--- title: "Love Hurts: Leadership, Quality, and the Future of Hospice & Palliative Care | Part One" description: TCNtalks / Anatomy of Leadership host Chris Comeaux and co-host Cordt Kassner join forces with Dr. Eric Widera and Dr. Alex Smith of the GeriPal Podcast, leaders in Palliative Care and Hospice innovation discuss emerging quality measures, data-driven hospice analytics, research challenges, and the leadership needed to guide healthcare organizations through change. --- [TCNTalks ](https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast) # [Love Hurts: Leadership, Quality, and the Future of Hospice & Palliative Care | Part One](https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast/love-hurts-leadership-quality-and-the-future-of-hospice-palliative-care-part-one) Written by [Chris Comeaux](https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast/author/chris-comeaux) | 3/4/26 4:24 PM This episode explores the future of **hospice leadership and hospice quality** through a collaborative discussion between the *TCNtalks* and *GeriPal* podcasts.     *TCNtalks* / Anatomy of Leadership host Chris Comeaux and co-host Cordt Kassner join forces with Dr. Eric Widera and Dr. Alex Smith of the *GeriPal Podcast*, leaders in Palliative Care and Hospice innovation discuss emerging quality measures, data-driven hospice analytics, research challenges, and the leadership needed to guide healthcare organizations through change.   For professionals working in **healthcare leadership and serious illness care**, the conversation offers valuable insight into the policies, research, and innovations shaping the future of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.   This is a thoughtful roundtable discussion on leadership, quality, and the evolving future of Hospice and Palliative Care. Together, they explore the biggest stories shaping the field—from emerging quality metrics and research priorities to the human side of hospice leadership.   If you’re passionate about improving serious illness care, this conversation is just the beginning.  Subscribe to **TCNtalks/Anatomy of Leadership** and **GeriPal** to stay informed on the latest trends in Hospice leadership, Palliative Care innovation, and healthcare policy.  Share this episode with a colleague, discuss it with your team, and join the movement to strengthen the mission and future of Hospice Care.   (This episode is a Top News Stories of Month February 2026) [HPC Today Top News Stories](https://www.teleioscn.org/hubfs/Teleios%20Collaborative%20Network/Documents/HPC%20Today%20Top%20News%20Stories%202026.02.pdf) [**Teleios Monthly Podcast Articles February 2026 Newsletter **](https://www.teleioscn.org/hubfs/Teleios%20Collaborative%20Network/Documents/Publicly%20Available%20Teleios%20Monthly%20Podcast%20Articles%20February%202026%20Newsletter.pdf) [Show Transcript](https://www.teleioscn.org/hubfs/Teleios%20Collaborative%20Network/Documents/Transcript-%20%20Love%20Hurts-%20Leadership%2c%20Quality%2c%20and%20the%20Future%20of%20Hospice%20%26%20Palliative%20Care%20%7C%20Part%20One.pdf)         Our Guest ## Dr. Eric Widera  Professor of Medicine and Clinician-Educator inthe Division of Geriatrics at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and Co-Host of Geri-Pal Podcast [Biography](https://www.teleioscn.org/hubfs/Teleios%20Collaborative%20Network/Documents/Eric%20Widera%20is%20a%20Professor%20of%20Medicine%20and%20clinician%20bio.pdf) [GeriPal Podcast](https://geripal.org/geripal-podcast)   ## Dr. Alex Smith UCSF Faculty in the Division of Geriatrics and Co-Host of Geri-Pal Podcast [Biography](https://www.teleioscn.org/hubfs/Teleios%20Collaborative%20Network/Documents/Alex%20Smith%20bio.pdf) [**GeriPal Podcast**](https://geripal.org/geripal-podcast)   Co-Host ## Cordt Kassner  PhD, Publisher of Hospice & Palliative Care Today & CEO and Founder of Hospice Analytics  [** Contact  **](mailto:ckassner@hospiceanalytics.com) **[Biography](https://www.teleioscn.org/hubfs/Teleios%20Collaborative%20Network/Documents/Cordt%20T%20Kassner%20bio.pdf) ** [Hospice and Palliative Care Today](https://www.hospicepalliativecaretoday.com/) **Subscribe for free** [www.hospicepalliativecaretoday.com](https://www.hospicepalliativecaretoday.com/)     Our Host ## Chris Comeaux MLAS, CPA President / CEO of Teleios [Request More Information](mailto:ccomeaux@teleioscn.org) Order Book On Amazon** ** [The Anatomy Of Leadership](https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Leadership-What-Do-Leaders/dp/B0CP1H4Q9Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13TCTTE4MERHU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.k8JMNI42KjHquGeyhSi2yVsqgt34wii5hGbTnBxh7y_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.lb1wV3NFqwfao2camDL9e5NU93vuV9f3YVbZrNXuARs&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+anatomy+of+leadership+by+chris+comeaux&qid=1723572559&sprefix=The+Anatomy+Of+Leadership%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1)                   [View full post](https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast/love-hurts-leadership-quality-and-the-future-of-hospice-palliative-care-part-one) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Chris Comeaux" }, "dateModified" : "2026-03-06T15:38:52.319Z", "datePublished" : "2026-03-04T16:24:42Z", "headline" : "Love Hurts: Leadership, Quality, and the Future of Hospice & Palliative Care | Part One", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 1700, "url" : "https://4731444.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4731444/GeriPal_blog%20thumbnail%20Part%20One.jpeg", "width" : 2550 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.teleioscn.org/tcntalkspodcast/love-hurts-leadership-quality-and-the-future-of-hospice-palliative-care-part-one", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png", "width" : 60 }, "name" : "Podcasts" } } ```