MUSC College of Nursing Expands Global Role in Palliative Care Education Through ELNEC Partnership

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) College of Nursing (CON) has joined the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) as an official partner. This partnership strengthens national and global efforts to prepare the healthcare workforce for the growing demand for palliative care. Alongside City of Hope and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the MUSC College of Nursing reinforces a shared commitment to improving the quality of palliative care in the United States and around the world.

“We are proud to join ELNEC in advancing palliative care education at a time when the need has never been greater. This partnership reflects our deep commitment to preparing nurses who lead with both expertise and compassion and who are ready to care for individuals and families facing serious illness across the lifespan,” said Catherine Durham, DNP, APRN, dean of the College of Nursing. “Together, we are extending the reach of high-quality, evidence-based education and strengthening the workforce in ways that will have real and lasting impact, locally and globally.”

As part of this collaboration, MUSC’s Carrie Cormack, DNP, APRN, associate professor in the College of Nursing, will serve as ELNEC co-director alongside Betty Ferrell, Ph.D., R.N., director of Nursing Research and Education at City of Hope in Duarte, California. Cormack currently leads ELNEC’s international initiatives and serves as the lead palliative care faculty member in the CON. Judy Paice, Ph.D., R.N., director of the Cancer Pain Program at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, will continue as curriculum director, overseeing the continued growth of ELNEC’s core/critical care, pediatric, geriatric, advanced practice and interprofessional communication programs.

Ferrell said the partnership comes at an important time as demand for palliative care continues to grow. “In its 26th year, ELNEC is advancing its mission to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver evidence-based, patient-centered care. Palliative care needs continue to rise as patients across all ages and diagnoses require compassionate, high-quality support for serious illness. This partnership with MUSC, and Dr. Cormack’s leadership, is a tremendous asset to continue this important work.”

Together, ELNEC’s leadership, faculty and global network of trainers are advancing education and outreach efforts worldwide. To date, ELNEC has prepared more than 56,000 trainers, who have educated more than 1.8 million clinicians across all 50 states and in 150 countries. The program also reaches more than 1,200 undergraduate and 450 graduate nursing programs, with faculty development efforts led by Andra Davis, Ph.D., RN, and Megan Lippe, Ph.D., RN, including national nursing school faculty workshops hosted in partnership with the University of Portland.

ELNEC will host a two-day summit at MUSC in Charleston, Aug. 20 and 21. The summit will bring together palliative care experts, educators and clinicians from MUSC and across the nation to advance palliative care education and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration. Participants will engage with national leaders in the field, explore innovative approaches to serious illness care and gain practical strategies to improve outcomes for individuals with serious illnesses and their families.

The summit will offer continuing education credits through its signature Train-the-Trainer format, equipping attendees with the knowledge, skills and resources to lead palliative care education initiatives and expand access to high-quality palliative care within their clinical, academic and community settings.

For more information, visit www.aacnnursing.org/elnec/courses/national-courses.