Welcome to Episode 50 of the HPNA Palliative Perspective podcast—a meaningful milestone, and one that gave us pause to reflect on the incredible leaders who’ve shaped the hospice and palliative care space. In early conversations about this episode, we considered dedicating it to Betty Ferrell, a visionary in the field and the longtime Editor-in-Chief of JHPN, the Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. 

But, in true Betty fashion, those close to her reminded us she prefers to stay out of the spotlight. So instead, we’re honoring her legacy in a way we think she’d appreciate: by celebrating the educators. 

In this episode, we're shining a light on the hospice and palliative nurse educators featured in an upcoming issue of JHPN—innovators who are creating new programs and pushing boundaries in their Schools of Nursing to bring both primary and specialty palliative care to the forefront of nursing education. Their work is not only advancing the field but also shaping the future of compassionate care. 

Join Andra Davis, PhD, MN, RN, and Megan Lippe, PhD, MSN, RN, ANEF, FPCN®, FAAN—guest editors of the November issue of JHPN—as they share powerful insights on preparing the next generation of nurses in hospice and palliative care. Educating future nurses requires more than just a solid curriculum—it demands mentorship, creativity, and a deep, ongoing commitment. In this episode, we explore why palliative care is no longer a “nice to have,” but a necessity in nursing education. From shifts in accreditation standards to real-world bedside challenges, Drs. Davis and Lippe discuss the essential role faculty and mentors play in helping students navigate the emotional, clinical, and human complexities of whole person care. We also explore how practicing nurses can be part of this movement—supporting learners and strengthening the future of compassionate care.

Podcast Notes/Links 

JPHN Article, releasing in Nov— https://journals.lww.com/jhpn/pages/default.aspx  

Betty Ferrell, speaking at HPNA Annual Conference, link 

Scope, Standards and Competencies for the Hospice & Palliative RN & APRN, link 

The Corner https://www.aacnnursing.org/elnec/elnec-faculty-corner 

Megan Lippe, PhD, MSN, RN, ANEF, FPCN®, FAAN

Andra Davis, PhD, MN, RN

Dr. Davis’s research centers on strengthening palliative care education, including revising national competency guidelines and developing outcome measures for undergraduate nursing programs. She is recognized for her leadership at regional and national levels in advancing the integration of palliative care into nursing curricula. Internationally, she collaborates with nursing colleagues in Thailand that expand access to palliative education, research, and caregiver wellbeing. Her scholarship also contributes to the evidence base for nurse-led, evidence-informed symptom management guides for patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANP

In this episode, Shena Gazaway joins us in a discussion of her nurse-led research, providing primary palliative care in patients’ homes— where this care is urgently needed but often overlooked. We explore how she leads serious illness conversations, manages complex chronic conditions, and builds trust with patients and families to ensure care aligns with their values.  

From qualitative studies to pilot-tested toolkits that empower patients and caregivers—especially in underserved Black communities—we explore what it truly means to lead with empathy, equity, and evidence. 

Whether you're a nephrology nurse wondering how to deepen your role or a provider curious about innovative palliative care pathways, this episode offers practical insights, personal stories, and a call for more providers in this vital space. 

Shena Gazaway PhD, RN, CHPN® 

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANP

What role can psychedelics play in helping terminally ill patients face death with peace, clarity, and meaning? 

In this episode, we welcome Hannah Whitmore, PhD, RN, CHPN®, a Registered Nurse and PhD researcher whose work—The Pragmatism of Palliative Care—explores the clinical potential of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) to support death acceptance in patients at the end of life. Dr. Whitmore brings a compassionate and evidence-based lens to a topic that challenges long-standing models of care, offering insight into how PAT could be thoughtfully integrated into palliative and hospice settings. 

Together, we explore: 

This episode is a grounded, deeply human conversation at the intersection of medicine, mortality, and meaning—guided by a nurse scientist dedicated to easing suffering when it matters most. 

Hannah Whitmore, PhD, RN, CHPN®  
Certified hospice and palliative care nurse and clinician scientist, Dr. Whitmore supports individuals, families, and healthcare teams navigating serious illness and end-of-life transitions. Currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), she combines hands-on experience with a holistic approach informed by the latest research, mindfulness practices, and symptom management expertise. Her research focuses on symptom science and the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapy to address existential distress, depression, and promote death acceptance in seriously ill individuals. A member of Sigma Global Nursing Excellence, Dr. Whitmore guides healthcare teams and provides culturally sensitive care to diverse populations. She collaborates with healthcare organizations to enhance palliative care services and empowers individuals and teams to find resilience and dignity in complex end-of-life situations. 

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANP

In this special episode, recorded on June 24 and released on June 25, we bring you a timely dispatch from Washington, D.C., where the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) leadership and staff engaged in direct advocacy on Capitol Hill.  

Join Gayle Gerdes, Vice President of Health Policy Source and consultant to HPNA, and HPNA Manager of Advocacy and Health Policy Sarah Potter as they reflect on their experiences meeting with congressional staffers about HPNA’s public policy priorities and amplifying the voices of hospice and palliative care nurses. This episode offers an insider look at the policy priorities that matter in 2025, from protecting federal programs that support nursing research, education, and workforce development to enactment of policies that improve access to quality hospice and palliative care—and how HPNA is uniquely positioned as an interprofessional voice in the conversation.  

Key highlights include:  

Whether you’re new to policy or a seasoned advocate, this episode will leave you inspired to raise your voice—and equipped to do so effectively.  

Gayle Gerdes  
Gayle Gerdes is Vice President at Health Policy Source, a government relations firm in Washington, D.C. that provides strategic consulting and lobbying services to a broad group of clients in the health care space. Her health care background is an extensive mix of government and private sector experience. She spent several years on Capitol Hill where she worked in both the House and the Senate focusing her time on health care legislation. Later she moved to The Concord Coalition where she worked with the media, Members of Congress, and related organizations to educate the public on the federal budget and deficit. In particular, she delved into the relationship of Medicare and Social Security with the federal budget. In addition, Gayle has experience serving on the board of the Los Alamos Medical Center, and she has recently consulted for The Brooks Group and The Concord Coalition. Gayle graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B.A. in English and Communications. 

Sarah Potter
Sarah Potter is the Manager of Advocacy and Health Policy at the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA). Sarah has more than 20 years of experience in government relations, health policy, and communications, with a focus on healthcare workforce issues, Medicare, Medicaid, children’s health, quality improvement, and the Affordable Care Act. She has developed and implemented state and federal advocacy campaigns and advocacy education programs for several national organizations, including the Pew Charitable Trusts, Independent Sector, the Premier Healthcare Alliance, and the Brookings Institution. Sarah began her career on Capitol Hill as a legislative and communications staffer for Rep. Karen McCarthy of Missouri and Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and holds dual degrees in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Missouri  

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANP

In this episode, we hear from Deb Russell, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, APRN-CNP, ACHPN® with more than 20 years in the field, currently leading care in an outpatient, harm-reduction-based palliative clinic. She provides palliative support to patients undergoing active cancer treatment who are also living with substance use disorders—a population with complex and often unmet needs. 

Deb shares firsthand insight into: 

Deb shares the unique challenges and clinical considerations—of meeting this patient population where they are—safely managing pain, communication, and care coordination. This conversation offers practical insights and compassionate strategies for anyone caring for patients with co-occurring serious illness and SUD. 

Deb Russell, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, APRN-CNP, ACHPN®

With over 18 years of experience mostly inpatient, now in the ambulatory setting, Deb works closely with the interdisciplinary team to develop care plans that improve patient outcomes. Deb is passionate about bridging the gap between oncology and addiction, advocating for treatment approaches that empower patients throughout their journey. 

Deb has co-authored a paper “Creating a Palliative Care Clinic for Patients with Cancer and Substance Use Disorder” and presented a poster at the Oncology Nursing Congress on” Nurse Practitioner Integration in a Multidisciplinary Team Caring for Patients with Cancer and Addiction”. 

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANP

In this deeply personal and resonant episode, longtime hospice nurse and podcast host of The Heart of Hospice, Helen Bauer, BSN RN CHPN®, shares an intimate look at the soul of hospice nursing — the part that’s rarely documented but always deeply felt. With more than seven years behind the mic and a career alongside patients and families at the bedside, Helen reflects on the intimacy and intensity of hospice care, and the challenges of translating those sacred moments into clinical notes and checkboxes. 

Together, we explore the personhood-centered mindset that defines exceptional hospice nursing: arriving as a blank slate, open and eager to learn who the patient is, then crafting care that honors the individual’s story, values, and needs. Helen speaks candidly about the emotional toll of the work, the cumulative grief nurses carry, and the resilience it takes to keep showing up — not just for patients, but for ourselves. 

Listeners will hear reflections on: 

This episode is a tribute to hospice nurses everywhere — a reminder that your work matters, your presence is powerful, and you are just as important as the care you provide. 

Whether you're a hospice nurse, a health care professional, or a family member navigating end-of-life care, this episode will speak to the heart of what it means to accompany someone at life’s end — with compassion, courage, and creativity. 

Helen Bauer, BSN RN CHPN® 

As the founder of Hospice Navigation Services, Helen provides unbiased, expert guidance and support for individuals and families navigating the complexities of hospice and serious illness. Her work as an End of Life Educator and Advocate focuses on empowering caregivers and hospice workers, ensuring that those facing serious illness experience the best possible care at the end of life. Known for her compassion, empathy, and respect, she remains a trusted resource in the field of hospice care. 

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANP

In this episode, we explore the profound impact of Kelli Anspach MSN, CV-BC, NPD-BC, CHPN®'s thriving and sustainable training program, which has successfully trained more than 1,000 hospital nurses over the past 10 years through the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) program, founded by Betty Ferrell PhD, MSN, CHPN®. By providing nurses with the essential skills and knowledge to lead compassionate palliative care conversations, this initiative empowers staff to facilitate critical "goals of care" discussions with patients and families. In this episode, Kelli and Brett discuss how this training not only enhances collaboration with palliative care teams but also drives improved patient satisfaction and better overall care outcomes.

Additionally, the conversation takes a closer look at the return on investment (ROI) for hospitals and demonstrates how training nurses across all service lines is a cost-effective strategy to elevate patient care, boost nurse confidence, and foster a more supportive health care environment. With the right education, staff can empower frontline nurses across various serious illness service lines to make a lasting, positive impact on patient care.

HPNA is proud to partner with Betty Ferrell and City of Hope to offer virtual ELNEC Train-the-Trainer courses twice per year. Visit the HPNA website for more information on upcoming courses and to learn how you can make a difference at the system level in your own health care organization.

Kelli Maher Anspach, MSN, CV-BC, NPD-BC, CHPN®

Kelli has her BSN and MSN from Drexel University. She holds multiple certifications: Cardiac Vascular Certified Nurse, Nursing Professional Development Specialist, Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. Kelli has her ONS chemotherapy administration certification, is a certified Aromatherapy provider, and a Level 2 Reiki practitioner.

Kelli has planned, presented, hosted, and facilitated many conferences from Women and Heart Disease to Nursing Research to Integrative Therapies but the most rewarding was her work with End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC).

Kelli implemented ELNEC across a five-hospital health system from 2013-2018.  This included securing grant money for the project and educating more than 900 staff in end-of-life patient care. Kelli was the Winner of International ELNEC Award for excellence in education, has as presented at local and national conferences, and is published in her field. 

Kelli continues to be a strong advocate for palliative care and started a palliative care champion model for nurses in her health system to support identified knowledge and practice gaps.

Kelli is a Nurse Residency Facilitator where she helps to support and mentor new graduate nurses in their transition to their first year as a professional nurse and lectures for the program on End-of-Life Nursing and Self Care. She teaches classes in oncology, telemetry nursing, and preceptor development for her health system.

Kelli is a mother of three, loves to dance and hike, and enjoys her day-to-day role as a Clinical Nurse Educator at Lankenau Medical Center, part of Main Line Health System.

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANP

Join us for an insightful episode featuring seasoned Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Meggan Mikal-DeMont DNP, APRN-FPA, PCNS-BC, CPNP-PC, CHPPN ®, FPCN® with more than10 years of experience in palliative care and pain management. In this whole-hearted interview, she reflects on her husband’s nine-month experience with Stage IV colorectal cancer and offers an insider’s perspective as both a palliative care clinician and caregiver- how as a couple they navigated the miracle they were hoping for within the system, how these experiences have transformed Meggan's clinical practice, and how life has unfolded since then. Listen for what the health care teams did well, areas where they could improve, and how administrators can champion hospice and palliative care services to make end of life easier for patients and their families.  

Meggan Mikal DNP, APRN-FPA, PCNS-BC, CPNP-PC, CHPPN®, FPCN®
Meggan Mikal-DeMont is the nurse practitioner of Pediatric Advance Care Team - Palliative & Pain at Advocate Children’s Hospitals in Oak Lawn, IL. 

Pursuing her interest in working with families that have children living with complex and series illnesses, Meggan has completed a fellowship in pediatric neurodevelopmental disabilities through the Illinois Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. She also has completed a fellowship in pediatric palliative and hospice nursing through University of Illinois in Chicago and through the Coleman Foundation. This led her to also become a board-certified pediatric hospice and palliative nurse in 2009. 

Meggan, along with an interdisciplinary committee, started the Pediatric Palliative and Supportive Care program at Advocate Children’s Hospital - Oak Lawn in October of 2012.  Her background as a pediatric intensive care nurse is where her love and passion for working with children with critical and chronic illness grew.  She is an End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) trainer and received that training at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, TN. 

Meggan is an active member of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) where she serves on the Advocacy and Legislative Committee. She participated as both an item writer and chair for the pediatric hospice and palliative nurse exam from 2010-2016. Meggan was also recently inducted as a Fellow of Palliative and Hospice Nursing (FPCN®) and is so thrilled to be recognized for her true passion and purpose to this field.  

Becoming a widow and a solo parent in 2017 after her husband Andrew died from advanced colorectal cancer has only grown her passion for delivering and advocating for nothing short of the best delivery of palliative and hospice care. Meggan is blessed to be given a new chapter and now lives with her husband Nate, eight year old son Andy, bonus seven year old daughter Elizabeth, and two and a half year old rescue dog Zoey, in Plainfield.  

Within palliative care, Meggan has a strong interest in the areas of patient-provider boundaries, patient and family advocacy, and the delivery of diverse, equitable, and inclusive care.  

Meggan believes that caring for children with serious illnesses truly starts at the grassroots of relationships. She believes that the family is the center of the care being provided and it is a relationship built on partnership. Helping children live life to their fullest ability without burdensome symptoms is something that she strives to achieve each day. 

Brett Snodgrass, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN®, FAANP

In this episode, we hear from nurses and nurse practitioners who attended the 2025 Annual Assembly of Hospice & Palliative Care. Whether it’s their first time attending or they attend this conference year after year, they share what brings them to the event, what inspires them, and the key takeaways they plan to bring back to their clinical practice. Tune in for an inside look at how the Annual Assembly is shaping the future of hospice and palliative care.  

In this episode, we explore two innovative projects—Project UPHOLDS (Utilizing Palliative care for Heart failure Optimized using Lay navigators to Decrease Suffering) and Project ADAPT HF (ADdressing All Pain Through navigator-led palliative care optimized for Heart Failure)—which focus on utilizing community-based lay navigators to optimize palliative care for heart failure, especially among older Black adults. We delve into the importance of shared decision-making and how co-designed interventions are shaping pain management trials, with a special emphasis on inclusivity and addressing under-representation in research. Rachel shares her personal journey and career trajectory, highlighting the privilege of being able to advocate for these communities and the impact of culturally responsive care.

Rachel Duncan Wells, PhD, MSN, RN, CNL