Your connection to End-of-Life Care Educational Resources
Below, you can learn more about Dr. Kevin Dieter and his approach to hospice care through videos, podcasts, journal articles, and samples of coursework he has created. Feel free to contact Dr. Dieter with questions or to schedule a presentation.
Interviews, podcasts & videos
Dr. Kevin Dieter speaks about his journey into hospice medicine.
In 2019, Dr. Dieter had the opportunity to share his journey with colleagues at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) when he received the Josepfina B. Magno Distinguished Hospice Physician Award.
What is a Good Death?
A four-part podcast series from the Sacred Art of Living Center with Dr. Kevin Dieter
It is almost cliche to hear that we are a death-denying society. Carl Jung observed that, ‘America is the world’s first culture that believes death is an option… such is our unqualified belief in the power of science.’ This podcast series gets beneath this illusion through a series of inspiring and challenging conversations with Dr. Kevin Dieter, and acclaimed hospice physician, and Richard Groves, founder of the Sacred Art of Living Center in Bend Oregon.
Part 1: Facing Our Fears
Part 2: The Dying Are Our Teachers
Part 3: Walking Each Other Home
Part 4: Dying is Ultimately a Spiritual Experience
Dr. Dieter discusses questions and misconceptions about hospice.
In this Q&A with Hospice of the Western Reserve, Dr. Dieter answers questions from the community about hospice and palliative care.
We Are the Medicine.
In this Tedx talk, Dr. Kevin Dieter shares he has learned from his patients and how we can cultivate a new approach to the dying process.
Witnessing End-of-Life Experiences
In this news segment, Dr. Dieter and other hospice caregivers discuss what its like to witness the end-of-life experiences of patients.
Coursework created by Dr. Dieter for medical students & hospice volunteers
Being with Dying
Illustration by David Pfendler
Dr. Kevin Dieter developed this virtual course for medical and pharmacy students at NEOMED. A series of interactive modules gives students the opportunity to learn to be present with the dying.
Then, in collaboration with illustrator David Pfendler, and using the same theme, he created a nine-module resource for volunteer education at Grace House Akron, a community hospice facility. These modules provide a simple introduction to the foundational concepts involved in being with a dying person.
An Anamcara Experience:
Introduction to Becoming a Soul Friend
This course was co-created by Dr. Dieter and Margaret Sanders and is offered to 4th-year medical students at the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).
Faculty: Kevin Dieter, MD and Margaret Sanders, MA, LSW
Anamcara is an old Gaelic word meaning “soul friend.” In ancient times the Celts with influences from the Middle East, created the role of Anamcara as a life counsellor and spiritual guide. By the year 1000, Irish Anamcara extended their influence throughout the mainland of Europe, especially among the newly established hospices. Anamcara earned a reputation for their extraordinary skills as spiritual midwives to the dying, especially in diagnosing and relieving spiritual pain. As we will all encounter patients and our own family members who are facing their end of life, we can be reminded that even when we cannot cure, we can heal. This course will introduce participants to methods useful in addressing the spiritual pain of our patients and in meeting our own self care needs.
COURSE GOALS: After completing the course, the students will be able to:
- Describe the history of the Anamcara tradition and how it pertains to the care of patients and self.
- Identify their Enneagram type and understand how it applies to addressing relationships with patients and self.
- Creatively reflect upon a guided imagery experience.
- Discuss the use of ritual and coma communication as tools for patient care.
The Sacred Art of Dying
The Sacred Art of Dying is an elective course co-created and taught with an end-of-life doula.
Upon completion of the course, students learn to:
Assess and respond to the non-medical needs of the dying.
Identify qualities of contemplative caregiving by participating in experiential workshops including life review, sitting vigil, deep listening, and forgiveness practices.
Discuss narraiving medicine as the healing power of stories.
Develop a conscious dying tool kit and deathing plan.
Hospice Patient As Teacher
A hospice experience created by Dr. Dieter for 3rd year medical students at NEOMED which pairs the student with a hospice patient for a unique learning experience.
Students gain the ability to establish relationships with dying patients and and their families, as well as engage in a multi-disciplinary approach to caring for a patient who has a terminal illness.
The clerkship has been described by students as life-changing and career-changing.
Medical student Aviva Aguilar, B.S., an M.D. candidate at NEOMED, with her patient. Ms. Aguilar wrote about her experience in this innovative program for this edition of the Hospice of Western Reserve newsletter, Clinical Connections.