiceHeidi Seaberg, MSN, APRN,AGNP-C, ACHPN Nokomis10:15 - 11:30Bearing Witness: How we providecare and support in the face ofsuffering that we can’t fixPatty Lee, MA, MSW, MPH, Beth Allen, RNCM Raina Larson, LSW Lakes C11:30 - 11:45 Networking & Exhibit BreakLakesFoyer &Skybridge11:45 - 1:15Lunch12:00 - 1:00Lunch & Learn The Bardo Lakes C1:15 - 2:15Hospice Volunteering as ExperientialLearning in Undergraduate DeathEducationRon Barrett, PhDMichelle BuronNokomis1:15 - 2:15Trends and Hospice Survey Findings Brenda Fischer, RNJudy Loecken, LSWLakesBallroomMonday, April 7, 2025Monday, April 7, 2025LunchLunchBreakout Session 2Breakout Session 2

1:15 - 2:15VSED Eligibility in Dementia:“Dementia is Incompatible withWho I Am”Florence Wright, MSW, LICSW,APHSW-CZach Razavi, MDLakes C1:15 - 2:15Estate Planning and MedicalAssistance Planning: Issue Spottingand Ethics ConsiderationsRachel Schromen, JDHarriet1:15 - 2:15 Tough Talk: Navigating difficultconversations about death and non-death grief with children, teens, andcaregivers through therapeutic playand expressive art activities.Laura Sufka, MA, CCLSLakes D1:15 - 2:15Nociplastic Pain and EmergingPsychedelic Therapies Roberto Fu Carrasco, MDAda Breitenbucher, MDErika Mendoza Plaut, MD John Politsch, MDEmma Schaffer, MDMelody Shepherd, MD Cedar2:15 - 2:30 Networking & Exhibit BreakLakesFoyer &SkybridgeMonday, April 7, 2025Monday, April 7, 2025

2:30 - 3:30Self-Acupressure for StressManagement Kim Christensen, DAOM,DiplOM, LAcLakes D2:30 - 3:30The Future of Self-Care Isn’t ‘Self’-Care: Fighting burnout togetherZac Willette, Board CertiedChaplain, MDivLakesBallroom2:30 - 3:30Getting Comfortable WITH GriefTed Bowman, MDivCedar2:30 - 3:30Ceremony: The Impact of Ritual forVeteran, Families, and CaregiversSteve Person, M.Div, BCC-HPCKenzie Wilson, M.Div, BCC-PCHAC Harriet2:30 - 3:30Creating Moments of Ceremony atthe Initial TransferAngela Woosley, LicensedMorticianNokomis C2:30 - 3:30Blessing the Beloved Body - ABlessing Prayer HonoringMeditation After a DeathMaggie O’ConnorNokomisAB3:30 - 3:45Networking & Exhibit BreakLakesFoyer &SkybridgeWELLBEINGORBITWELLBEINGORBITThe

3:45 - 4:45Enhancing Personal WellbeingMariann JohnsonLakesBallroom4:45 - 5:45The Wellbeing Orbit ReceptionLakesFoyer,Lakes C &Skybridge5:30 - 6:30Annual Member Meeting: Open toALL MembersBoard and MembersCedarWELLBEINGORBITWELLBEINGORBITTheMeditteranean Hummus BoardVegetable CruditeArtisan CheeseCupcake BitesCoffee, Soda, Sparkling WaterCash BarReception MenuReception MenuThe Wellbeing Orbit ReceptionThe Wellbeing Orbit Reception

8:00 - 8:30Welcome & Volunteer of the YearAwardLakesBallroom8:30 - 10:00The Intricate Landscape of MedicalAid in Dying: Preparing for Changesin Policy and PracticeRosie Gaston, MSW, LICSW,APHSW-C, Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD,PhDBarbara Morris, MDMary CarlsenLakesBallroom10:00 -10:30Networking & Exhibit BreakLakesFoyer &SkybridgeTuesday, April 8, 2025Tuesday, April 8, 2025Breakout Session 4Breakout Session 410:30 -11:30Utilizing Hospice Volunteers toEngage with Hospice and theGrieving CommunityAmy Stelpflug, CTRS, CDP Ann Siverling, MDiv, BCC,MBA, CT Lakes D10:30 -11:30Bridging the Gap: Innovativeapproaches to Embedded SpecialtyPalliative care in UnconventionalSpaces to Improve Outcomes andShift CultureDaniel Townsend, DOVictor Sandler, MDLakesBallroom10:30 -11:30Bridging the Gap: Access to MusicTherapy in Rural MinnesotaChristina Wood, MA, MT-BCBrianna Larsen, MA, MT-BCNokomis10:30 -11:30Audits Are Here to Stay: Long StayAudit Process and ToolsDeb Lane, RN, BSN, PHNTheresa Everson, RN, BSNJoanna "Jodie" Capecchi,AGPCNPLakes C

10:30 - 11:30Enhanced Palliative Care andHospice Nursing Practice Throughthe Use of Auricular AcupressureEmily Lytle, RN, CHPNKristi Mahoney, RNBrenda Stephens, RNCedar10:30 - 11:30Pathways to Eye & Tissue Donationfor the Hospice CommunityPatty Stockdale, AS, CACPFHarriet11:30 - 11:45Networking & Exhibit BreakLakesFoyer &Skybridge11:45 - 1:1512:00 - 1:00Lunch & LearnHospice Houses in MinnesotaLakes C12:00 - 1:00 Lunch & Learn Better ImpactLakes DTuesday, April 8, 2025Tuesday, April 8, 2025LunchLunch

1:15 - 2:15LVAD at End of Life: A Case Study inComplex Symptom Management andInterdisciplinary CollaborationJulie Benson, MDKarina Galvin, PA Leslie Sater, LICSW Lakes D1:15 - 2:15Room and Board Pass-Thru BillingGreg Leahy, MN DHSAnne Erickson, MN DHSHarriet1:15 - 2:15Creation of a Continuous Care PIPand the Positive Effects ofImplementation in a CommunityHospiceRebekah Kirgis, LGSW, MSW Rosemary Stutzka, LPNCedar1:15 - 2:15An Innovative Transition to PracticeApproach: New Graduates BecomingBright Stars!Kathryn Koehne, DNP, RN,AMB-BCAllie Cottrell, RNDevyn McNamara, RN Nokomis1:15 - 2:15Why and What is NeuropalliativeCare?Ada Breitenbucher, MDSam Maiser, MDKevin Webb-Kay, MDPeter Hannon, MDLakes C1:15 - 2:15Physician Point of View: Future ofHospice and Palliative Care Medicinein Value Based CareMichael Madison, MDLakesBallroom2:15 - 2:30Networking & Exhibit BreakLakesFoyer &SkybridgeTuesday, April 8, 2025Tuesday, April 8, 2025Breakout Session 5Breakout Session 5

2:30 - 3:45Palliative and End of Life Care ofImmigrants and RefugeesMiguel Ruiz Diaz, MDCristina Plaza Ruiz, Ed.D.,LMFTLakes C2:30 - 3:45Addressing the Complexity ofParkinson’s Disease and RelatedConditions on HospiceKevin Webb-Kay, MDVictor Sandler, MDLakesBallroom2:30 - 3:45Music Therapy in Bereavement Care:Providing a Safe Vessel for Feelings,Emotions, and MemoriesTheresa Arlien, MT-BC, Martha Young, MT-BCBirdie Cunningham, M.A.Harriet2:30 - 3:45Small Steps Toward Goal ConcordantCare with Serious IllnessConversationsKaty Hentges, FNPGlen Varns, MDCedar2:30 - 3:45The Sleep-Fall Connection: Sleep’sRole in Fall PreventionHeather Johnson, RN, BSN,PHN, Kelly Klund, GerontologistNokomis2:30 - 3:45From Tangles to Tango: A CreativeApproach to NeuropsychiatricSymptoms of Dementia.Vineetha Jose, MDDr. Amy GremingerLakes D3:45 - 4:00Networking & Exhibit BreakLakesFoyer &Skybridge4:00 - 5:00Don’t Wait: Lessons on Living fromthe DyingRosie Gaston, MSW, LICSW,APHSW-CLakesBallroomTuesday, April 8, 2025Tuesday, April 8, 2025Breakout Session 6Breakout Session 6

Full disclosure information for theMNHPC 2025 Conference, including thenames of any ineligible company orindividuals with relevant financialrelationships with ineligible companies,can be found by scanning the QR codeTo view full CE information,including the CE creditsapproved for each session andinstructions for obtaining credit,scan the QR codeQuestions about ContinuingEducation credits? Contactdblomquist@mnhpc.org or stop bythe MNHPC table in the Lakes Foyer

About MNHPCMinnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care has beenserving the community for over 40 years. We work withpalliative care, hospice, and allied professionals to makesure they have the resources and supports they need todo their jobs well. We work with patients, families, andconsumers to make sure they have information aboutservices and supports to help them through some of themost difficult times in their lives. We are a vibrant, dedicated, and passionate communityof individuals who believe in providing the best carepossible to patients and families living with serious andterminal illness. WWW.MNHPC.ORGWe are a resource for individuals and familieswho are coping with a serious illness or arefacing the end of life. We provide informationto the public about hospice and palliative careand help connect individuals and their lovedones with the care they need."We should be placing as much emphasis onend-of-life care as we do beginning of life."MNHPC Provider Member