Current Programs

Created in 2018 with a grant from the Mount Zion Health Fund and currently supported through philantropy and research grants, the MERI Center seeks to promote Palliative Care education to patients and their caregivers, bringing symptom management, advance care planning, and compassionate care to those facing serious illness. 

Our programs also address the need for improved communication skills and education about Palliative Care for staff and clinicians at UCSF.

Core Components of MERI Center

• Community Programming to offer public programs to promote primary palliative care education and support for patients, family caregivers, and the greater San Francisco community (e.g. Free Advance Care Planning workshops, Family Caregiver Resources, End-of-Life Caregiver Trainings, Public Education, Programs in Poetic Medicine and Creative Expression Programs).
• Professional Education & Training in symptom management and communication
• Consultation, Supervision, & Support for clinical teams—Resiliency Trainings, Team Support for clinicians, faculty and administrative teams

Patients, families, clinical staff, and clinicians are supported with training and routine systems for:

• Resiliency Promotion for patients as well as professional and family caregivers
• Poetic Medicine programs for support, personal exploration, and community, including for grief.
• Advance Care Planning education and training (“What Matters Most Workshops”) for patients, families, and staff
• A national palliative care education resource list