Trillium Institute

11/05/2025

“When joy and sorrow meet… joy wins.” 🌿

In this episode of Palliative Matters, John Mulder sits down with Dr. John Finn, a pioneer in hospice and palliative care, to explore the human side of medicine at life’s end. From the lessons patients teach us about love, presence, and authenticity to the hope and comfort hospice can bring, this conversation reminds us that even in the hardest moments, joy can prevail.



🎧 Listen now:

In this episode of Palliative Matters, John Mulder sits down with Dr. John Finn, a pioneer in hospice and palliative medicine, to explore the profound human impact of care at the end of life. Dr. Finn shares stories from his early days in oncology...

10/27/2025

Palliative Care ECHO

Dementia & Palliative Care
🗓️ October 28
🕛 12:00 – 1:30 PM EST
📍 Virtual via Zoom
🎤 Featuring: Renee Parham, Trillium Institute

Join us for a free educational session focused on the role of palliative care in supporting individuals living with dementia. This session is ideal for physicians, nurses, social workers, care coordinators, and other healthcare professionals involved in serious illness care.

CME Available: Continuing Medical Education credits will be offered for eligible participants.

✅ Register Now: https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0qV7YPhHo3fHazI
📩 Questions? Contact: renee.calkins@affiliate.msu.edu

10/08/2025

Did you know that 77% of patients want their physicians to consider their spiritual needs? In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Ariel Dempsey to explore the role of spirituality in medicine, its positive and negative manifestations, and how physicians from any background can open the door to whole-person care for their patients. Listen now at the link below!

Did you know that 77% of patients want their physicians to consider their spiritual needs? Spirituality and religion have a significant impact on the quality of life and preferences of care, which align with the fundamentals of palliative medicine...

09/09/2025

Palliative care is a very person-centered field of medicine. So how does it fit into a medical system that is focused on curing diseases? In this episode, Dr. Tim Ihrig joins Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow to discuss the challenges of a system that often favors ROI and mitigating financial risk over providing care through the lens of a patient's wants and wishes. Listen now at the link below!

In this episode, Dr. Tim Ihrig joined Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow to take an insightful look at the downsides of our medical system. For a system focused on ROI, putting people in hospital beds, and curing diseases, how do palliative care physician...

09/04/2025

We recently had the pleasure of learning from Barb Opperwall, ACHPN, as she shared her expertise in leading Effective Family Conferences.

Several hospice and palliative medicine fellowship programs in West Michigan have collaborated in a regional lecture series for their fellows, faculty, atten...

08/21/2025

Trillium Institute is excited to partner with the Michigan Center for Rural Health to bring you a virtual ECHO Presentation Series on Palliative Care—offering valuable insights for patients, care partners, professionals, and community members alike.

The link to register: https://mcrh.msu.edu/education/project-echo/pc-echo

08/14/2025

08/04/2025

The ringing of the bell is a finite chapter in the lives of an individual diagnosed with cancer and for all who have cared for that individual. It is not a sign that things are going back to normal, but it does signify that we are moving forward. In this episode, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow discuss the challenges of survivorship and how physicians and loved ones can offer support during this transitional time. Listen now at the link below!

When cancer patients finish treatment, they ring a bell—signifying the end of a chapter but not the end of their story. As the person transitions to survivorship, there are a myriad of emotional and physical challenges that come about. So, how can...