During the event, small groups of students meet with community volunteers to discuss topics surrounding end-of-life care. Each participant first reflects individually, then joins their group in open, heartfelt dialogue.
Essential Conversations in Healthcare, an educational event connecting Elon’s graduate students in the School of Health Sciences with community volunteers to explore communication and compassion in end-of-life care, is celebrating seven years of meaningful dialogue and transformative learning experiences.
In 2016, Dianne Person became the founding director of the Anatomical Gift Program, a new initiative designed to provide whole-body donors for anatomy education ethically. The program offers individuals a meaningful way to continue teaching after death as “silent teachers” in Elon’s anatomy classrooms.
Through her outreach in the community, Person discovered that discussions about end-of-life and bereavement were just as crucial as post-mortem planning. Listening to families share their stories inspired her to create Essential Conversations in Healthcare (EC in HC), an educational event connecting Elon’s graduate students in the School of Health Sciences with community volunteers to explore communication and compassion in end-of-life care.
Co-led by Person and Allison Russo, a practicing physician assistant, the program remains dynamic and ever evolving. Each year, new ideas and feedback help shape EC in HC into a more impactful experience, one that continues to nurture honesty, empathy and effective communication between healthcare professionals and patients.
This October, the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) students participated in the program’s seventh annual event. The workshop invites participants to reflect deeply on the realities of pre- and peri-death care, experiences that every healthcare professional will encounter, not just as clinicians but as human beings.
During the event, small groups of students meet with community volunteers to discuss topics surrounding end-of-life care. Each participant first reflects individually, then joins their group in open, heartfelt dialogue. What unfolds is a moving exchange of ideas, experiences, and shared humanity.
While the primary focus is on end-of-life communication, the workshop also encourages conversations about self-care for healthcare professionals, recognizing that supporting patients and families requires clinicians to care for themselves.
Two long-time volunteers, Ruth Vogelpohl and Ann Kelly, both retired critical care nurses with distinguished careers, shared their reflections on the program.
“Recognize that even though your goal is to ‘care always’ for every patient, there is a real need for you to take care of yourself,” said Vogelpohl. “You cannot make the path smooth for families in dispute over end-of-life decisions for their loved one. Sometimes you have to listen and speak gently to them, sometimes you have to be parental and tell them to leave immediately and take their anger elsewhere, sometimes you must leave and seek help to deal with the crisis.”
“The Essential Conversations in Healthcare at Elon University allows all participants to discuss the very sensitive concerns about end-of-life care in a safe place with thoughtful people,” said Kelly.
Essential Conversations provides both structure and support, helping participants navigate the emotional complexities of end-of-life discussions. By encouraging openness and reflection, the program equips future healthcare professionals with the confidence and competence to engage in these crucial conversations.
The results of a Qualtrics survey showed that students and community members overwhelmingly reported that the course workshop equipped them to have better conversations about end-of-life care. All but one student agreed that they were highly engaged throughout the process.
“We are honored to advocate for the critical need for intentional, compassionate end-of-life conversations in healthcare,” said Person. “Guided by the insights of Dr. Atul Gawande, a pioneer in this field, we remain committed to equipping students and community members with essential tools that strengthen their professional practice and advance progress in this vital area. What individuals want matters. Their voices matter. Being heard matters. Addressing this gap has proven both profoundly meaningful and deeply promising.”
As Essential Conversations in Healthcare moves into 2026, the program continues to grow, fostering compassion, communication, and connection among students, volunteers, and the patients they will one day serve.