DSW CANDIDATES

Stephanie Broussard

LCSW-S, APHSW-C

Everybody is Dying but Nobody Wants to Talk About It: Addressing Disparities in Advance Care Planning for Black Oncology Patients

Abstract

The topic of mortality is often avoided in American culture, with even greater resistance in the Black community. This challenge is exacerbated within the context of health care and serious illness, leaving Black patients and the clinicians that serve them ill-equipped to navigate end-of-life care. Despite death being the great equalizer, the experiences of those with life-limiting illnesses, especially cancer, vary greatly, with the impact of colonialism remaining evident in our perspectives on death and dying. As research on supportive palliative care in oncology grows, discrepancies in utilization for people of color are evident. Black and Brown people with advanced cancer are less likely to participate in advance care planning talks and more likely to receive less than desired end-of-life care. To improve end-of-life care and outcomes for people of color, advance care planning (ACP) is essential. This capstone includes three products aimed at addressing disparities in advance care planning for black oncology patients: a systematic literature review, a conceptual paper establishing a theoretical framework, and an application paper providing practical innovation to this grand challenge.

Bio

Stephanie Broadnax Broussard is a compassionate and dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor (LCSW-S), Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker (APHC-SW), and Certified Advanced Care Planning Facilitator and Trainer. Stephanie is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University and the University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned her master’s degree. Currently, she is pursuing her doctoral degree at the University of Kentucky.

Stephanie is the Director of Palliative Care and Social Work at Texas Oncology. She is also a therapist in private practice, specializing in providing support to individuals and families affected by serious illnesses. Stephanie is a published author, with a chapter included in the Oxford Press Palliative and Oncology Social Work textbook released in 2024. She has also been actively involved in national initiatives related to advance care planning and health-related social needs in oncological care. Notably, Stephanie was appointed as the social work representative to the Texas Palliative Care Advisory Council in 2021.

Beyond her clinical work, Stephanie is a dynamic motivational speaker, advocate, and educator. Her engaging and thought-provoking presentations have earned her opportunities to speak on both national and local platforms.

Stephanie is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and actively serves on the Board of Directors of both Women in Power Empowering and Care and Prepare. While Stephanie takes great pride in her professional achievements, her most cherished roles are those of a loving wife to Cory and a devoted mother to her two boys, Cory and Corben.