An Act of Love: Talking With Your Loved Ones About Serious Illness and End of Life

Join us for a screening and discussion of this 25-minute documentary film that centers the lived experiences of people in Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino and rural communities as they navigate the often-misunderstood world of hospice and palliative care.

Through deeply personal stories, the documentary confronts the myths, mistrust, and cultural silence that surround end-of-life care.  We will hear from families, caregivers, spiritual leaders, and healthcare professionals such as Marisette Hasan, RN,  who are reshaping what it means to prepare and die with dignity.

This film, narrated by Grammy-nominated jazz performer Nnenna Freelon, is not just about end of life—it’s about legacy, love, and the power of being seen and heard in life’s final chapter.

Presenter bio:

Betsy Barton, MPH, CT 

Betsy Barton is the Senior Associate for Community Engagement & Learning at Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh. She plans and conducts interactive education on a variety of topics for clinical and community audiences. 

Before coming to Transitions, she worked at the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life, the Duke Health Inequalities Program, and on Duke research teams related to serious illness, caregiver stress, medical decision-making, and race-based differences regarding decision-making at the end of life. 

She has lived in Durham since 1978, and received her Master of Public Health degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1990.