NASW’s second annual social work practice conference, “Social Work’s Critical Role in End-of-Life Care,” has added more presenters.

The conference, scheduled for Aug. 4 in Boston, is in collaboration with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. The event will immediately precede NHPCO’s special topic conference “Developing the Care Continuum: Innovative Models to Meet the Unique Needs of Parents/Families,” taking place Aug. 5-7.

The Aug. 4 conference will benefit social workers who provide professional psychosocial services to clients and families affected by serious and life-limiting illnesses.

Attendees will gain a better understanding of the challenges in hospice and palliative care, a topic that is especially timely as the baby boom population advances in age.

The presenters include Patricia O’Donnell, director of the Center for Ethics at Inova Health System in Virginia.

A keynote address will be given by Kenneth J. Doka, professor of gerontology at the Graduate School of The College of New Rochelle and senior consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America. Doka is an internationally known expert in the field of palliative care.

Susan Blacker, director of Cancer Services Planning and Performance in Toronto, is scheduled to provide the conference’s closing remarks.

“Social Work’s Critical Role in End-of-Life Care” will feature general and breakout sessions and interactive panel presentations.

A pre-event reception and poster presentation will take place the evening of Aug. 3.

The Boston event follows NASW’s successful 2009 practice conference in Las Vegas, titled “The Aging Boom: Is Your Clinical Practice Ready?”