The Kinsman Conferences
John Kinsman was a self-made man with an independent spirit. He strongly believed in enhancing the respectful quality of health care for patients in Oregon as well as freely speaking about all aspects of many complex health care ethical issues in Oregon. To further this mission, he endowed in perpetuity the Kinsman Conference Series in 1989 to fund professional conferences on ethical healthcare issues statewide.
The Kinsman Foundation has continued to partner with the Center to:
- Strengthen existing collaboration between hospitals in an effort to advance palliative care in Oregon;
- Build bridges between hospitals and other health care service providers to improve care for patients with serious and life-threatening illnesses;
- Reduce suffering of those with serious and chronic illness, and particularly patients who receive care in more than one setting at the end of their lives and
- Assure patient wishes are respected.