New: Bring a Colleague Bundle! Register for Mastering Tough Conversations with a colleague and you'll each save 20% off tuition. Email info@vitaltalk.org to claim your discount. vitaltalk.org/mastering-to...

We're happy to announce the return of the IMPACT-ICU video series to the VitalTalk website. IMPACT-ICU is a video-based communication skills training designed to help integrate palliative care into the ICU by training and supporting bedside nurses. Explore the series: vitaltalk.org/impact-icu-v...

The VitalTalk Tips App gives you bite-sized, evidence-based tips for high-stakes conversations. Take 10 seconds. Try a tip. Grow your skills. Now available on iOS and Android, worldwide — download for free!

New dates just dropped 📢 MTC & Faculty Development courses are now open for registration. Every difficult conversation is a chance to show up differently for patients and families. Join clinicians and educators nationwide who are choosing to do this work better. www.vitaltalk.org

EMTalk equips emergency medicine clinicians with the practical communication skills to navigate serious news, goals-of-care discussions, and other high-stakes conversations with confidence and compassion. 📅 September 18, 2026 ⏰ 9:00 AM–1:00 PM PT vitaltalk.org/emtalk/

Our VitalTalk crew at ASCO last week! We were honored to lead a session with such strong attendance and thoughtful engagement. A huge thank you to everyone who attended, learned skills, asked questions, shared experiences, and contributed to such an important conversation. #ASCO2026

Prognosis conversations aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some patients want every detail. Others prefer a broader picture. Asking how someone wants information shared can help build trust and make the conversation more supportive from the start.

Reflecting on what we believe to have been our best Faculty Summit yet! Grateful for this community, the incredible presenters, and all of the learning, connection and energy shared through this experience.

To celebrate nurses week, we are offering exclusive discounts for nurses through the end of May: • 10% off Mastering Tough Conversations (including PedsTalk & EMTalk) — use code Nurse10 • 20% off Discussing Clinical Status for Nurses — use code Nurse20 Visit www.vitaltalk.org to enroll

So much of this work is made possible by this community. Thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 Faculty Summit. We’re so grateful for the connection, learning, and shared commitment you bring. #VitalTalkFacultySummit

Family meetings can be complex, especially when perspectives differ. Creating space for everyone to feel heard, while still centering the patient, is often where the most meaningful conversations happen.

Enrollment is now open for new Mastering Tough Conversations and Faculty Development programs. Build skills you can bring directly into your clinical work—alongside a community committed to improving communication in healthcare. www.vitaltalk.org

Communication failures are still a leading driver of patient harm. In increasingly complex systems, communication isn’t optional—it’s critical. www.rmf.harvard.edu/News-and-Blo...?

More information isn’t always the answer. Sometimes what’s needed most is a moment to slow down and make space for what the patient is experiencing.

We spend years training clinicians to diagnose and treat. But communication skills are often left out of education entirely. VitalTalk co-founder Dr. James Tulsky shares what becomes possible when communication is treated as a core clinical skill. janetabrahmmd.substack.com/p/mastering-...

Mastering Serious Illness Communication: An Interview with Dr. James Tulsky

For this month’s newsletter, I interviewed Dr.

janetabrahmmd.substack.com

Celebrating National Social Work Month 💚 VitalTalk now offers Continuing Education credit for social workers—and we’re offering 5% off Mastering Tough Conversations through the end of March. Use code SOCIALWORK5 at checkout. www.vitaltalk.org/mastering-tough-conversations/

Sustainable culture change is built through how teams communicate every day. Healthcare leaders are increasingly recognizing that improving communication isn’t just a “soft skill”—it’s core to patient outcomes, team alignment, and clinical culture. Learn more: vitaltalk.org/in/

VitalTalk scholarships are designed to support those committed to improving communication in healthcare who may face financial barriers to participation. Take a moment to review eligibility and apply before the deadline! vitaltalk.org/scholarships/

The room is full again — and we love it! We’re bringing back in-person VitalTalk faculty development, and the energy reminds us how powerful it is to learn and practice together. Next up: new in-person courses in the Northeast and Chicago. vitaltalk.org/faculty-deve...

When delivering serious news, remember: Give the headline. Then pause. That moment of silence gives your patient time to absorb what they’ve heard before the conversation continues.

The right communication tools change clinical care. This Cancer Nursing Today roundtable spotlights VitalTalk frameworks & SPIKES for high-stakes patient conversations. www.cancernursingtoday.com/post/evidenc...

Evidence-Based Tools for Navigating Challenging Moments in Patient Care: Experts Share Key Resources | Cancer Nursing Today

The panel emphasized that ensuring that patients feel seen and heard and have the information they need during these discussions cultivates an environment of compassion and empathy

cancernursingtoday.com

R1 in Washington with our Neuropalliative Care Faculty Development cohort! So much wisdom, curiosity, and commitment in one room. We’re excited to see the ripple effect as this team integrates VitalTalk skills into their programs.

Our Faculty Development courses are coming to New England and Chicago for the first time, offering immersive practice, expert facilitation, and meaningful connection with fellow clinician educators in your region. Spots are limited—enroll now! vitaltalk.org/faculty-deve...

Two weeks to go! 🎉 We’re excited to be back at #ACGME2026 for our second year, joining GME professionals from around the world focused on meaning, connection, and growth in medical education. Come say hello at Booth 139 — see you in San Diego!

New VitalTalk courses are here! We’ve added new ways to learn — virtual and in person — including Australia/New Zealand–friendly time zones, new faculty development locations, and the return of EMTalk and PedsTalk. Explore what’s new and find the course that fits your goals - www.vitaltalk.org

Hard conversations don’t wait for the “right moment.” If you’re looking to feel more prepared, more grounded, and more confident when the stakes are high, our Mastering Tough Conversations course is a powerful way to start the year. Winter/Spring courses now enrolling: vitaltalk.org/mastering-to...

Now available for enrollment - Informed Conversations: Skills for Clinical Trial Discussions, developed in partnership with Fox Chase Cancer Center. Designed for clinicians who want to lead clear, compassionate conversations about clinical trial participation. vitaltalk.org/informed-con...

We’re excited to be back at ACGME this year! Join us February 19–21 to connect, learn more about what we offer, and chat about advancing communication education. #ACGME2026

VitalTalk recently announced the launch of a new course to help clinicians strengthen communication around substance use amid the opioid crisis. Read the full press release here. www.prnewswire.com/news-release...

VitalTalk Launches New Course to Strengthen Clinician Communication Around Substance Use Amid the Opioid Epidemic

/PRNewswire/ -- VitalTalk, the leading organization in improving clinical communication, announced the launch of Conversations That Matter: Engaging Patients...

prnewswire.com