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November 5-6, 2026

Pediatric Palliative Oncology Academic Leadership Collaborative & Symposium

Building Bridges and Facilitating our Future: Harnessing Tomorrow's Technology for Connection and Collaboration Today

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Virtual option available

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About the symposium

The Pediatric Palliative Oncology Academic Leadership Collaborative & Symposium (PAL Symposium) aims to bring together scientists, clinicians, and professionals across disciplines to advance the field through scholarship, education, and collaboration. This year’s theme is “Building Bridges and Facilitating our Future: Harnessing Tomorrow's Technology for Connection and Collaboration Today”, with an emphasis on interactive engagement to advance the field through the incorporation of emerging technology in academic pediatric palliative oncology.

Featured experts, including interprofessional investigators, educators, clinicians, bereaved parents, and advocates, will address a host of topics through lectures and interactive workshops. Scientific presentations and poster sessions in research, education, and quality improvement will foster evidence-based knowledge dissemination and networking in pediatric and adolescent and young adult (AYA) palliative oncology.

Oncology and palliative care clinicians, educators, and researchers across disciplines are encouraged to attend. We extend a special welcome to psychosocial professionals, patient/family partners, advocates, and trainees. 

Please feel free to reach out to symposium chair, Dr. Deena Levine, if you have any questions.

Register

Virtual symposium access

To access the virtual symposium, you must be registered.

  • If you are registered: Enter your full name and email address. You’ll receive a verification code via email to complete your login.
  • If you are not registered: Please register first. The link to join the symposium will be included in your confirmation email.
Access the virtual symposium

Faculty

Deena Levine, MD FAAP FAAHPM - Symposium Chair
Associate Member - Department of Oncology
Division Director - Division of Quality of Life and Palliative Care
Medical Director – Palliative Care & Integrative Medicine Services
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Scientific Advisory Board

Jackelyn Boyden, PhD, MPH, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing
Department of Family and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (secondary appointment)

Katharine Brock, MD, MS, FAAHPM
Associate Professor of Pediatrics – Oncology & Palliative Care, Emory University
R. Harold Harrison Chair of Pediatric Supportive Care
Director, Supportive Care Clinic, Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Emily Johnston MD, MS
Assistant Professor, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Director of Pediatric Palliative Care Education and Research, Center for Palliative and Supportive Care
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Erica C. Kaye MD, MPH, FAAHPM
Associate Member, Department of Oncology
Director, Quality of Life and Palliative Care Research Program
Chair, Qualitative Research Network
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Sarah McCarthy, PhD
Director of Psychology -Robert’s Program on Sudden Unexpected Death in Pediatrics
Boston Children’s Hospital

Jennifer Snaman, MD, MS, FAAHPM
Director of Pediatric Palliative Care Research
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Boston Children’s Hospital
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Molly Taylor, MD, MS
University of Washington / Seattle Children’s Hospital

Meaghann Weaver MD, PhD, MPH, HEC-C
Associate Member - Bioethicist and Palliative Care Physician
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Overview

Event: Pediatric Palliative Oncology Academic Leadership Collaborative & Symposium

Date: November 5-6, 2026

Location: 
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Virtual option available

Department host: Quality of Life and Palliative Care Division, Department of Oncology

Symposium chair and event contact: 
Deena Levine, MD, FAAP, FAAHPM
deena.levine@stjude.org

Registration deadlines & fees

Registration will open soon.

Registration fees are fully refundable due to cancellation through October 15, 2026 (minus a small processing fee). If you need to alter or cancel your registration, please contact Dr. Deena Levine. 
 

Registration Type Cost
In-person attendance
Physicians $249
Non-physicians $199
Trainees $149
Virtual registration
With continuing education credit $75
Without continuing education credit $25
Register

Agenda & Abstracts

November 5, 2026

Time Event
7:00 – 8:00 am
Marlo Thomas Center Atrium		 Registration & Breakfast
8:00 – 9:00 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium		 Opening Plenary & Grand Rounds: The Story of Pediatric Palliative Care Research: Reflections on Past Progress and Future Impact
Abby Rosenberg, MD, MS, MA
9:00 – 9:10 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium		 St Jude Children’s Research Hospital Leadership Address
Julie Park, MD 
9:10 – 9:40 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium		 AI Debate: The Case for and against Use of AI in Palliative Oncology Research
Emily Johnston, MD, MS
Andrea Cuviello, MD
9:40 – 10:10 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium		 Can AI be a Research Collaborator or Peer? AI in PAL Symposium Abstract Generation and Peer Review
Deena Levine, MD, FAAP, FAAHPM
10:10 – 10:30 am Break 
10:30 – 11:15 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium		 Navigating Pediatric Cancer: How the Courageous Parent Network Incorporates Lived Experience in a Digital Platform to Provide Family Education and Support
Chrissy Salley, PhD
Blyth Lord, EdM

11:15 – 11:45 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium

 E-Motion: Connecting and Supporting Bereaved Families through a Grief Movement Community Experience
Myra Sack
11:45 am – 12:15 pm
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium		 Setting the Framework for the Future: Applying “Who, What, and How” in Advancing Inclusive, Rigorous & Impactful Research in Pediatric Palliative Oncology
Jennifer Snaman, MD, MS, FAAHPM
Jori Bogetz, MD 
12:15 – 1:15 pm
Marlo Thomas Center Board Room		 Lunch
1:15 – 2:20 pm

Breakout Collaboration Sessions 
Participants will attend two 30-minute breakout sessions and may attend one topic per session block.

Session 1  |  1:15 – 1:45 pm
Attendees will participate in one of the following:

  • Qualitative Research — Utilizing AI and emerging technology for qualitative research
    Erica Kaye, MD, MPH, FAAHPM and Jori Bogetz, MD
    Marlo Thomas Center Lecture Hall
  • Clinical Trials — Technology integration in clinical trials and implementation science 
    Jackelyn Boyden, PhD, MPH, RN and Molly Taylor, MD, MS
    Marlo Thomas Center Board Room
  • Education — Technology integration in education for serious illness communication 
    Katharine Brock, MD, MS, FAAHPM and Brittany Cowfer, MD
    Marlo Thomas Center Meeting Room 2
  • Bereavement — Technology interventions in advancing evidence-based bereavement 
    Emily Johnston, MD, MS and Jennifer Snaman, MD, MS, FAAHPM
    Marlo Thomas Center Meeting Room 3

Session 2  |  1:50 – 2:20 pm
Attendees will participate in one of the following:

  • Qualitative Research —  Utilizing AI and emerging technology for qualitative research 
    Erica Kaye, MD, MPH, FAAHPM and Jori Bogetz, MD
    Marlo Thomas Center Lecture Hall
  • Clinical Trials — Technology integration in clinical trials and implementation science 
    Jackelyn Boyden, PhD, MPH, RN and Molly Taylor, MD, MS
    Marlo Thomas Center Board Room
  • Education — Technology integration in education for serious illness communication
    Katherine Brock, MD, MS, FAAHPM and Brittany Cowfer, MD
    Marlo Thomas Center Meeting Room 2
  • Bereavement — Technology interventions in advancing evidence-based bereavement 
    Emily Johnston, MD, MS and Jennifer Snaman, MD, MS, FAAHPM
    Marlo Thomas Center Meeting Room 3
2:25 – 3:05 pm

Concurrent Podium Presentations
Choose 1 of the following: 

Models of Collaboration
Marlo Thomas Center Lecture Hall

  • Building a Global Children's Palliative Care Research Hub: A Human-Centered Design Approach to Equitable Collaboration
    Callie Daniels-Howell, PhD
  • Connecting Care: Scaling Pediatric Palliative Capacity through a Hub-and-Spoke Network
    Fyeza Hasan, MBChB, PhD

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Emerging Technology Applications
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium

  • Innovations in Pain Management and Symptom Control: Attitues towards the use of Virtual Reality for Pain and Anxiety Management in Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders
    Roula Farah, MD
  • Generative Socio-Emotional XR: A Human-Centered Framework for Connection and Care in Pediatric Palliative Oncology
    Lei Zhang, PhD

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Clinician Communication & Education
Marlo Thomas Center Board Room

  • Physician Experiences Communicating Poor Prognosis to Families of Children Presenting With Advanced Cancer In LMICs
    Noel Shabu, B.S.
  • Short Lives, Lasting Stories: Evaluating Documentary Storytelling as a Narrative-Based Educational Intervention in Childhood Serious Illness Care
    Naomi Goloff , MD, MSc & Mona Sharafi, PhD
3:10 – 3:30 pm Break
3:30 – 5:15 pm Bereavement Research in a Digital World and Bereaved Parent Panel
Sarah McCarthy, PhD
5:15 – 5:45 pm Rapid Poster Presentations
5:45 – 7:30 pm Poster Presentations & Reception

November 6, 2026

Time Event
8:00 – 8:30 am
Marlo Thomas Center Atrium		 Breakfast 
8:30 – 9:30 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium		 When the “Parent” Is AI: Simulation Tools for Communication Training
Naomi Goloff, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FAAHPM
Lauren Rissman, MD

9:30 – 9:40 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium

 E-Motion in Action
Myra Sack
9:40 – 10:10 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium		 AVATARS: A Digital Art Therapy Intervention in AYA Oncology 
Robert Bennett, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CPNP-AC, PMHS, NMTAP
10:10 – 10:40 am
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium		 Technology as an Instrument: Emerging Possibilities for Music Therapy in Pediatric Palliative Care
Amy Love, MA, MT-BC
10:40 – 11:10 am Break
11:10 – 11:50 am

Concurrent Podium Presentations 
Choose 1 of the following:

Advancing Informed Decision-Making
Marlo Thomas Center Lecture Hall

  • “Like an Adult-in-Training”: How Clinicians can Foster Autonomy and Support Decision-making for Adolescents and Young Adults with Advanced Cancer
    Grace Chandler, M.D. , M.A
  • Considerations and Challenges in Physician Decision-Making for Advanced Pediatric Cancer in LMICs
    Marta Salek, MD, MPH

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Pain Reduction & Quality Improvement
Marlo Thomas Center Meeting Room 2

  • The Global Comfort Promise: Prevention and Relief of Pain and Anxiety from Needle Procedures in Children with Cancer in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
    Michael McNeil, MD, MPH
  • Reducing Needle Stick Procedural Pain in Children with Cancer through Implementation of the Global Comfort Promise in a Pediatric Oncology Center in Egypt
    Ahmed Salem, PharmD

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Implementation & Education
Marlo Thomas Center Meeting Room 3

  • Advancing Pediatric Palliative Oncology Care in Nigeria: Leadership Insights from a Multidisciplinary Assessment
    Korede Akindele, MH, MSC
  • Evaluating palliative care Knowledge, Attitude and Competencies in Medical Students: A Needs Assessment for Curriculum Development
    Roula Farah, MD

12:00 – 1:00 pm
James R. Downing, MD Auditorium

 Danny Thomas Lecture Series
Ethics and Emerging Technology in Pediatric Palliative Oncology (From Ambient Listening to Digital Patient Monitoring) 
Meaghann Weaver, MD, PhD, MPH, HEC-C
1:00 – 1:30 pm
I4 Advanced Research Center M1003		 Lunch
1:30 – 3:00 pm
I4 Advanced Research Center M1003
 		 Idea Incubator: Intentional Networking & Collaboration
How Can We Work Together & Keep Up with the Rapid Pace of Technology
3:00 pm
I4 Advanced Research Center M1003		 Closing  
Deena Levine, MD, FAAP, FAAHPM 
3:00 – 5:00 pm Optional Tours 

Video archive