The Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life is pleased to share with you selected items from Key Topics on End-of-Life Care for African Americans, an intellectual discourse derived from The Last Miles of the Way Home 2004 national conference to improve end-of-life care for African Americans.

Chapter 1

Historical Perspectives on Racial Attitudes and the Impact of Health Care Disparities on End-of-Life Care in the African American Community

• Harold Freeman, M.D.
  Ralph Lauren Cancer and Prevention Center, New York, N.Y.
• Richard Payne, M.D.
  Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life

Commentary
Kristy Woods, M.D.
Maya Angelou Center for Minority Health, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, N.C.

Chapter 2

African American Perspectives on Pain & Palliative Care

• Richard Payne, M.D.
  Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life, Durham, N.C.
• LaVera Crawley, M.D.
  Stanford University, Oakland, Calif.

Commentary
September Williams, M.D.
Laguna Honda Hospital, San Francisco, Calif.

Chapter 3

Palliative & Hospice Care in HIV/AIDs-A Community CarePerspective

• William Johnson, M.D.
  Medical Director VITAS Healthcare Corporation, Chicago, Ill.
• Bethsheba Johnson, MSN,CN.C.,GNP-BC
  Luck HIV Health Care Center, Chicago, Ill.
• Pernessa Seele
  Balm of Gilead, New York, N.Y.

Commentary
Beny Primm, M.D.
Addiction Research and Treatment Center, New York, N.Y.

Chapter 4

Spiritual Care Near Life’s End including Grief and Loss in the AfricanAmerican Community

• Gwendolyn London, D.Min.
  London & Associates, Silver Spring, Md.
• Robert Washington, Ph.D., M.Div.
  Montgomery Hospice, Rockville, Md.

Chapter 5

End-of-Life Care Ministry in the African American Church

• Kelvin Calloway, D.Min.
  AME Church, Los Angeles, Calif.
• Gwendolyn London, D.Min.
  London & Associates, Silver Spring, Md.

Chapter 6

African American Perspectives on Advance Care Planning

• Gloria Ramsey, R.N., JD
  USC Center for Health Disparities, Silver Spring, Md.
• Sharon R. Latson
  VITAS Healthcare Corporation, Chicago, Ill.
• Camilla Hudson
  Patient Advocate, Chicago, Ill.

Chapter 7

Historical & Sociological Perspectives on Death and Dying in the African-American Community

• Karla Halloway, Ph.D.
  Duke University, Durham, N.C.

Commentary
LaVone Hazell
Palliative Care Training and Education Program (PTEP), New York, N.Y.

Chapter 8

The Future of Hospice Care for African Americans-Clinical, Policy & Caregiver Perspectives

• Bernice Harper, Ph.D.
  Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Washington, D.C.
• Michelle-Grant Ervin, M.D.
  VITAS Healthcare Corporation, Washington, D.C.
• Fay Burrs, R.N., B.S.N.
  National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization HPCO, Alexandria, Va.

Commentary
Congresswoman Donna Christian Christiansen, M.D.
United States, Virgin Islands

Chapter 9

Theological Perspectives on Death and Dying for African Americans: Christian Perspective and Islamic Perspectives

• Paul Smith, D.Min.
  First Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Ibrahim Abdul Malik, Ed.D.
  Imams Council of New York, N.Y.
• Jeremiah Wright, Jr, D.Min.
  Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Ill.

Chapter 10

Family and Psycho-Social Dimensions of Death & Dying in African-Americans

• Joseph Dancy, Jr., Ph.D., M.Div., Th.M.
  Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Va.
• Willie Davis, Ph.D.
  National Association of Black Social Workers, Lansing, Michigan

Commentary
Andrea King Collier, Author, Flint, Michigan

Chapter 11

Working Together: Organizing the Community to Effect Change in End-of-Life Care for African Americans

• Myra Christopher
  The Center for Practical Ethics, Kansas City, MO
• Deacon Rosalyn Priester
  Trinity United Church of Christ, Amani Trinity United Community Hospice Health Corporation, Chicago, Ill.
• Diane Deese
  VITAS Healthcare Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

Chapter 12

Case Study/The Last Miles of the Way Home Town Hall Meeting (pdf)

• Moderator: George A. Strait Jr.
  Assistant Vice Chancellor Public Affairs, University of California, Berkley, Calif.

Biographies

Resources