Women’s Alliance Event: Dying Well

A facilitated conversation about the physical, emotional and spiritual challenges that confront us as we face our own mortality and as we seek to support others as they approach the end of their lives. This conversation will focus on the intentional dying phase of our life journeys and explore issues of meaning making, legacy, and preparation for active dying. It will explore, as well, what spiritual and other caregivers bring to this process and the unique challenges to spiritual care in a diverse world. 

We will explore these and related questions with the help of Dr. Kelly Arora, Dr. Carrie Doehring, Rev. Dr. Val Jackson, Beth Eliot, and Tonya Hunt. The session will offer an interactive portion, and participant questions will be invited.

If you do not have an existing Iliff parking permit or exception, please park in the visitor lot on the left as you drive north onto campus. There is a payment kiosk on the north side of the visitor lot. This is an in-person event only.

Registration Link: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=104

Moderator/Presenter Information

Dr. Kelly Arora

Kelly Arora, PhD is Assistant Professor in the Interprofessional Graduate Certificate and Master of Science in Palliative Care (MSPC) Programs at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is also the John Wesley Iliff Senior Adjunct Lecturer in Spiritual Care at Iliff School of Theology. Her book Spirituality and Meaning Making in Chronic Illness: How Spiritual Caregivers Can Help People Navigate Long-Term Health Conditions was published in 2020. Dr. Arora serves as President of the Board for Centus Counseling, Consulting & Education, and she maintains a private practice in spiritual direction.

Panelist Information

Dr. Carrie Doehring

Dr. Carrie Doehring, the Clifford Baldridge Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, has been on the faculty of Iliff School of Theology since 2003. She is ordained in the Presbyterian Church, USA. Her scholarship focuses on interreligious, socially just and research literate spiritual care of trauma, moral stress, and spiritual struggles.

Beth Elliot

Beth Elliot has a B.S. in Intercultural Communication and a Master’s in Interpersonal Communications. She is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity at Iliff School of Theology and seeking ordination in the Unitarian Universalist tradition. Beth currently serves as a contract minister at Prairie Church in Parker Colorado and is one of the founding members of the non-profit, ABQ FaithWorks Collaborative. She ran her own Death Doula business, Ease LLC, for over 8 years. 

Rev. Dr. Val Jackson

Rev. Dr. Val Jackson is a visionary, prophetic faith and community leader; Womanist homiletician; author; and advocate for the sacred worth and potential of all human beings. She specializes in cross-racial and cross-cultural ministry and is an ordained elder in full connection in the United Methodist Church, ordained in 2018 in Ogden, Utah. She currently serves as the Senior Pastor at Park Hill United Methodist Church in Denver, CO.

 Tonya Hunt

Tonya Hunt is currently the Director of Clinical Services for Berkley Palliative Care and Hospice. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2004. Her nursing career has included Medical-Surgical care, Women’s and Children’s health, Hospital Case Management, and Hospice and Palliative Care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing-Education degree in 2014. In May of 2024, she will be graduating with her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Her study focuses on improving three quality hospice indicators of pain, respiratory, and bowel management in end-of-life care.