Providence partners with Gonzaga to host staged reading of Dusk for health care students

Providence, in partnership with Gonzaga University School of Law, presented a staged reading of Dusk to local law and health care students on April 18.

Students from Gonzaga University, Washington State University, University of Washington, and Eastern Washington University attended the play and heard from a panel of experts. The event came on the heels of National Health Care Decisions Day, which is observed annually on April 16 to inspire, educate, and empower people about the importance of advance care planning.

Dusk, written by Spokane, Washington playwright Bryan Harnetiaux, is the story of an aging father and a fractured family, and their struggles with health care decision-making. It explores the medical and personal difficulties involved in coming to terms with making the life-sustaining treatment option decisions.

The play featured J.P. O'Shaughnessy in the role of Gil Everette. The play was directed by Wes Deitrich. Financial support through Providence community benefit made this possible, along with support from Hospice Foundation of America, Washington, DC.

Following the play, an interdisciplinary panel of health care professionals discussed how they support these important conversations from a medical, legal, and social perspective. The panel included:

• Kellie Durgan, chief mission officer, Providence (panel moderator)
• Lisa Stiller, M.D., lead physician for Palliative Care team, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
• Adie Goldberg, LICSW, PhD., palliative social worker at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
• Sherry Cheever, ANP-BC, PhD, Sound Intensive Medicine, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center
• Genevieve Mann, JD, MSW, faculty Gonzaga Law School, director Elder Law Clinic
• Andrea Dury, RN, staff nurse on oncology unit, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center

Learn more about advance care planning and advance directives here.