Literature Review

Terminally ill Stanford professor teaches class about dying from cancerCBS News, Bay Area, CA; by Elizabeth Cook; 3/13/25 A Stanford University professor's new curriculum explores the multiple aspects and phases of a person dying of cancer, and it comes from a person with first-hand knowledge. Dr. Bryant Lin has been a professor for almost two decades. He's used to being the teacher, not the subject of his classes. But that all changed in 2024 when he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. ... The diagnosis was a dose of cruel irony. Lin co-founded the Center for Asian Health Research and Education. One of the priorities for the foundation is researching non-small cell adenocarcinoma, also known as "never-smoker lung cancer," the same cancer diagnosis that Lin received. ... The class is called "From diagnosis to dialogue: A doctor's real-time battle with cancer." Within minutes of being posted, the class and the waitlist were full. ... The 10-week course covers the entire spectrum of cancer as seen through the eyes of someone who is living it. ... Stanford University recorded every session of the class so that they could live on for future physicians. If you would like to watch them, they can be found on YouTube. 

Teleios University Graduates 2025 Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN), Hendersonville, NC; by Tina Gentry; 12/19/25 Teleios Collaborative Network (TCN) announced its 2025 Teleios University (TU) graduates. Eighteen individuals successfully completed the year-long program, earning their certificates in leadership excellence. TU’s Leadership Excellence program is unlike any other. This one-year course is provided through monthly webinars, experiential monthly activities, quarterly challenges and more. It culminates with a capstone project and earns each participant who completes the assignments a certification in leadership excellence. [List of persons]

LifeBridge Health taps Hopkins executive as new president and CEO The Daily Record; by Daily Record Staff; 12/17/25 Jennifer Nickoles will succeed Neil Meltzer, who is retiring after 13 years in the position, according to a news release. Nickoles joins LifeBridge from Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where she has served as president. Her career spans nearly 30 years with Johns Hopkins Medicine in a variety of operations and leadership roles. Nickoles will assume her role on March 1. ... LifeBridge has grown into a system with five hospitals, hundreds of physician offices, more than 14,000 employees, and a wide range of programs from urgent care, hospice care, senior living and a fitness center.

Hospice, heal thyselfHealth Affairs; by Ira Byock; 12/18/25Placeholder - working on summary

David J. Jones appointed CEO of Sacred Heart, parent of Faith and Freudenthal Home Health & Hospice EIN Presswire; by Creach Family Holdings; 12/16/25 Sacred Heart, the parent organization of Faith Home Health & Hospice and Freudenthal Home Health & Hospice, is proud to announce the appointment of David J. Jones as its new Chief Executive Officer. David brings more than 22 years of experience in home health, hospice, and therapy services to the role.

Small but mighty: 5 lessons from smaller teams delivering high-quality palliative care CAPC; by Megan Hesketh; 12/16/25 ... High-quality palliative care isn’t defined by program size or budget—it’s defined by consistency, collaboration, and a shared commitment to patients and families. Across the country, smaller palliative care programs are demonstrating what’s possible when teams focus on training, teamwork, and outcomes that matter. In summer 2025, CAPC spoke with twenty smaller organizations—community hospitals, critical access hospitals, independent hospices, and small practice groups serving fewer than 150 beds—to understand how they sustain their commitment to high-quality palliative care. Their experiences highlight what makes these programs effective: clear structures, intentional learning, and a deep sense of accountability to their communities.

Southern Care Collaborative a model for regional hospice collectives Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/12/25 As nonprofits seek to build scale in order to compete with larger competitors, some are banding together in regional collaboratives. In these efforts, the Southern Care Collaborative, founded in 2022, could serve as a model. The organization includes 11 hospice members operating in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The hospices are pooling resources and joining forces to build economies of scale and payer relationships without any change in ownership. 

Providence Care appoints Werner Freymann, Jr. as new Chief Executive Officer Morningstar; by Business Wire; 12/10/25 Providence Care, a leading hospice, palliative and primary care for seniors organization, today announced the appointment of Werner Freymann, Jr. as its new Chief Executive Officer. In the role of CEO, Werner will lead the company’s strategic direction and drive continued growth and innovation across its continuum of care for the elderly wherever they call home. Mr. Freymann brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience, previously serving as SVP of Discovery at Home. 

5 leadership trends that could shape 2026 Forbes; by Sally Percy; 12/8/25 ... [Given] the rapid pace of change, how should leaders prepare for the year ahead? Here are five key trends they should be aware of – leadership trends that could shape 2026:

Award-winning documentary chronicles hospice nurse’s final 39 days Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) and TGBeyond, Washington, DC; Press Release; 12/1/25Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) and TGBeyond today announced the release of A Butterfly Has Been Released, an award-winning short documentary, alongside a new professional continuing education program, From Caregiver to Patient: Hospice Nurse Allyson’s Final 39 Days. Pre-purchase is available now, with formal release in January 2026. The 36-minute film follows Allyson, a hospice nurse with more than 20 years of experience guiding patients and families through death and grief, as she navigates her own final 39 days after a life-limiting diagnosis. Through candid kitchen-table conversations, a 150-person living funeral, and a natural green burial, Allyson demonstrates what she spent decades teaching others: live with purpose, presence, and connection until the very last day.Editor's Note: Is the concept of a "living funeral" new to you? I've seen this moving film several times, with a group discussion among healthcare professionals led by its producers Jason Zamer and Barry Koch. Click here for its 2-minute trailer.

Poured out and given: The lived experience of self-care among hospice nurses in rural Appalachia Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing; by Amanda Camden, Sandra P Thomas, Lisa C Lindley, Lisa Davenport, Ali Winters; 12/5/25, Online ahead of print Hospice nurses encounter profound challenges that make self-care both essential and deeply complex. ... The findings suggest that practicing self-care must be augmented by other actions such as systemic changes, caseload limits, leadership training, and structured emotional support systems. This study highlights the urgent need for health care systems to prioritize hospice nurses' well-being and help sustain compassionate nursing care.

LAVNS appoints Ruben Vasquez as its executive director Daily Post, Los Alamos County, NM; 12/4/25 Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. (LAVNS), “the community’s trusted not-for-profit partner in home health and hospice care since 1973”, has announced the appointment of Ruben A. Vasquez as executive director. This leadership transition marks the beginning of a revitalized strategic chapter for LAVNS as it heads into 2026, focused on strengthening its workforce, modernizing operations, and reaffirming its commitment to the community it has served for more than five decades. 

Nurse executive graduate brings life to hospice care  Augusta University - JAGWire, Augusta, GA; by Nina Siso; 12/2/25 When someone says the word “hospice,” words like “illness” or “dying” might come to mind. But for Ashley Perkins, it’s more than that. “We bring life to the rest of the time you have. It’s about what’s important to you, and how we can help you with that,” Perkins said. Perkins is graduating from the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Executive program through Augusta University’s College of Nursing. The program is designed exclusively for chief nursing officers, vice presidents of nursing and other nursing leaders aspiring to pursue executive-level nursing positions. Already a vice president of hospice services at a not-for-profit organization, Perkins pursued an advanced degree to be able to contribute more.