Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Explain how the rarity of Huntington’s Disease contributes to inequities in end-of-life care.
2. Identify common systemic and family-level barriers to EOL planning for individuals with HD.
3. Apply ecological and family systems perspectives to support anticipatory, family-centered EOL care.
4. Describe the role of clinical social workers in addressing rarity-related gaps within interdisciplinary healthcare settings.

Presenter Bio

Emily A. Weaver, MSW, LICSW is a Clinical Social Worker and Director of Huntington’s Disease Operations at the MedStar/Georgetown University Huntington Disease Care, Education, and Research Center (HD-CERC). She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, where she completed a certificate in Mental Health, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Clinical Social Work in the College of Social Work at the University of Kentucky, with an expected graduation in May 2026.

Emily’s clinical background spans acute care hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation settings, with a primary focus on individuals and families affected by neurological injury, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and neurodegenerative disease. She also brings experience from alternative-to-incarceration programs and school social work, informing her systems-oriented and equity-driven approach to care.

Her research interests center on health equity, advanced care planning, long-term care, and family-centered interventions in Huntington’s disease. Her doctoral capstone project examines barriers to equitable end-of-life care in Huntington’s disease, with an emphasis on social determinants of health and clinical social work practice. Emily is actively involved in international research collaborations through the European Huntington Disease Network and has co-authored peer-reviewed research published in Youth & Society.

Emily has presented nationally and internationally on Huntington’s disease care, advanced care planning, and interdisciplinary models of support. She is the recipient of the George Washington University Hospital Financial Pillar Award for excellence in patient-centered care and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/25-9/29/28. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.