Palliative Care in Liver Disease: A Podcast with Kirsten Engel, Sarah Gillespie-Heyman, Brittany Waterman, & Amy Johnson

Palliative Care in Liver Disease: A Podcast with Kirsten Engel, Sarah Gillespie-Heyman, Brittany Waterman, & Amy Johnson

Author: Alex Smith, Eric Widera July 11, 2024 Duration: 51:24

In May we did a podcast on KidneyPal (the integration of palliative care in renal disease), which made us think, hmmm… one organ right next door is the liver. Maybe we should do a podcast on LiverPal? (or should we call it HepatoPal?)

On today's podcast, we do that by inviting four palliative care leaders who are integrating palliative care into the care of those with liver disease: Kirsten Engel, Sarah Gillespie-Heyman, Brittany Waterman, and Amy Johnson.

It's a jampacked 50 minutes, filled with pearls on taking care of patients with liver disease.  We cover:

  • How each of their LiverPal teams are structured

  • Why and how LiverPal differ from general palliative care or other palliative care specialty areas (KidneyPal, PalliPulm, etc)

  • How to prognosticate in liver disease and how they communicate this with patients

  • How to think about expectations of transplants and limitations of it

  • How to manage complications and symptoms ranging from ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, pain, itching, cramps, and depression

Also, if you want to take an ever deeper dive, check out our 2022 podcast on End Stage Liver Disease with Jen Lai, Ricky Shinall, Nneka Ufere, and Arpan Patel




Hosted by UCSF physicians Alex Smith and Eric Widera, GeriPal-A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast creates a vital space for conversation at the intersection of aging and serious illness care. This isn't a dry lecture series; it's a dynamic dialogue where Eric and Alex bring on leading experts to unpack the complexities of geriatric and palliative medicine. They delve into the latest research that should change practice, tackle the ethical dilemmas that provoke debate, and explore the nuanced clinical challenges that professionals face daily. The tone is engaging and often surprisingly lighthearted, with moments of humor and even the occasional song, making profound topics more accessible. Whether you're a clinician, nurse, social worker, or any professional dedicated to this field, this podcast offers a blend of evidence-based insights and practical wisdom you can use. It’s a resource that acknowledges the weight of the work while fostering connection and continued learning. For those seeking formal education credits, AMA PRA Category 1 CME and MOC credit are also available through the show. Tune in to join a community committed to improving care for older adults and those with serious illness.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Between Two Urns: Undertaker Thomas Lynch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:34
(We couldn't resist when Miguel Paniagua proposed this podcast idea and title. And no, you'll be relieved to hear Eric and I did not imitate the interview style of Zach Galifiniakis). We've talked a good deal on this pod…
Ageism and Elections: Louise Aronson and Ken Covinsky [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:39
Emergency podcast! We've been asked by many people, mostly junior/mid career faculty, to quickly record a podcast on ageism and the elections. People are feeling conflicted. On the one hand, they have concerns about cogn…
Urinary Incontinence Revisited: George Kuchel & Alison Huang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:06
I have to start with the song. On our last podcast about urinary incontinence the song request was, "Let it go." This time around several suggestions were raised. Eric suggested, "Even Flow," by Pearl Jam. Someone else s…