UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care

UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care Beginning at the moment of diagnosis, palliative care can help address symptoms and set goals for care, focusing on quality of life, dignity and respect.

The UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care is a national leader in the field of palliative and supportive care, with demonstrated leadership in compassionate clinical care, collaborative research, community outreach and training. We use a comprehensive approach to caring for people with serious illness by focusing on the whole patient, addressing the physical, emotional, social and spiritual suffering of disease.

Thank You to Our Summit Collaborators!As we prepare for the Southeast Institute for Innovation in Palliative and Support...
02/20/2026

Thank You to Our Summit Collaborators!

As we prepare for the Southeast Institute for Innovation in Palliative and Supportive Care (SIIPSC): Forging the Future of Palliative Care 2026 Innovation Summit, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible collaborators who are working alongside us to bring this vision to life.

The following organizations are partnering with us to bring a wonderful selection of speakers and topics to this year’s Summit: Alabama Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Children's of Alabama, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine-Division of Palliative Medicine, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, North Mississippi Health Services, Ochsner Health System, Tennessee Oncology, and the University of South Alabama Health.

The mission of SIIPSC at UAB - to expand palliative and supportive care expertise and increase access for people living with serious illness across the Southeast - is only possible because of the dedication, insight, and partnership of so many committed professionals. Your contributions, whether through research, training, planning, or program development, are helping us build a stronger, more connected network of care for patients and their loved ones.

Thank you for sharing your expertise, your creativity, and your passion for advancing palliative and supportive care. Together, we are shaping a Summit that will inspire innovation, strengthen collaboration, and move our region forward.

Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization @

📣 Call for Abstracts is NOW OPEN! Forging the Future of Palliative Care Innovation Summit 2026 📍 Gulf Shores, AL | Augu...
02/18/2026

📣 Call for Abstracts is NOW OPEN!

Forging the Future of Palliative Care Innovation Summit 2026
📍 Gulf Shores, AL | August 26–29, 2026
🗓️ Deadline: March 20, 2026

The UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care, and our collaborators, are inviting palliative care, pediatric palliative care, and hospice professionals across all settings and career stages to submit abstracts for concurrent sessions and poster presentations at our 2026 Innovation Summit.

We’re seeking work that advances palliative care, hospice, education, research, and clinical practice - especially projects exploring culture, communication, and care in the American South.

💡 Submission categories include:
• Palliative care
• Pediatric palliative care
• Hospice
• Topics centered on culture, communication, and care in the South (priority consideration)

Presentations may include practice insights, paper presentations, panel discussions, or case-based roundtables.

✨ Bonus: Accepted podium presenters receive FREE Summit registration (one per submission).

Full details + submission portal available now. Let your work shape the future of our field.

🔗 Submit your abstract: www.uab.edu/pcsummit

Registration Is Now Open for the 2026 "Forging the Future of Palliative Care 2026 Innovation Summit!"This multi‑day gath...
02/17/2026

Registration Is Now Open for the 2026 "Forging the Future of Palliative Care 2026 Innovation Summit!"

This multi‑day gathering brings together clinicians, researchers, educators, and leaders who are shaping the future of palliative and supportive care across the Southeast. As the need for high‑quality, accessible care continues to grow, this summit offers a vital space for collaboration, innovation, and shared learning.

Event Details
Dates: Wednesday–Saturday, August 26–29, 2026
Location: The Lodge at Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Join us as we explore new models of care, share emerging research, and forge the partnerships that will define the next era of palliative and supportive care in the Southeast.

We invite you to register today and be part of this important movement!

📅 Save the Date: Forging the Future of Palliative Care Summit 2026 🌊 Gulf Shores, Alabama | August 26-29,Calling all ph...
02/17/2026

📅 Save the Date: Forging the Future of Palliative Care Summit 2026
🌊 Gulf Shores, Alabama | August 26-29,

Calling all physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, administrators, and every professional committed to elevating palliative and supportive care!

The UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care is thrilled to announce our 2026 “Forging the Future of Palliative Care Summit” in beautiful Gulf Shores, AL. Expect a gathering designed to recharge your passion, deepen your expertise, and connect you with leaders and innovators shaping the next era of care.

✨ What to look forward to:
Cutting‑edge clinical insights
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Real‑world strategies for improving patient and family experiences
Space to reflect, learn, and grow with peers who understand the work you do

Whether you’re on the front lines of palliative care, hospice, advancing research, or supporting families through complex care journeys, this Summit is built for you.

🔗 Registration is now open: www.uab.edu/pcsummit
Secure your spot and start planning your trip to the coast.

Let’s come together to shape what’s next in palliative care. The future is ours to forge. 🌟

Attention AAHPM & State of the Science Symposium Attendees! San Diego • March 2026Are you presenting or receiving an aw...
02/04/2026

Attention AAHPM & State of the Science Symposium Attendees!
San Diego • March 2026

Are you presenting or receiving an award at this year’s events? We want to celebrate you!

Help us highlight your amazing work by sending a brief note to rachneru4673@uabmc.edu. Your contributions deserve to be recognized, and we can’t wait to showcase your achievements.

Today marks the anniversary of a moment that strengthened our commitment to patients and families across UAB. On this da...
02/02/2026

Today marks the anniversary of a moment that strengthened our commitment to patients and families across UAB. On this day, the Center for Palliative and Supportive Care received the official award letter from the General Endowment Fund of the UAB Health Services Foundation, providing vital support for the UAB Integrated Supportive Care Program.

This investment helped expand our mission: delivering whole‑person care that honors dignity, comfort, and quality of life at every stage of serious illness.

💚 Because of this support, we’ve been able to:
• Enhance access to supportive care services
• Strengthen interdisciplinary teamwork
• Improve patient and family experiences across UAB Medicine

We’re proud of how far we’ve come - and even more excited for the future we’re building together.

Thank you for being part of our journey toward compassionate, integrated care for all.

Here is your reminder to come and join in the fun! We hope to see you there tonight.
01/30/2026

Here is your reminder to come and join in the fun! We hope to see you there tonight.

The DOM has new Wellness Council co-chairs!A big congratulations to Associate Professor Sylvia Huang, Ph.D., and Assista...
01/30/2026

The DOM has new Wellness Council co-chairs!

A big congratulations to Associate Professor Sylvia Huang, Ph.D., and Assistant Nurse Manager Audrey Landry, RN, MSN, from Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, who will be stepping into the roles of co-chairs for the DOM Wellness Council.

They follow our inaugural leaders, Josh Stripling, M.D. (Infectious Diseases) and Kaitlyn Waugaman (Program Manager II, General Internal Medicine & Population Science), who dedicated the past two years to building and guiding the council.

Photo (L to R): Dr. Josh Stripling, Kaitlyn Waugaman, Dr. Sylvia Huang, and Audrey Landry.

Join Us for a Night of Community and Compassion at Cahaba Brewing!We hope you can join us this Friday, January 30, 2026,...
01/29/2026

Join Us for a Night of Community and Compassion at Cahaba Brewing!

We hope you can join us this Friday, January 30, 2026, at Cahaba Brewing between 5–9 PM for an evening that blends good company, great beer, and a powerful purpose.

We’re gathering to support Pediatric Palliative Care and Support at Children’s of Alabama, a program that provides comfort, dignity, and specialized care for children and families navigating some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

Whether you stop by for a quick drink or stay for the whole evening, your participation makes a difference. Bring friends, spread the word, and help us lift up a program that touches countless families across Alabama.

Ever met a doctor who could use a little help with communication - or maybe a dose of empathy?Nine years ago, Kimberly K...
01/28/2026

Ever met a doctor who could use a little help with communication - or maybe a dose of empathy?

Nine years ago, Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, felt the same way about herself. In the middle of her surgical residency, she pursued hospice and palliative medicine training so she could learn to navigate the hardest conversations doctors have with patients and families.

Today, Dr. Kopecky is a UAB surgeon specializing in high‑risk abdominal procedures—and she’s using what she learned to change how young doctors communicate. She co‑created The Empathy Project, a skills‑building game that helps trainees practice responding to emotionally charged questions with compassion instead of defaulting to technical explanations.

Her work shines a light on something we often forget: behind every medical question is a human emotion. And with the right training, empathy isn’t just a trait—it’s a skill every clinician can learn. 💙

Read the full article here:
https://www.uab.edu/reporter/research-innovation/surgeons-have-trouble-avoiding-the-cognitive-trap-this-game-can-help-them-get-out

Wishing you a peaceful New Year from the UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care As we step into 2026, we carry fo...
01/01/2026

Wishing you a peaceful New Year from the UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care

As we step into 2026, we carry forward the values of compassion, dignity, and hope that guide our work every day. The new year is a time to honor the journeys of patients, families, and caregivers, and to recommit ourselves to providing comfort and support in every moment.

May this year bring renewal, strength, and meaningful connections for you and your loved ones.

✨ Happy Kwanzaa from the UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care! ✨As we honor the seven principles of Kwanzaa — u...
12/26/2025

✨ Happy Kwanzaa from the UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care! ✨

As we honor the seven principles of Kwanzaa — unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith — we celebrate the strength of community and the power of shared values.

May this season bring light, reflection, and joy to you and your loved ones. 💚❤️🖤

Address

Supportive Care And Survivorship Clinic/The Kirklin Clinic 2000 6th Avenue South, 3rd Floor
Birmingham, AL
35233

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