Division Head, Hospice and Palliative Care
University of Vermont Health Network and Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Dr. Stephen Berns is the Holly and Bob Miller Endowed Chair in Palliative Medicine and Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, where he serves as Division Chief of Hospice & Palliative Medicine. A national leader in serious illness communication, his work focuses on creating learning environments grounded in belonging, psychological safety, and interprofessional collaboration. Over the past 14 years, he has delivered more than 4,000 hours of communication skills and faculty development training across disciplines and levels of training.
Dr. Berns directs TalkVermont, a system-wide communication and facilitation program that has trained more than 3,000 clinicians in medicine, nursing, social work, chaplaincy, and other professions. Through a Frymoyer Scholars Program initiative, he and his team explored the “secret sauce” of interprofessional learning through focus groups and training in the T3 Interprofessional Team Development Program at the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education. Their findings informed adjustments to the TalkVermont curriculum, including more intentional inclusive facilitation practices, equitable learning structures, and shared team communication frameworks.
As Distinguished Faculty for VitalTalk and Co-Chair of the AAHPM Assessment Work Group, Dr. Berns helps lead national initiatives to strengthen faculty skills in communication, feedback, and competency-based assessment. He completed advanced AORTA anti-oppression facilitation training and applies these approaches beyond the classroom to foster equity, shared power, and inclusive team culture in clinical and administrative spaces.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
8:00am - 12:00pm PST
Disclosure information not submitted.
Having A Seat At The Table Isn’t Enough: Inclusive Facilitation Skills for Palliative Care Spaces
Saturday, March 7, 2026
10:00am - 11:00am PST
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose