Trillium Institute

01/30/2026

A special tribute episode of Palliative Matters is now live.

The episode honors the life and legacy of Dr. John Mulder—founder of the podcast, pioneer of palliative medicine, and mentor to so many.

In this “greatest hits” collection, hear Dr. Mulder in his own words as he shares unforgettable stories of compassion, connection, and values-based care—from helping a family experience one final Christmas together to the quiet power of relational healing at the end of life.

His voice continues to teach us what it truly means to care.

Listen now:

In this special tribute episode of Palliative Matters, guest host Dr. Gerald Harriman and Dr. Patrick Fitzgibbon honor the life and legacy of Dr. John Mulder—founder of the podcast, pioneer of palliative medicine, mentor, musician, and friend. Thr...

01/19/2026

We are blessed to call Dr. Carol Robinson a member of the Trillium Institute family. Her vast knowledge and expertise have helped countless patients and families over her career.

Reminder! Our next Caregiver University session is next week, Tuesday, January 20th, via Zoom.

Titled "Advance Care Planning: Taking Control of What Happens to Us", we'll learn from Dr. Carol Robinson, RN, CHPN, and Catherin Jacobs, JD, about how we can make sure everyone's voice is heard—even those who cannot physically speak.

Open to all types of caregivers, you can register by visiting www.aaawm.org/caregivers or calling (616) 456-5664.

01/05/2026

🖥️ CAPC Fireside Chat: Leading Through Change and Uncertainty in Palliative Care
OPEN TO ALL
🔗 https://www.capc.org/events/webinars/capc-fireside-chat-leading-through-change-and-uncertainty-in-palliative-care/

Join national leaders from Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for a fireside chat that reflects on how palliative care leaders can stay grounded and effective during times of uncertainty—maintaining clarity, confidence, and compassion while advancing the field.

Explore strategies to sustain team morale and well-being, foster collaboration across disciplines, and keep equity, quality, and patient-centered care at the heart of their work. The discussion will also highlight emerging opportunities for innovation, research, and shared leadership as palliative care continues to evolve within a changing health care landscape.

Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Brynn Bowman, Kristina Newport MD FAAHPM, HMDC

12/12/2025

In case you missed any of the Palliative Care Project ECHO Series presented by Trillium Institute for Michigan Center for Rural Health, here is the link for the recordings and slides:

The Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) has announced the rural communities to participate in the Cultivating Comfort: Enhancing Palliative Care in Rural Michigan, a rural-focused initiative aimed at expanding and strengthening palliative care services. This project is funded by the Michigan He...

12/08/2025

In this episode of Palliative Matters, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow welcome Dr. Andrea Wolf, a former surgical oncologist who made a powerful shift into holistic palliative care.

Dr. Wolf shares what led her to this transition, how she builds deep trust with patients, and why integrative approaches—like craniosacral therapy and hands-on healing—can make all the difference. She also highlights incredible patient stories, including avoiding major surgery and finding relief during cancer care.

🎧 Tune in to “Notes From The Field: A Surgeon’s Journey to Holistic Palliative Care” to hear how whole-person care is reshaping the palliative experience.

Former surgical oncologist Dr. Andrea Wolf joins Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow to share her journey into holistic palliative care. She discusses how trust, human touch, and integrative techniques—like craniosacral therapy—shape her work wi...

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