Bedside Matters
A Forum for Frontline Health Care Specialists
Contact Hours Offered
About Our Program
Frontline workers deal with difficult personal and emotional issues alongside administrative constraints that may impact time spent with patients.
Bedside Matters is a safe forum to openly discuss thought-provoking topical events and the social and emotional issues that often arise in caring for patients and families. The goals of the forum are to strengthen relationships between patients and caregivers and help preserve the human connection in health care.
We begin with each session with a VUMC patient case. After review, a panel of interdisciplinary health care workers provides their unique perspectives. We then open the discussion to our audience to ask questions and share their experiences.
We ask that all participants have an open mind, share honestly and be respectful when opinions vary from their own.
Virtual events are held the third Wednesday of every month from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
We look forward to your participation!
Suggestion for Bedside Matters?
Our programs include discussion of patients and situations arising from all entities across VUMC. If you are interested in suggesting or presenting a topic and/or participating as a panel member, please email: Dr. Walter Merrill
Contact Us
Contact Hour or registration questions?
Contact Hour Accreditation Statement If Contact Hours lists TBD: |
July Bedside Matters Event
THE ROAD TO NOWHERE: A REFLECTION ON CARING FOR A PATIENT WHOSE TREATMENT CHOICES DON'T MAKE SENSE TO US
We will present a case discussing a young adult with cancer who has opted out of curative intent treatment for gastric adenocarcinoma. We will reflect on the care team's perspective when a patient makes a treatment decision that we do not fully understand. Additionally, we will address the obstacles faced as palliative care providers when noncompliance interferes with our ability to safely and effectively manage symptoms in the outpatient setting.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
12:00 p.m.
Via TEAMS
TEAMS Registration
*Right-click on TEAMS link above and copy the hyperlink into Microsoft Edge if you are having trouble accessing the link with Google Chrome.
Need further assistance? Please reach out to Judy Ledgerwood at judy.ledgerwood@vumc.org
Panelists:
• Bethany Raffalovich, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, Supportive and Palliative Oncology Nurse Practitioner
• Emily Kobin, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Supportive & Palliative Oncology Clinic
• Rajiv Agarwal, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical Director of the Supportive & Palliative Oncology; Gastrointestinal Oncology
• Sara Martin, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical Director of Supportive & Palliative Oncology and Outpatient Palliative Care
• Heather Jackson PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP. Associate Professor of Nursing. Supportive and Palliative Oncology Nurse Practitioner
• Angela Fitzpatrick, MSN, FNP-BC. Gastrointestinal Oncology Nurse Practitioner
• Jeneth Aquino, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, AOCNP. Gastrointestinal Oncology Nurse Practitioner
• Mary Claire Sumner, MSN, FNP-BC. Gastrointestinal Oncology Nurse Practitioner
• Lindsay Grisanti, LCSW, OSW-C. Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center
• Amanda Toye, MD Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology