BJ Miller

Dr. BJ Miller is a palliative care physician at UCSF, the former executive director of Zen Hospice, and a leading voice reframing society’s discourse on death and dying. His new book, A Beginner’s Guide to the End, is a practical guide for preparing for death. Informed by his own experiences as a patient, BJ powerfully advocates for designing better endings. His TED Talk, “What Really Matters at the End of Life” has been viewed over 8 million times. BJ has been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, Krista Tippett, PBS, and The New York Times. During his residency, he worked on an online companion to his new book. From BJ:

“The healthcare system needs an overhaul, and so do our notions of health. I’d like to see death treated as a member of life, with all the rights and responsibilities. I suppose what I really want to see is human nature reveal itself as Nature. Maybe a simpler way to put it is that I’m hoping to help call out false divides.

However you describe them, these are consequential changes and to have any hope of seeing change like this, you need to have a grasp of what is, as well as what could be. One eye on the ground, one in the sky, and the time and space to safely discombobulate. And beyond all that, you need to have someone who believes in you. Mesa Refuge gave me all this. I feel so fortunate looking back, and now so responsible moving forward. Thank you for plucking the excuses that would get between my hopes and my actions, and for compelling me to try.”