The Deane K. Corliss Palliative and Supportive Care Lecture Series is made possible through a gift by Deane Corliss and the Corliss family. 

Deane was an attorney and health policy expert whose background in nursing gave her a special understanding of our healthcare system and the need to improve the care of individuals with serious illness. She was a strong proponent of inter-professional, holistic care that included an array of disciplines, including nutrition and counseling, in addition to nursing, medicine, and social work. She was a member of the UAB Center for Palliative Care Community Advisory Board and a passionate advocate for policy reform to improve patient self-determination of treatment goals and access to palliative care.  

Deane remained committed to improving palliative care even as her own cancer became advanced. Her gift, perpetuated by her family, is intended to improve the care of seriously ill patients by advancing knowledge of the role of supportive and palliative care for patients and families facing serious illness.  

We are grateful for the support of Deane’s family, including Dr. David Corliss.

The Corliss Lectures are held annually in May.

The Corliss Lectures have been presented by:   

2025
Dr. Sonia Malhotra, MD, MS, FAAP, FAAHPM
Following the yellow brick road in the South

2024
Dr. Rodney Tucker, Marie Bakitas, Ronit Elk, Nick Odom, and Sylvia Huang
State of the Science in Palliative Care

2023
Dr. Stacy Fischer
Psilocybin Assisted Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, and Existential Distress in Advanced Cancer

2022
Dr. Marie-Carmelle Elie
Communication Strategies: Leveraging the Landscape for Vulnerable Patients

2021
Dr. Dana Lustbader
Telehealth for Advance Illness Care

2020
Dr. Michael Rabow
Then and Now: Grief in the time of COVID

2019
Dr. Monica Baskin
Cultural Considerations for Palliative Care

2018
Martha Twaddle, MD
The Intersection Between Palliative Care, Community and Population Health

2017
Anthony L. Black, MD
What Does Every Physician Need to Know About Communication with Patients Who Are Seriously Ill?

2016 
Dr. Christine Ritchie 
Palliative Care and Courage: Lessons from Patients, Families, Colleagues, and Systems 

2015 
Dr. Christina Puchalski 
The Essential Role of Spirituality in Palliative Care: A Whole-Person Model of Care    

2014 
Dr. Bob Arnold
Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting a Different Result: Conflicts Over Goals of Care     

2013 
Dr. Colin Campbell
Nutrition as a Mainline (Not Alternative) Medical Specialty