
Project ECHO (Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a virtual knowledge-sharing platform.
It enables health care practitioners and community organizers to support each other, and the people they serve, through webinars, online lectures and case-based learning modules.
ECHO is an “all-learn, all-teach” approach that is interactive and brings people together across distances. ECHO sessions are free and open to all.
The Palliative Institute has partnered with Pallium Canada to deliver the ECHO model as a means for communicating innovations and best practices in palliative care in Alberta.
See below for upcoming ECHO sessions. We also encourage you to watch the videos of past sessions.
Upcoming Sessions
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is more than you think. Learn what palliative care is and why it’s important in clear language that you can share with the people around you.
Who: Sheila Killoran – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Mary-Ann Shantz – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Vidhi Vinayak – Palliative Institute (Host)
When: Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 12:00 – 1:15 pm Mountain Time
How to Have Conversations About Dying and Grief
Conversations about dying and grief are important but can be hard. This course provides practical tips on how to have caring and compassionate conversations on these topics with friends, family, colleagues and neighbours.
Who: Sheila Killoran – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Mary-Ann Shantz – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Vidhi Vinayak – Palliative Institute (Host)
When: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 12:00 – 1:15 pm Mountain Time
What Matters Most?
Knowing what matters most helps us live well now and in the future. Learn how to identify and share what matters to you in your life and in your care as well as how to find out and support what matters to the people close to you.
Who: Mary-Ann Shantz – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Sheila Killoran – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Vidhi Vinayak – Palliative Institute (Host)
When: Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 12:00 – 1:15 pm Mountain Time
PalliLearn Facilitator Training
Attendance at this facilitator training session is only open to Alberta-based health professionals with palliative care experience who have attended the PalliLearn ECHO series and are committed to facilitating at least two of the PalliLearn courses over the next year. Attendance will be capped at 15 participants.
Topics addressed in this session will include: effective facilitation skills, PalliLearn course messages and frequently asked questions, evaluation and ongoing support.
Who: Mary-Ann Shantz – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Sheila Killoran – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Vidhi Vinayak – Palliative Institute (Host)
When: Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Mountain Time
Past Sessions
Your Role in a Compassionate Community
Compassionate Communities are networks of support around people experiencing serious illness, death and grief. Gain information and ideas about how to nurture Compassionate Communities near you.
Who: Mary-Ann Shantz – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Sheila Killoran – Palliative Institute (Facilitator), Vidhi Vinayak – Palliative Institute (Host)
When: Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 12:00 – 1:15 pm Mountain Time
Planning for Life’s Journey: Connecting Health, Financial and Estate Planning in Community Education
This session covered how advance care planning fits within life planning, important legal documents for planning ahead (personal directive, will, enduring power of attorney) and the resources needed to support life planning educational initiatives in your community.
Who: Michelle Goonasekera – Palliative Institute (Speaker), Shelley Waite – Lawyer, McLeod Law (Speaker), Vidhi Vinayak – Palliative Institute (Moderator)
When: Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 12:00 pm Mountain Time
Missed the session? Watch the video.
Introducing Advance Care Planning: Empowering People to Plan For Their Health Care
This section covered the five steps of advance care planning, the importance of having conversations about wishes and values and how to facilitate ACP discussions and initiatives in the community.
Who: Sheila Killoran – Palliative Institute (Speaker), Michelle Goonasekera – Palliative Institute (Speaker), Vidhi Vinayak – Palliative Institute (Moderator)
When: Tuesday, July 4, 2023, 12:00 pm Mountain Time
Missed this session? Watch the video.
Introducing Death Cafe: Facilitating Conversations about Death Over Coffee, Tea and Cake
This session covered important information on Death Cafes and encouraged participants to facilitate Death Cafe events of their own.
A panel of facilitators explained why they facilitate these events, shared insights into effective facilitation and answered questions.
Who: Keltie Watson – Palliative Institute (Moderator), Jessica Johnson – Peace Hills Hospice Society, Gina Vliet – Charon Consulting
When: Thursday May 4, 2023 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm Mountain Time
Missed this session? Watch the video.