{"id":72445,"date":"2025-07-17T10:05:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/?p=72445"},"modified":"2025-07-17T10:35:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:35:18","slug":"bussw-dean-barbara-jones-convenes-palliative-care-social-work-leaders-national-2025-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/bussw-dean-barbara-jones-convenes-palliative-care-social-work-leaders-national-2025-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"BUSSW Dean Barbara Jones Convenes Palliative Care Social Work Leaders at National 2025 Summit\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As the U.S. healthcare system grapples with rising complexity and unmet needs in serious illness care, palliative care social workers play a vital\u2014yet often overlooked\u2014role in addressing the emotional, social, and systemic challenges patients and families face.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shaping the Future: Advancing Palliative Social Work Summit<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a national convening held recently on the Boston University Social Work (BUSSW) campus, brought together 25 leaders from 15 national organizations for an inaugural gathering led by BUSSW Dean Barbara Jones.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The summit, hosted by BUSSW and generously supported by the American Cancer Society and Cambia Health Foundation, convened leaders of national palliative social work organizations including top researchers, clinicians, and advocates to develop a strategy for the future of palliative social work. \u00a0Representatives from national social work organizations came together to identify shared priorities, foster cross-organizational collaboration, and generate a collective roadmap to advance the field of palliative social work. Participants engaged in structured dialogue, data-informed discussions, and consensus-building to explore emerging trends, identify areas of innovation, and initiate sustainable partnerships that strengthen the profession&#8217;s voice and impact in practice and research.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThis summit was born out of a need to highlight the leadership of social work in national palliative care conversations,\u201d said Dr. Barbara Jones, dean of BUSSW and lead summit organizer. \u201cThe time is now for social workers to amplify our strategic voice in advancing serious illness care in the U.S.\u201d <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0The 2-day gathering featured key action steps:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Launch four national working groups focused on strategic priorities\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Make cross-organizational collaboration a national priority\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Develop a consensus white paper on the results of the summit<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Publish results from a\u00a0national survey that gathered data on the challenges, innovations, and opportunities facing social workers providing palliative care. The survey captured diverse perspectives on workforce needs, innovative practices, opportunities for organizational collaboration, and emerging trends influencing the future of the field. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The four working groups will reconvene quarterly to advance action items, culminating in shared deliverables and plans for 2026 including engaging the larger palliative social work community to help continue this national conversation. The summit was designed and led by a planning committee of nationally recognized leaders including:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Barbara Jones, PhD, MSW \u2013 Dean, Boston University School of Social Work\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jung Kwak, PhD, MSW \u2013 University of Texas at Austin\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Vickie Leff, LCSW, APHSW-C \u2013 National Consultant &amp; Educator\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Arden O\u2019Donnell, PhD, LICSW \u2013 BUSSW\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shirley Otis-Green, MSW, MA, LCSW, FNAP \u2013 National Educator &amp; Consultant\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Myra Glajchen, DSW, MSW, APHSW-C \u2013 Education Leader &amp; Researcher<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThis is just the beginning,\u201d said Arden O\u2019Donnell. \u201cWe are building the scaffolding for a more visible, impactful, and equitable future for palliative care social work.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/ssw\/files\/2025\/07\/Palliative-SW-Summit-2025-1005-650x434.jpeg\" alt=\"Male Presenter in Pink Shirt at Palliative-SW-Summit-2025-1005-650x434.jpeg\" width=\"418\" height=\"279\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-72449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/files\/2025\/07\/Palliative-SW-Summit-2025-1005-650x434.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/files\/2025\/07\/Palliative-SW-Summit-2025-1005-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/files\/2025\/07\/Palliative-SW-Summit-2025-1005-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/files\/2025\/07\/Palliative-SW-Summit-2025-1005-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/files\/2025\/07\/Palliative-SW-Summit-2025-1005-2048x1366.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/files\/2025\/07\/Palliative-SW-Summit-2025-1005-500x333.jpeg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 418px) 100vw, 418px\" \/>\u201cBeing in this space reminded me what it looks like to lead with compassion, clarity, and purpose. It also reminded me of something just as important: the power of community&#8230;We didn&#8217;t just talk policy and practice; we built real connection,&#8221; added Ja\u2019Bree Harris, public policy &amp; advocacy manager for the National Association of Social Workers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/profile\/barbara-l-jones\/\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Learn more about Dean Barbara Jones<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:2160,&quot;335559731&quot;:720}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the U.S. healthcare system grapples with rising complexity and unmet needs in serious illness care, palliative care social workers play a vital\u2014yet often overlooked\u2014role in addressing the emotional, social, and systemic challenges patients and families face.\u00a0 Shaping the Future: Advancing Palliative Social Work Summit, a national convening held recently on the Boston University Social [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14505,"featured_media":72447,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7435,4057],"tags":[],"profile-tax":[8362],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72445"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14505"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72445"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72445\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72465,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72445\/revisions\/72465"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72445"},{"taxonomy":"profile-tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile-tax?post=72445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}