PANELISTS
Dr. William LaRock, RN, PhD, is a Nurse Practitioner in adult medicine and psychiatry with subspecialties in adult primary care medicine, chemical dependence and psychiatry. He received his PhD from Columbia University in New York with a focus on building public health capacity in under resourced international settings. LaRock was a faculty member at the University of California at San Francisco School of Nursing, Columbia University and New York University where he taught courses in psychiatry, primary care medicine and homeless healthcare. Dr. LaRock has spent his career as a healthcare provider to underserved individuals living in extreme poverty in the United States and internationally. He has served as a capacity building consultant in public health systems development in both Rwanda and South Africa and most recently as part of international Ebola response efforts in Liberia. He was featured in the 2017 documentary Inventing the Nurse Practitioner in America. He has for the last 5 years served as clinical director for the End the Epidemic grant project at VNSNY Select Health Choice, a Medicare special needs plan, overseeing the efforts of Peer outreach teams to reengage plan members in HIV care and treatment.

Marne Lucas is a multidisciplinary artist based in Harlem, New York whose practice spans photography, video and sculpture and social practice. Lucas works at the intersection of art, activism and health, using conceptual overlaps: life’s energy, intimacy, the body, mortality and transformation. The ‘Bardo ∞ Project explores creativity as a form of spiritual care in collaborations with terminally ill artists to best establish their legacy. Towards this endeavor Lucas trained to be an End of Life Doula, a role that supports the dying and their families. Lucas exhibits worldwide at Plaxall Gallery (NYC), The Brand Library (Los Angeles), PICA (Oregon), Fremantle Arts Centre (Perth, AU), and Space Plus (Lincoln, U.K), Peltz Gallery (London). Lucas received UMEZ Creative Engagement grants in 2021, 2018 administered by the LMCC (NYC.) www.marnelucas.com

Avery Leora Ross is a dedicated and resourceful community and family advocate with ten years of positive impact working within agency settings serving countless families in the New York area. Skilled at needs assessment for bereavement programs and group facilitation coupled with versatile leadership and project management skills. As a volunteer with the Hospice of New York and the Services Program for Older People, Avery’s calling as a grief counselor and bereavement facilitator, has compelled her desire to support and reframe the tasks associated with the loss of a loved one giving the group/ individual an opportunity to acknowledge and accept the natural stages of loss and guiding them through the process of creating a new normal. As a budding gerontologist, and a member of the Gerontological Society of America, Hospice, Palliative and End-of- Life Care division, Avery’s desire and compassion for all New Yorkers to have the right to choose their end-of- life care has ignited her to advocate for the Medical-Aid in Dying Act that has passed in eight states and is on the schedule to be passed here in New York State has joined forces with End-of-Life Choices and Compassion and Choices.

Mangda Sengvanhphen is a mixed media artist, an energy healing practitioner and the founder of BACII. Through her creative and healing platform, BACII – she seeks to illuminate the end of life, while exploring our relationship to our mortality. Her work is guided by her Laotian last name, which means “the light of the full moon.” Mangda lives and works in Manhattan, New York. www.mangxseng.com

Modestine Teas– a ritual-focused wellness brand centering mind, body and soul connection and the magic of Tea Ceremonies, is a black, woman owned business based in Harlem, founded by Laura Cepeda. www.modestinetea.com