2024 Embalming & Restorative Art Seminar
Thank you to the participants who joined us at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science (PIMS) for this informative seminar May 2-3, 2024.
Speakers
Michael Burns
Dean of Faculty and Students, Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science
Michael Burns, CFSP, is the Dean of Faculty and Students at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He has been licensed for over 30 years and spent a large portion of his career in the field as a funeral home manager. After earning his masters in adult education and training, he joined the PIMS staff in administration. During the last few years, he has taught numerous online and on campus courses at the school. In addition to his responsibilities as the Dean, he is the school’s Care Center supervisor, manages the team of instructors and facilitated the redesign of the new Restorative Art lab at the school. Dean Burns is also the InSight Institute Certified Celebrant trainer at PIMS. He was recently certified to present on Child Abuse Recognition by the state of Pennsylvania.
Chris Farmer
General Counsel, NFDA
Chris has been serving funeral service for almost 20 years. He was in-house counsel for SCI from 2003-2008 before he started in private practice representing funeral homes, cemeteries, and crematories of all sizes across North America. Chris was General Counsel for the Texas Funeral Directors Association and General Counsel and on the Board of Directors for the Cremation Association of North America for over 7 years each. Chris founded The Farmer Firm eight years ago and served as outside general counsel to many successful businesses. As NFDA’s General Counsel, Chris provides counsel on litigation, regulatory matters, business matters, buying and selling, employment law, and any other legal matters our profession faces.
Nicholas Ricci
Instructor, Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science
Nick has been an instructor at PIMS since February of 2016 and moved into the position as a full-time faculty member in July of 2019. He teaches several business courses at PIMS and specializes in the Arts portion of the curriculum. Nick is a 2010 graduate of Woodland Hills High School; January 2014 graduate of Duquesne University School of Business (Finance); January 2015 graduate (Class 150) of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science; and is currently enrolled in Concord Law School, an online law program through Purdue University Global. Nick is also an instructor in the clinical embalming and restorative art lab experiences at PIMS.
Agenda
Thursday, May 2, 2024
| 7:15 – 8:15 a.m.
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Registration/Check-in, Continental Breakfast
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| 8:15 – 8:30 a.m.
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Welcome
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| 8:30 – 10 a.m.
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Embalming Risk Management
Explore the malpractice risks embalmers (like doctors and hospitals) may face from consumers unsatisfied with embalming results. He will discuss how a malpractice lawsuit is conducted and offer commonsense steps and legal forms to help embalmers reduce liability exposure.
Chris Farmer, NFDA General Counsel
|
| 10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
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Break
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| 10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
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Live Embalming/Lecture on What Happens First, Part I
Understand the techniques for proper identification, the importance of the authorization to embalm, disinfection of the body, positioning techniques, case analysis, and chemical selection.
Michael Burns, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Nick Ricci, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
|
| 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
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Lunch
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| 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
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Live Embalming/Lecture on Arterial Injection, Part II
Learn how and why certain sites are selected for injection and drainage. Instructors will discuss the proper fluid dilutions, distribution and diffusion for the case analysis presented.
Michael Burns, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Nick Ricci, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
|
| 2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
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Break
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| 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
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Live Embalming/Lecture on Aspiration/ Cavitation, Part III
During this three part live demonstration, instructors will compare and contrast immediate and delayed aspiration along with demonstrating proper cavitation techniques.
Michael Burns, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Nick Ricci, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
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| 3:45 – 4:15 p.m.
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Question & Answers/Wrap-up
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| 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
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Welcome Reception
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Friday, May 3, 2024
| 8 – 8:30 a.m.
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Continental Breakfast
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| 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
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Live Embalming/Lecture on terminal disinfection and follow-up care. Part IV
Review of proper techniques when working with the deceased post embalming: preservation, pathological and restorative issues along with ‘the unexpected.
Michael Burns, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Nick Ricci, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
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| 9:30 – 9:45 a.m.
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Break
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| 9:45 – 11:15 a.m.
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Live Embalming/Lecture on cosmetics, Part V
Learn proper restorative art techniques along with what to use, when to use it and how to use it.
Michael Burns, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
Nick Ricci, Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer
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| 11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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Ask the Experts Panel
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| 12 p.m.
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Thank you and closing remarks
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