From Knowledge to Dialogue: Mastering Serious Illness Communication Across the Hepatology Workforce

Effective communication is a core component of hepatology care. Yet teams may struggle with complex conversations about prognosis, goals of care, and end-of-life planning. This workshop provides advanced training for clinicians across the hepatology workforce (trainees, advance practice practitioners, physicians) in communicating with adults with serious illnesses affecting the liver (decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma) and their caregivers.  This workshop integrates focused didactics with small group, simulated encounters. Participants break into small groups and review standardized patient cases that build progressively on core skills: delivering serious news, responding to emotion, managing uncertainty, and eliciting goals and values. Facilitators with expertise in palliative care, hepatology, and medical education provide real-time, supportive feedback to help participants translate communication techniques into practice.