Lucy Kalanithi: Suffering provides our greatest opportunity to love and be loved

“Cancer isn’t always a battle. Death isn’t a war—at least not one we can win. Our job isn’t to fight our fates, necessarily, but to help each other through.”

At Medicine X 2016, Lucy Kalanthi, MD, clinical assistant professor at the Stanford School of Medicine, delivered a mainstage talk chronicling her young husband’s experience with lung cancer, and lessons learned, as a wife, mother and doctor, in the journey through loss.

Kalanathi has been a beloved member of the Stanford Medicine X community since 2013, when she attended as a fellow. Her husband, Paul, a Stanford alumnus who returned to campus for a residency in neurological surgery, was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 2015, at the age of 36. He passed away while working on “When Breath Becomes Air,” a meditation on mortality. Lucy authored the memoir’s epilogue, and has written and spoken widely about her family’s experience and end-of-life care more generally — most recently at TEDMED. She lives in the Bay Area with her 2-year-old daughter, Cady.

Refund Policy

Please note that refund and transfer policies are subject to the specific date restrictions detailed below, and that the registration transfer fee to transfer to another attendee is $100. Additionally, any deferrals to future conference dates are for value only. All refund, transfer, and future credit requests need to be submitted in writing to medicinex@stanford.edu.

Days from Medicine X Refund Policy Registration Transfer Policy Future Event Credit Policy
121+ Days 90% Refund $100 fee 100% of Value can be applied to Medicine X 2018
91-120 Days 75% Refund $100 fee 100% of Value can be applied to Medicine X 2018
61-90 Days 50% Refund $100 fee 100% of Value can be applied to Medicine X 2018
60 Days or Less No Refunds – Transfer or Future Credit $100 fee 100% of Value can be applied to Medicine X 2018
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