Announcing the 6th Annual Art of Dying Conference in NYC

The New York Open Center is presenting its 6th annual Art of Dying Conference in New York City from October 13 through October 16, 2017. Featuring well-known end-of-life experts such as David Kessler, Stephen Jenkinson and Henry Fersko-Weiss, the conference will focus on the scientific, spiritual and practical issues involved in living and dying well.

Sponsored in part by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and the Friedman Family Foundation, the conference explores many of the most pressing issues facing our aging and death-averse society. Discussions will focus on a number of questions, including:

• How can we work more compassionately and intelligently with the dying?
• How can we face our own death and the death of those we love with courage?
• How can death become less frightening both for ourselves and for our loved ones?
• How can we develop more enlightened care for the dying even in our environment of technological medicine?

Speakers will include a diverse array of practitioners from various disciplines, including physicians, nurses, psychologists, theologians and social workers. Pre-conference seminars will begin at 10:00 a.m. on October 13 and include a presentation by Stephen Jenkinson, MTS, MSW, the celebrated author of “Die Wise.” An alternate session will be offered by Henry Fersko-Weiss, who will provide experiential exercises and hands-on training in death doula techniques. A third concurrent session presented by Megory Anderson, Ph.D will explore ritual and meaning at the end of life.

Featured speakers at the Art of dying Conference Oct. 13-16, 2017

Plenary addresses on Friday evening will be followed by plenary sessions and workshops on Saturday and Sunday. Featured topics include grief and loss; ethical decision-making at the end of life; caring for dying animal companions; the mechanics of energy and consciousness; death midwifery; and much more. Saturday’s session will be followed by dinner and an evening performance of Rumi’s poetry by Coleman Barks and renowned concert artist Eugene Friesen.

Early ticket sales for the Art of Dying Conference are currently closed. However, you can still purchase tickets through the Open Center through October 13. Pre and post conference seating is limited and can only be purchased with main conference tickets. To learn more about current availability, call the Open Center at 212-219-2527 ext. 2.

For those who cannot attend the live event, portions of the conference, including plenaries and a selection of workshops, will be available on October 13, 14 and 15 via live video feed. To learn more about registering for the video conference visit the Institute for Better Health, the co-sponsor of the webcast.