Speakers

David McEachran was first elected to the office of Whatcom County Prosecutor in 1975 after having served as a deputy prosecutor for two and one half years. On January 1, 2015, he commenced his eleventh, four year term in office after running unopposed for the position in November of 2014. Prosecutor McEachran is the longest serving elected Prosecutor in the State of Washington completing forty years of service to the citizens of Whatcom County on December 31, 2014.

Prosecutor McEachran completed his undergraduate business degree in 1968 at Northern Michigan University and was awarded his law degree in 1971 from the University of Colorado School of Law. He has lived in Bellingham since 1972 with his wife Joan. His family includes two adult sons, their wives and four grandchildren.

During his long tenure in office he has tried nearly every type of criminal case including some of particular notoriety. He prosecuted Kenneth Bianchi, the “Hillside Strangler” for two murders in Whatcom County and coordinated his case with prosecutors in California where Bianchi had been involved in multiple homicides of women.

Chief David Doll started with BPD in 1980 as an explorer cadet and was hired as a commissioned officer in 1984. Doll has been a Deputy Chief for the past 12 years. Doll's experience includes patrol, K9, school resource officer, investigations, organizational/field training, bicycle patrol, and first-level and middle management leadership. He has served as Deputy Director of the City's 911 Center and as Emergency Manager, and he was awarded a departmental medal of valor while in K9. Doll is a life-long Whatcom County resident and attended Sehome High School, Whatcom Community College, WWU and Columbia College. He also is a graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command.

Heather Flaherty, Raptor Group and RiverStyx Foundation, wonders almost a decade after her mother's death, "What would my Mom say?" if we had had The Conversation before it was too late. Heather's compelling story is a stark reminder that, without advance care planning discussions, long-lasting burdens, anxiety, guilt and remorse can unintentionally afflict our loved ones.

Catherine Bree Johnston, MD, MPH, Professor, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, will explain what palliative care is -- and what it isn't. Dr. Johnston, an advocate for palliative and end-of-life clinical training, will discuss how patients and their families benefit from this care model, and the challenges as we move forward.

Hilary Walker, advance care planning program coordinator, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, will offer an overview of the FREE advance care planning workshops she leads called, YOUR VOICE - YOUR CHOICE. Hilary guides participants through the simple, yet thought-provoking process of completing an advance directive. Her workshops are informative, comfortable, and FUN!

Bill Lombard, MD, nephrologist, medical director DaVita Mt. Baker Kidney Center, will stress that Advance Care Planning is for all adults 18 years and older, the importance of ACP prior to hospitalization/ICU admission -- the reality of what "do everything" means. Dr. Lombard will describe a POLST (Physician's Order for Life Sustaining Treatment) and how it differs from an Advance Directive. "Do everything" can mean getting a lot more than you bargained for!

Gib Morrow, MD, Internal Medicine, PeaceHealth; Physician Champion, Honoring Choices Initiative, will focus on what PeaceHealth is doing to promote this program; the benefits and challenges of Advance Care Planning from the perspective of a primary care physician, as a shared responsibility with patients. Critical to success is addressing the importance of the public health implications. It is time to integrate ACP into the public health agenda.     

Dwight Moore, Ph.D, industrial psychologist, a volunteer for End of Life Washington, will explain the Washington Death with Dignity Act; how to navigate the law, determination of who is eligible, how to find participating physicians, support systems, how the process works and history since the initiative's passage in 2008, and enactment in 2009.

Ross Fewing, MA, M.Div, director of Mission & Ethics Integration, PeaceHealth Northwest Network, advises steps to help ensure the best possible experience in critical care situations, the importance of choosing a reliable, strong healthcare proxy, and how taking that step can avoid involvement of hospital ethics' consultations if family members disagree with your stated goals of care.

Kendra Cristelli, Executive Director, Support Officers Community Care, a local non-profit that provides on-scene support for victims of tragedy and trauma, will explain the range of compassionate and practical services they provide throughout Whatcom County, from death notification to financial assistance, if needed. Kendra describes the volunteer services as often being, "the calm in the chaos" when tragedy strikes. 

Josselyn Winslow, a founding member of the Alzheimer Society of Washington and a long-time advocate for people affected by dementia, will address the importance of end-of-life planning for people with dementia and their caregivers. Josselyn will share the decision her husband, Frank, chose when he was diagnosed with vascular dementia

Thom Barthelmess, youth services manager, Whatcom County Library System, will share the value of books to help young people face loss of family and friends. Books offer context for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers to have comfortable conversations about the emotional, physical, and practical upheavals children and teens experience surrounding death and dying.  http://www.notifbutwhen.org/

Gurpreet Dhillon, PeaceHealth, director of service lines, Cancer Center, Palliative Care, and Hospice, will share updates in the ever-growing range of services in cancer, palliative and hospice care in our community; critically ill patients can live longer and better when Advance Care Planning is addressed. He will report on the $2.5 million campaign drive to develop an outpatient palliative care program in Whatcom County.

Jack Lee, an 89-YO widower, is a volunteer Patient Ambassador at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, where he offers joy, warmth, humor and MUSIC to those in rehab and recovery. Jack believes death in America gets a bum rap. Accepting death's inevitability, lets us sort out the significant from the trivial, the spiritual from the material, to better focus on the brief time we have to live and to love. To life! He served as vice president and public relations chairman of Compassion in Dying of Washington. 

Barry M. Meyers, CELA (certified elder law attorney), explains legal services available to elders and their families, including estate and incapacity planning. Law practices now encompass an array of planning, advocacy, counseling and education for clients dealing with challenges of aging, disability, illness or death of a loved one.