“Motivational Interviewing For Medical Decision Making” Topic Of Schindler Lecture

Chesapeake Life Center invites the community to the 20th annual Emily Schindler memorial lecture, “Motivational Interviewing for Medical Decision Making,” presented by Christopher Wirt. The lecture will be held from 9:30am to 12:30pm on September 12 in the Fellowship Hall at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, located at 611 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard.

When someone is seriously ill or nearing the end of life, they and their loved ones often face tough medical decisions that can bring up a lot of emotions and uncertainty. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a practical, evidence-based approach for helping people resolve ambivalence and clarify their values in a way that guides them toward positive change and growth.

This interactive session will introduce the basics of MI — what it is, how it works and how to use it. Wirt will demonstrate how MI can be especially helpful in hospice, palliative care, and hospital settings, and offer opportunities to participants for skill development. By learning how to listen deeply, ask the right questions and build trust, professionals can discover how MI can make challenging conversations more meaningful and supportive for patients and caregivers.

The annual lecture was created in 2005 through a gift to the Schindler family from the Saint Agnes Cancer Center. Emily Schindler was an 18-year-old freshman at Frostburg State University and a member of the SPY swim team in Severna Park when she was killed in a car accident in 2004.

Registration begins at 9:00am and a light breakfast will be provided. Maryland board social workers can earn three category 1 continuing education credits. The cost is $30. Preregistration is required and can be completed at education.hospicechesapeake.org/item/2025-schindler.

For details, call 888-501-7077 or email griefinfo@chesapeakelifecenter.org.

About The Presenter

Christopher Wirt is the executive branch director with Bethany Christian Services. He oversees efforts to serve children and families in Maryland and Virginia, including programs working with children who are unaccompanied refugee migrants, as well as infant and foster care adoption services.

Since 2018, he has been a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), an international organization committed to promoting excellence in training of Motivational Interviewing (MI). Wirt has offered MI training to a variety of professionals across the country and has presented on MI at national conferences.

Wirt’s direct practice experience includes 16 years of working with children and families involved in the child welfare system, primarily in foster care and adoption services. He was a faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Social Work for 12 years and currently teaches a graduate-level MI course at the University of Buffalo. He earned his bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and his master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland.