Beyond the Pain Score: Listening to Women with Serious Illness

In this Interprofessional Grand Rounds , we follow the case of a 48-year-old woman living with advanced ovarian cancer whose pain persists despite escalating treatment, and whose concerns risk being overlooked. Through a progressive case discussion, faculty explore how persistent pain is often intertwined with psychological, social, and existential distress.

This session explores how a social worker partners with physicians and advanced practice providers to move beyond symptom escalation, uncover what lies beneath persistent pain, and address the experience of not feeling heard. Designed for palliative care clinicians across disciplines, the discussion emphasizes collaborative strategies to deliver whole-person care that validates, listens, and responds.