How We Die Now: Navigating the New Normal (Zoom Webinar Panel Discussion)

The landscape of illness and dying in the United States has shifted, and we need to have the awareness and capacity to shift with it. Many people who are on the giving or receiving end of care are witnessing a broken system.

In this panel, we will discuss the current state of deathcare, what individuals and institutions are lacking, and what we can do about it.

Give with compassion, support with kindness - This event is "Donate from the Heart". (A suggested donation is between $10-20).

This event will be recorded for later viewing. A replay will be provided to each registered participant within 48 hours of the original broadcast.

About Our Panel

Tanisha Bowman is a deathwalker and hospice and palliative care social worker. An up-and-coming leader in her field, Tanisha lectures at hospitals throughout the U.S., does a multitude of end-of-life related education at both the clinical and community level, and has been interviewed by multiple podcasts and media outlets. Her passion for helping people live their best death is a major driving force behind her work and she is always honored to be given opportunities to share her knowledge and experience with others.

John Davis has worked at a funeral home, a natural burial ground, and at an alternative memorial start-up. Through these experiences he has observed from the inside how the work around death has shifted and how the attempts of the industry to adapt have led to where we are now. He currently helps to organize events for the Pittsburgh Bereavement Network. His vision of the future involves regional networks of connected people co-creating responses to the new realities of dying that promote better living through open-handed sharing and warm-hearted collaboration.

Carrie McCann is a death & grief companion, educator, gardener, and wellness consultant with 15 years of experience in supporting people through life’s biggest transitions and changes. She strives to hold exploratory, accessible, and gentle space for people to honor endings and difficult moments, acknowledge death, and be with grief. Drawing on her background in social work, breath and movement practices, and nature based approaches, Carrie offers practical, emotional, and spiritual support for dying, grief and loss of all kinds to individuals, communities, and organizations. Carrie is passionate about helping people experience more moments of care and connection and explores the many ways this can look through her work as the founder of Moonset & Co.

Helen Stickney is a meditation instructor, grief companion, and end of life doula. She is a founding member of Pittsburgh Community Deathcare, and also works part time in hospice administration and green burial. In addition to a meditation practice that spans four decades, she has a PhD in Theoretical Linguistics, is a certified mindfulness instructor, and has certificates in integrative thanatology, somatic healing, and compassionate presence. She is the former director of the Three Rivers Free Clinic for the People and she has worked with various meditation communities throughout the Pittsburgh area. She is currently studying with the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition. When not working, teaching, or studying, Helen spends most of her time in the woods.