Diane Meier, Director of CAPC
As the COVID-19 pandemic began spreading around the world, New York became one of the nation’s first “hotspots” for virus infections. As the head of the Center to Advance Palliative Care, located at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, Dr. Diane Meier has spent years spearheading national efforts aimed at helping clinicians communicate effectively and care for people with serious illness. With the rapid spread of COVID-19 this spring, however, Dr. Meier realized there was an even more urgent need for physicians to show compassion, and at a scale that had never before been experienced.
In a PBS News Hour “Brief but Spectacular” segment this spring, Dr. Meier explains how she has transitioned from leading a national organization devoted to advancing palliative care to spending her time helping patients and families impacted by the virus. In the wake of the pandemic, she is now spending her time helping patients talk to their loved ones, and using technology to facilitate conversations so that things “that need to be said can be said.” In this brief clip, Dr. Meier highlights the importance for both patients and family members to have the opportunity to thank a parent, apologize to a loved one, or even say goodbye.
AVDF is proud to support the work of the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) and Dr. Diane Meier. In 2018, CAPC received one of AVDF’s first grants under the new palliative care portfolio to fund activities aimed at supporting access to palliative care for patients across the nation. This spring, AVDF awarded an emergency grant to CAPC to support the organization’s COVID-19 response efforts.
Back to all Stories