Palliative Care Workgroup
Palliative care improves quality of life for people with cancer and their families — at any stage of the disease
The Palliative Care Workgroup is committed to expanding access to supportive services that address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients while also providing guidance and relief for caregivers. Our members work to increase awareness of palliative care as an essential part of comprehensive cancer treatment, promote best practices among healthcare providers, and reduce barriers that prevent timely referrals. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, we strive to ensure that every Georgian facing cancer can benefit from compassionate, patient-centered care that prioritizes comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
Palliative Care News
Dr. Kim Curseen Featured on GeriPal Live Podcast
The Georgia Cancer Plan’s Palliative Care Workgroup Chair, Dr. Kim Curseen, recently joined the GeriPal Live Podcast to discuss the state of palliative care training and how it impacts patients living with serious illness. Dr. Curseen selected for discussion a recent...
NGHS celebrates groundbreaking of the region’s first hospice house
Construction on Northeast Georgia Health System’s (NGHS) Chuck and Diane Stephens Hospice House is underway, bringing peaceful, end-of-life care one step closer to reality at the region’s first, freestanding hospice house. The groundbreaking ceremony for the facility,...
New Winship web tool helps Georgians find palliative care services
Patients, families and referring physicians now have a new online source for locating palliative care services in Georgia. Developed by Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, More Access to Palliative Care Georgia (MAPGA) is a searchable database of...
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Workgroup Resources
Palliative Care ECHO
The Georgia Department of Public Health’s Palliative Care Project ECHO is a virtual learning community designed to support health care providers across Georgia in delivering high-quality care to patients with serious illness. Through interactive, case-based sessions, participants gain practical knowledge, share experiences, and build connections with peers and subject matter experts.
This series is especially valuable for primary care providers and care teams, as well as specialists in fields such as oncology, cardiology, pulmonology, neurology, nephrology, surgery, and critical care. Session topics are shaped by provider input and statewide collaboration, ensuring content is relevant to the real-world needs of those caring for patients and families.
Palliative Care ECHO sessions are held virtually on the third Tuesday of every other month from 12:00–1:00 PM (EST).
Sign up for upcoming sessions below or visit the the department’s ECHO page to view past presentations or request a presentation for your organization or community.
Palliative Care Resources
The Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is a nonprofit that provides professional training for healthcare providers and offers guidance to families making care decisions, promoting compassionate, comprehensive support that addresses medical, emotional, and spiritual needs during life’s final stages.
The Center to Advance Palliative Care is a national organization dedicated to increasing the availability of quality, equitable health care for people living with serious illness by providing health care professionals and organizations with the training, tools, and technical assistance necessary to effectively meet this need.
VitalTalk is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing communication skills among healthcare professionals, focusing on serious illness conversations to improving patient and family experiences.
The Conversation Project is a public engagement initiative of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, dedicated to helping individuals discuss and document their end-of-life care preferences to ensure those wishes are understood and respected.
The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), leads nursing research to solve pressing health challenges and inform practice and policy—optimizing health and advancing health equity into the future.
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is a professional organization dedicated to advancing high-quality, equitable, interprofessional hospice and palliative care across all settings.
The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) is a national professional organization dedicated to advancing nursing expertise in hospice and palliative care through education, advocacy, leadership, and research.
GeriPal is a podcast and online resource that brings together experts in geriatrics, hospice, and palliative care to discuss topics relevant to healthcare professionals, aiming to enhance knowledge and improve patient care.
Workgroup Leadership
Dr. Kimberly A. Curseen, M.D., FAAHPM
Associate Professor of Palliative Medicine at Emory University; Director of Supportive & Palliative Care Outpatient Services at Emory Healthcare and Winship Cancer Institute
Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Dr. Curseen leads comprehensive oncology support services. Named a “Palliative Medicine Inspirational Leader Under 40” and consistently featured among Atlanta Magazine’s Top Doctors, she also contributes to several state and national organizations advancing palliative care.
Dr. Ashima Lal, M.D.
Associate Professor of Palliative Medicine, Emory University; Associate Medical Director, Grady Palliative Care Service
A board-certified internist and palliative care specialist, Dr. Lal leads third-year clerkship education and helps oversee Grady’s palliative services. Her innovations include launching a telepalliative elective during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she plays an educational leadership role in Georgia’s Palliative Care ECHO. Her recent scholarly work spans ethics, spiritual care, trainee distress, and financial hardship in palliative contexts.
Paula Sanders
Executive Director at Georgia Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and POLST Collaborative
With a background in healthcare policy, hospice administration, and statewide coalition-building, Sanders advances systems that support high-quality serious illness care. She leads efforts to strengthen advance care planning, expand provider education, and promote adoption of Georgia’s POLST form, while representing Georgia in national hospice and palliative care forums.