The Broken Heart Syndrome

Broken Heart Syndrome
Doris Vaughans, LPC, PhD, LPC, NCC

The Broken Heart Syndrome, its diagnostic complexities, its implications for hospice care, and the ethical and clinical considerations involved in supporting patients, caregivers, and bereaved individuals at elevated risk.

Dr. Vaughans will describe the clinical features and contributing factors associated with the Broken Heart Syndrome and discuss the relationship between emotional stressors and the physiological responses that characterize the syndrome. Participants will be able to identify possible risk factors that increase vulnerability among hospice patients, caregivers and bereaved individuals.

About the Dr. Vaughans

Dr. Doris Vaughans has a private practice, Tuscaloosa Center for Cognitive Therapy. She is an international faculty member at Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, the Associate Director of Embedded Counseling at the University of Alabama, and teaches grief counseling at the University of West Alabama as an adjunct professor. Since the death of her beloved son, CJ Vaughans, she has been educating the public on Broken Heart Syndrome.

Dr. Vaughans had a career as a Registered Nurse for more than 22 years in the areas of palliative and hospice care. Dr. Vaughans is the mother of three children, Tiffany, CJ (1985 – 2025), and Lea. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, Tuscaloosa Alumnae Chapter, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, and loves reading, watching football, traveling, all things grandchildren, and spending time with family and friends.