News and Events: UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute

Inaugural Hospice and Palliative Care Symposium 2018

The inaugural Hospice and Palliative Care Symposium, co-sponsored by Family Hospice and Palliative Care and the UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute, was held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 before 175 physicians, physician assistants, social workers, spiritual care staff, and nurses.

The symposium provided the opportunity to discuss the expanding scope of treatments, diagnoses, circumstances, and populations that clinicians meet with in the care of patients and families navigating chronic or life-limiting illness. We were honored to have Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of Health and Physician General for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, join us as the final presenter of the day. Dr. Levine spoke to considerations of gender identity and expression in addressing the healthcare needs of the LGBTQ population. Additionally, she fielded questions related to the current opioid crisis.

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Walk

The Palliative and Supportive Institute served as a sponsor for the Memory Tent at the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Walk. More than 130 families visited the tent for information on palliative care and bereavement resources. Staff from PSI collaborated with peers from Family Hospice and Palliative Care in providing support to individuals, families and caregivers.

National Healthcare Decisions Day Tele Town Hall engages seniors

Staff from the Palliative and Supportive Institute teamed with UPMC's Donald D. Wolff, Jr. Center for Quality, Safety, and Innovation and Julian Gray Associates elder law attorneys in an informational tele town hall event on the topic of advance directives and advance care planning.

Fielding a steady stream of questions from caller participants were experts Robert M. Arnold, MD, Medical Director of the UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute, and Julian Gray, CELA.

The half-hour event reached more than 5000 seniors, 74% of whom requested additional information on the topics discussed. Special thanks to Jennifer Pruskowski, PharmD, Megan King, RN, CHPN, and Susan Saxon, CRNP, MSN, FNP-BC for their behind-the-scenes support.

PSI Physician honored as 2018 Hastings Center Cuniff-Dixon Physician Award

Dr. Jane Schell is one of five recipients selected to receive this prestigious award. The award will be presented formally at a July 2018 reception in Pittsburgh.

PSI Pharm D Achieves Prestigious Distinction


PSI Medical Director named Distinguished Professor

The ASP Eric G. Neilson, MD, Distinguished Professor Award is presented annually to a physician who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and support of specialty internal medicine. This year's recipient is Dr. Robert M. Arnold, Medical Director of the UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute. Dr. Arnold received the award at a March 2018 reception in San Antonio, Texas.

University of Oklahoma Awards Biomedical Ethics Prize to PSI Medical Director

The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine selected Dr. Robert M. Arnold, Medical Director of the UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute, as recipient of the Patricia Price Browne Prize in Biomedical Ethics. This honor recognizes Dr. Arnold for his expertise in palliative care and doctor-patient communication. Learn more about the Biomedical Ethics Prize.

Medical Students Volunteer To Play Music For Patients

A group of medical students, lead by Sae Jang, volunteered to play music for patients at UPMC Presbyterian. Palliative care physician Dr. Jane Schell helps the students connect with the right patients. Read the full article and watch a video from KDKA.

Communication Strategies to Improve Cultural Competence

Dr. Jane O. Schell, palliative care physician at UPMC Presbyterian and Shadyside hospitals, co-authored an article addressing communication and cultural competence as it relates to shard decision-making. It was published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Read the article.

PharmD travels to China for Clinical Pharmacy Forum

Jennifer Pruskowski, PharmD with UPMC's Palliative and Supportive Institute and the University of Pittsburgh, participated in the 2016 Sino American Forum of Clinical Pharmacy in Shanghai, China. Jennifer presented on the topic of "Palliative Clinical Pharmacy Care in the United States."

The Unreasonable Patient

Dr. Andrew Thurston, a UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute physician at UPMC Mercy, recently had an opinion piece published in the Journal of American Medical Association. Read the reflection here.

PSI In The News

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently featured an in-depth story on the nature and benefits of palliative care for seriously ill patients. Read the story and watch the accompanying video interview with Robert Arnold, MD, Medical Director of the UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute.

Robert M. Arnold, MD, Discusses Palliative Care and End of Life Issues on WESA Radio

Dr. Robert M. Arnold, Medical Director of the UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute discussed palliative care, end-of-life issues, and how better communication can help patients, families, and their caregivers that are facing a serious illness or end-of-life concerns. Listen to the 30 minute discussion.