October | SUMMIT
2026 Virtual Fall Summit
Date:
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Friday, October 16, 2026
Location:
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Online via Zoom, Live Attendance Only (for CE Credits, Zoom display name must match the full name that is submitted on the registration form)
Time:
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Welcome begins at 9:30am/12:30pm ET
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Sessions will be from 10am PT-3pm PT/1pm ET-6pm ET
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Each of the three sessions will run for one and a half hours, with two 15-minute breaks during the Summit.
Join SWHPN for the Fall Virtual Summit 2026
Hospice & Palliative Care Social Workers navigate complex systems, interprofessional dynamics, and face ethical standards daily. This virtual summit is designed specifically to support your professional growth, expand your network, and strengthen the community of clinicians dedicated to person-centered care.
2026 Summit Highlights:
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Identity formation within the interdisciplinary team: Explore how social work maintains distinct voice, ethical framework, and professional identity while collaborating closely with the interprofessional team.
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"Fabric of Our Journey: Centering Black Voices in Serious Illness Care": “Fabric of Our Journey” centers Black clinicians’ and parents’ voices in serious illness care. This docuseries raises awareness of palliative care as a profession within the Black community and inspires the next generation of clinicians.
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Ethical considerations and social work billing: Discuss ethical considerations, concerns, and positive outcomes in social work billing to sustain practice and honoring the profession's core commitment to patients' well-being.
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Why Attend?
You do not have to navigate the complexities of palliative care and hospice social work alone. Join colleagues from across the field to earn continuing education credits, discover innovative approaches to common challenges, and gain actionable resources for your practice. Through shared learning and meaningful connection, you'll expand your professional network, exchange valuable insights, and find renewed inspiration and support from a community of peers.
Secure your spot today to invest in our practice and increase support through collective unity.
Thank You to Our Summit Sponsor!
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November | CE WEBINAR
November Webinar:
Estranged Body Parts: Supporting Patient Decision-Making by Applying a Grief Framework
Date & Time: Thursday November 19th, 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET - 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET
Pricing: SWHPN Members - $25 | Non Members - $45
Presented By: Delia Cortez, MSW, LCSW, APHSW-C
Patients facing illness, injury, amputation, or other significant changes to their bodies often experience grief that extends beyond physical loss. Changes in function, appearance, independence, and identity can create a sense of estrangement from one's own body and significantly impact coping and healthcare decision-making. This presentation explores the concept of "estranged body parts" through a grief-informed social work lens. Participants will learn to identify grief responses associated with bodily loss, assess the psychosocial factors influencing decision-making, and apply practical interventions to support patients and families as they navigate complex medical choices. Through a case example and discussion, attendees will gain strategies to facilitate adaptation, promote self-determination, and provide compassionate, person-centered care.
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Learning Objectives:
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Raise awareness about the difficulties faced by those undergoing an amputation.
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Explore methods to assist individuals in finding meaning during their amputation journey.
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Recognize the importance of early grief work prior to an amputation by applying Worden's Four Grief Tasks.
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About the Speaker: Delia Cortez, MSW, LCSW, APHSW-C
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Delia Cortez, has been a Clinical Social Worker at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center for 18 years and a member of its inpatient palliative care team since 2016. She completed advanced palliative care training through the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute and is a graduate of the post-master's leadership fellowship at the NYU Silver Zelda Foster Studies Program. Delia is dedicated to supporting patients and families facing serious illness and is passionate about clinical supervision, mentoring, and teaching.
December | CE WEBINAR
December CE Webinar:
Centering the Young Person’s Voice: Communication, Family Dynamics, and Palliative Care for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer
Date & Time: Wednesday, December 2, 2026 , 10:00 am - 11:00am PT / 1:00pm - 2:00pm ET
Pricing: SWHPN Members - FREE | Non Members - $45
Presented By: Dr. Anao Zhang
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Learning Objectives:
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Identify developmental and psychosocial needs that shape palliative care experiences for adolescents and young adults with cancer.
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Apply communication strategies that center young people’s voices while addressing caregiver concerns and differences in care preferences.
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Describe social work approaches to advance care planning and advocacy that align care with young people’s values, goals, and priorities.
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Dr. Anao Zhang is a psychosocial oncologist and licensed clinical social worker specializing in the mental health and survivorship needs of adolescents and young adults with cancer. His clinical work emphasizes integrated, evidence-based psychosocial care that addresses the emotional, social, and developmental challenges of living with a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Zhang is a board-certified oncology social worker and an academy-certified cognitive-behavioral therapist, with advanced training in cognitive-behavioral therapy for individuals with cancer and solution focused brief therapy. His approach is informed by the social determinants of youth health, recognizing how social conditions shape psychological well-being, access to care, and survivorship experiences. At the University of Washington School of Social Work, Dr. Zhang holds the Lynn Behar Endowed Professorship in Psychosocial Oncology and directs the Center for Interdisciplinary Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care Research and Practice. He advances interdisciplinary research and professional training to strengthen psychosocial oncology and palliative care services. An intervention researcher with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Zhang develops and evaluates mental health interventions for people affected by cancer, particularly younger patients. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of Psycho-Oncology, contributing to the evidence base that informs compassionate, clinically effective care for individuals navigating cancer treatment and life beyond diagnosis.
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June | ANNUAL FORUM
2027 SWHPN Annual Forum
Listening with Purpose: Centering Voices that Shape Compassionate Care
Date & Time: Tuesday, June 22, 2027 - Thursday, June 24, 2027
Location: Denver, Colorado
The 2027 theme is "Listening with Purpose: Centering Voices That Shape Compassionate Care” This conference aims to bring together palliative and hospice social workers to explore the power of connection, resilience, and shared purpose. In a care landscape shaped by systemic inequities, shifting policies, and ongoing challenges in service delivery, this forum provides a space to reflect, learn, and grow together. Through expert-led sessions and engaging dialogue, we seek to empower participants and strengthen our collective commitment to equitable, compassionate, and person-centered care.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION
Continuing Education Information
Social Work Hospice + Palliative Care Network (SWHPN), #1716, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) www.aswb.org, through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Social Work Hospice + Palliative Care Network aka SWHPN maintains responsibility for the program. ASWB Approval Period: 7/18/2026 – 7/18/2029.
Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval for continuing education credits.