Get Talking! Dispelling Myths Around Hospice and Palliative Care: A Focus on Advance Care Planning
Get Talking! is an in-person discussion series focused on the most challenging issues facing healthcare today including equitable access to care, legislation, funding, delivery, and innovation. It is intended to showcase multiple perspectives and create a forum for a constructive, respectful discussion.
Join us for Dispelling Myths Around Hospice and Palliative Care: A Focus on Advance Care Planning.
Host
Speakers
Dr. Amit Arya, Medical Director of the Specialist Palliative Care in Long-Term Care Outreach Team at Kensington Health.
Dr. Kenneth Hook, spokesperson for Hospice Palliative Care Ontario, retired family physician.
Dr. Christopher Klinger, Assistant Professor (Part-Time) with McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine, Division of Palliative Care and Chair of the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly’s (NICE) End-of-Life Issues Theme Team, TRP instructor.
When and where
In person on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 4 - 6 pm ET
TRP Auditorium
263 McCaul St. Toronto, ON
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The full series
- 30 September, 2025: Healthcare Entrepreneurship in Action: Innovation at the Intersection of Medicine and Business
- 4 November, 2025: Pathways to Leadership: Careers in Healthcare and Innovation
- 2 December, 2025: Justice, Policy, and Mental Health: Making the Connection
- 27 January, 2026: Consent and Conflict of Interest: Navigating Ethics in Healthcare
- 24 February, 2026: Dispelling Myths Around Hospice and Palliative Care: A Focus on Advance Care Planning
- 7 April, 2026: Restructuring Healthcare Systems: Lessons, Challenges, and Opportunities
Speaker bios
Dr. Amit Arya
Dr. Amit Arya is a Palliative Care Physician who works in long-term care homes. He currently serves as Medical Director of the Specialist Palliative Care in Long-Term Care Outreach Team at Kensington Health, providing specialized palliative care services at Kensington Gardens in Toronto and supporting other long-term care homes. He previously served as Medical Lead of NY CAST (the North York Congregate Access and Support Team), an innovative initiative focused on improving outcomes for long-term care residents through enhanced access to specialized supports and capacity-building.
Dr. Arya is a passionate advocate for health justice and human rights, and has made significant contributions to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in long-term care. He co-developed All-In: Practicing Cultural Humility in Palliative Care, an educational e-module for direct care staff in collaboration with Ontario CLRI. His expertise has been sought nationally in Canada, including invitations to advise the federal government on the Safe Long-Term Care Act and to contribute to the development of National Long-Term Care Standards.
Dr. Kenneth Hook
Dr. Hook is a retired family physician. He was part of the STAR Family Health Team in Tavistock, where he worked for 44 years. He also worked in long term care for 30 years. He now volunteers as a spokesperson for Hospice Palliative Care Ontario and is a lead Advance Care Planning Educator.
Dr. Christopher Klinger
Dr. Klinger is an Assistant Professor (Part-Time) with McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine, Division of Palliative Care and Chair of the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly’s (NICE) End-of-Life Issues Theme Team, he also serves as the Co-Chair of the Palliative Care Coalition of Canada’s (PCCC) Research and Knowledge Translation Working Group, a network of over 30 national organizations dedicated to improving palliative care. His research interests are in health systems and policy, with a focus on hospice and palliative care.