Burbank (Oct. 14, 2008) - A distinguished team of medical faculty will participate Saturday, Oct. 25, in Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center's free community seminar addressing compassionate ways to deal with the difficult issues surrounding end-of-life care.

Titled "Caring Conversations: Overcoming Barriers to Compassionate Care," the forum will include presentations on care for the seriously ill and the dying; theology and ethics as they relate to medicine; the decision-making process for patients and their families; and the role religion plays in patient care.

The program is geared both for medical professionals seeking continuing education credits and for patients and their families who would like some guidance in communicating with physicians.

"People want their physicians to speak openly with them, even if the news isn't good," said Dr. Eugene Berman, chairman of the Biomedical Ethics Committee at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and co-chairman of the conference. "They want the message to be clear and honest. Patients accept this very well. Some said last year, 'It's about time you did this!'"

The program also will address Catholic health care and is particularly timely with the recent addition of Providence Tarzana Medical Center to the Catholic Providence Health & Services family.

"There might be some patients who have some questions now that Tarzana is a Catholic hospital," Dr. Berman said. "We want them to know they will still get the same care at Tarzana, but there are some additions - if they're interested."

The featured speakers and lecture topics will be:

• Jennifer Shaw, Ph.D. Director, Theology and Ethics, St. Joseph Health System

"Catholic? Non-Catholic? What to Expect at Providence"

• Charles von Gunten, M.D.; Medical Director, Center for Palliative Studies, San Diego Hospice, UC San Diego

"Goals of Care: Caring Conversations Before You Need Them"

• Rebecca Sudore, M.D.; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, UC San Francisco

"Plain Speak: Health Literacy, Informed Consent, and Shared Decision-Making"

• Steven Levy, M.D.; Clinical Professor of Medicine, Course Director, Medical Ethics and Public Health, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

"Magic, Miracles, and Modern Medicine: If All the Hands That Reach Could Touch"

The forum will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in the Bob and Dolores Hope Conference Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St. Burbank. Parking is free. To register, please call (818) 847-4535.