Palliative Matters

In this special tribute episode of Palliative Matters, guest host Dr. Gerald Harriman and Dr. Patrick Fitzgibbon honor the life and legacy of Dr. John Mulder—founder of the podcast, pioneer of palliative medicine, mentor, musician, and friend. Through a curated “greatest hits” collection, listeners hear Dr. Mulder in his own words as he reflects on his journey into palliative care, shares powerful...

Former surgical oncologist Dr. Andrea Wolf joins Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow to share her journey into holistic palliative care. She discusses how trust, human touch, and integrative techniques—like craniosacral therapy—shape her work with complex conditions such as dysautonomia. Dr. Wolf also highlights inspiring patient stories, including avoiding unnecessary surgery and finding relief...

In this episode of Palliative Matters, John Mulder sits down with Dr. John Finn, a pioneer in hospice and palliative medicine, to explore the profound human impact of care at the end of life. Dr. Finn shares stories from his early days in oncology and hospice, highlighting the transformative power of honesty, compassion, and presence in patient and family care. From the challenges of modern health...

Did you know that 77% of patients want their physicians to consider their spiritual needs? Spirituality and religion have a significant impact on the quality of life and preferences of care, which align with the fundamentals of palliative medicine. In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Ariel Dempsey to explore the role of spirituality in medicine, its positive and negative manifestations, and how p...

In this episode, Dr. Tim Ihrig joined Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow to take an insightful look at the downsides of our medical system. For a system focused on ROI, putting people in hospital beds, and curing diseases, how do palliative care physicians, who have opposite goals, fit into the mix? And what can we learn from them and apply to other fields of medicine to change our system for the better?

When cancer patients finish treatment, they ring a bell—signifying the end of a chapter but not the end of their story. As the person transitions to survivorship, there are a myriad of emotional and physical challenges that come about. So, how can we as physicians continue to support our patients through this next phase of their disease journey? In this episode, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow share pe...

Cancer is an identity-shaping experience. Survivors are forever changed and carry both physical and mental scars. In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow talk with special guest Dr. Joseph McCollum. Dr. McCollum is both a medical oncologist and palliative oncologist who is also a part of a survivorship care clinic. He shares how he and his team are working to integrate palliative ca...

This rereleased episode is dedicated to longtime Palliative Matters host, Dr. John Mulder. The idea of hope is often idealistic and romanticized. For those facing a life-limiting illness, the “hope” of being cured or of life returning to the way it was before a diagnosis can be discouraging. In this episode, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow explain how they can help people redefine hope by setting clear...

As palliative care physicians, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow have witnessed their fair share of miracles. This, however, rarely means a cure. More often, the miracles that palliative doctors can help cultivate are ones of reconciliation, comfort, and restoration. In this episode, the doctors discuss how they help manage disappointment among their patients and offer them true healing.

Doctors are often trained to focus on the data. Data makes for a strong foundation, but it’s only the first floor. To truly care for a patient, we must look beyond the data—building off of their character, values, history, and goals. As palliative nurse practitioner Barbara Opperwall said, “The story of the patient is their data with a soul.” In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow...

As hospice and palliative care physicians, we care for patients in difficult situations. Yet, we see a lot of joy in those moments. So, what role can we play in helping to cultivate peace and healing for our patients? In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow discuss how patient-centered care, active listening, and being present can help patients see through their circumstances and fi...

Doctors are trained to cure, treat, and fix. So, how do physicians end up in a field of medicine where the objectives are different? In this episode, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow discuss how they came to work in the area of advanced illnesses and the purpose that they have found being injected into challenging situations and precarious relationships. 

Why should physicians never tell their patients, “There’s nothing more we can do?” As diseases and illnesses progress, the hope for a cure may diminish, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t continue to provide care. In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow discuss how you can encourage patients and offer opportunities for healing, proving that, usually, there is something you can do.

Uncertainty can cause a lot of suffering, but palliative medicine is meant to alleviate suffering. So, how can physicians work within it’s confines? In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow are joined by Dr. Ariel Dempsey as they dive deeper into the discussion on uncertainty in medicine and the challenges and opportunities it provides. They share how, as physicians, you can acknowle...

What motivates doctors’ decision-making beyond evidence, knowledge, and experience? As Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow discuss, our patient's wants and wishes should always be considered. Often, though, doctors make decisions based on fear–fear of litigation, of being wrong, or of missing something, especially when uncertainty is present. In this episode, the doctors share how we can mi...

As physicians, we let our experiences and knowledge guide us. Often, this leads to us entering a patient’s room with some assumptions in hand. However, it’s important to remember that people with the same diagnosis can have completely different emotional reactions, and it’s our job to meet them where they are. In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow discuss overcoming unconscious bi...

Psilocybin has had a place in healing for millennia, particularly among ancient civilizations and cultures. While it's had a negative view in some corners of contemporary American society, research into its potential has gained traction and it is slowly finding a place in the mainstream. In this episode, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow are joined by Prof. Michael DeWilde, who shares his knowledge...

Studies have shown that doctors are less likely to have surgery or be admitted to the ICU in the last six months of their life and are less likely to die in the hospital. So, what do doctors know that their patients don’t? In this episode, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow discuss some of the systematic failures of our healthcare system and the importance of informed consent. They ask and answer, “How ca...

Prognostication is not an exact science. So, when patients ask the inevitable question, “How much time do I have, doc?” How can we answer? In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow reflect on the challenge of prognostication and how they leverage their years of experience to try and provide patients with the gift of time.

In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow are joined by palliative care chaplain Cody Hufstedler. Cody has a podcast of his own, Dying to Tell You, where he interviews people nearing the end of life. With the doctors, he shares some of the joys, sorrows, and beauty he has uncovered while helping terminally ill patients and their loved ones work through some challenging realities. List...

For each diagnosis, there is an expected path that the disease will take. But along that path are many offshoots of possibilities, known and unknown. Amid the uncertainty, how can providers manage expectations and continue to build trust with their patients? In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow discuss how they operate in the realm of uncertainty when patients and their loved one...

When someone is given a life-altering diagnosis, change is inevitable. Disease can take away so much from a person: their identity, their power, their abilities. In this episode, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow discuss how they help patients regain some of their power and agency, with Dr. Mulder touching on his own experiences from when he was diagnosed with a terminal illness and the effect...

Most doctors understand that establishing trust is an important part of caring for their patients. But how does one go about doing so? In this episode, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow discuss how they work towards earning the trust of their patients, starting with making sure they feel seen and heard. Listen to learn more about how the doctors form symbiotic relationships with those in their care. 

Helping patients and their loved ones make decisions is one of the greatest challenges of being a physician. But it’s also one of the greatest responsibilities. To kick off Season 3, Dr. John Mulder and Dr. Jason Beckrow discuss how they build trust with their patients through collaborative communication, education, and empowerment—centered on an understanding of their patient's values and be...

How can music address the psychological, physiological, and sociological issues associated with life-limiting illnesses and the end-of-life? In this episode, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Beckrow are joined by renowned musical therapist Dr. Deforia Lane. She talks about the role that music can play in meeting the unique needs of each patient as it activates different parts of the brain to address mood, pain,...