Providing "The Best Care Possible," a professional conference with Ira Byock, MD

Ira Byock, M.D., is Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Community and Family Medicine (Active) at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College and former Director of Palliative Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (2003-2013). Dr. Byock will be the keynote speaker at this professional conference “The Best Care Possible” on Monday, Oct. 8, from 8 a.m.-noon at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Dr. Byock will present, “The Best Care Possible: Clinical and Cultural Leadership in the 21^st Century," focusing on his quest to transform care through the end of life.

Everyone wants the best care possible for their family, friends and themselves through the end of life. This conference will highlight the best practices utilizing a systematic, interdisciplinary approach to care.

As one of the foremost palliative-care physicians in the country, Dr. Byock argues that how we die is among the biggest national crises facing us today. Byock’s first book, Dying Well, (1997) has become a standard in the field of hospice and palliative care. The Four Things That Matter Most (2004) is used as a counseling tool widely by palliative care and hospice programs, as well as within pastoral care. His most recent book, The Best Care Possible (March 2012), tackles the crisis that surrounds serious illness and dying in America and his quest to transform care through the end of life. It has been praised by the Wall Street Journal, the Economist and other major publications, and won the annual Books for a Better Life Award in the category of Wellness.

Fees: Physicians $60; Students $20; all other attendees $30. For additional information or to register, please go to www.medicine.uiowa.edu/cme and click on Upcoming Programs, or go directly to http://bit.ly/BestCareConference. The registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 5, 2018.

This special event is supported by the following organizations: Iowa City Hospice, University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Hills Bank and Trust, Mercy Iowa City, Oaknoll, US Bank, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa College of Nursing, Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, Prairie Lights, the Senior Center, the Iowa Writers’ House, and Little Village.