Palliative Care

Palliative Care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual (WHO, 2022).

Palliative Care Programs

Our Palliative Care Education programs focus on caring for individuals with life-threatening, progressive illnesses, emphasizing respect for patients’ and families’ beliefs, values, and choices.

Education

Our Palliative Care Practice team focuses on self-care with activities including resiliency training, teambuilding, music and art therapy, massages, yoga, and much more.

Practice

Our Palliative Care Research team focuses on the importance of nurses having a seat at the table and engaging directly with the critical work of palliative care.

Research

MUSC's palliative care team is made up of specially-trained doctors, advanced practice nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers who work together with primary medical teams treating serious illnesses.

MUSC Health Palliative Care

APP Externship

The Palliative Care Advanced Practice Provider Externship is a week-long immersion course led by faculty who are nationally and internationally known palliative care experts. This immersion is geared toward the practice of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and Physician Assistants (PAs).

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DNP Palliative Care

As a leader in palliative care education, the MUSC College of Nursing has been recognized for its holistic approach to emphasizing the value in palliative care.

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“ I will always remember sitting on the couch in her home that was built by her great-great grandfather, listening to her talk about how cancer had changed her life, what she hoped for and what she worried about. ”

Nicole Sartor, May 2022 Graduate
Read Nicole's Story

Image for Testimonial Card - Nicole Slater

“ I saw what a difference that supportive services, like hospice and palliative care, made in the lives of patients and families. I knew it was my passion to make sure that access to that care was widespread. ”

Christina McDaniel DNP, RN
Read Christina's Story

“ My passion for palliative care began while I was working in a medical intensive care unit. Being an ICU nurse, I often would see patients at the end of life and the turmoil it caused them and their loved ones. ”

Jessica Madiraca
Read Jessica's Story

“ To me the heart of palliative care is supporting others to maximize their quality of life while facing serious illness and supporting their friends and family. ”

Diana Layne RN, PhD
Read Diana's Story

Palliative Care News

Woman in blue medical scrubs smiles while sitting in a chair.

Dr. Aminah Fraser-Rahim

Alum Profile: Palliative care nurse brings empathy, life experiences to help patients, families.

APP Externship

This week-long immersion course led by internationally known palliative care experts.

members of the palliative care team discuss their patients in a hallway.

Leaders in Palliative Care

Palliative Care is a large part of MUSC’s core values and curriculum.

Leadership

Carrie L. Cormack
Lead Faculty
DNP, APRN, CPNP-BC, FAAN
cormackc@musc.edu

Kathleen O. Lindell
Mary Swain Endowed Chair in Palliative Care
Ph.D., RN, ATSF, FAAN
lindellk@musc.edu

Tiffany Harrison
Palliative Care Education Coordinator
hartiffa@musc.edu

Meet Your Lead Faculty, Dr. Carrie Cormack

Dr. Carrie Cormack is the Distinguished Professor in Palliative Care and Associate Professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at the College of Nursing. Dr. Cormack earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, and her Master of Science in Nursing degree and Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from MUSC.

Dr. Cormack moved to South Carolina as a new graduate Registered Nurse to follow her dreams of working in Pediatric Nursing. Now, with over 20 years’ experience in Pediatric Nursing, she has worked in acute care, Developmental Pediatrics, Pediatric Orthopaedics, as the Director of Nursing at a school for children with severe and multiple disabilities, and with a community based palliative care organization. She continues to specialize in palliative care and, in addition to her faculty work, she is now working with the MUSC pediatric palliative care team in perinatal palliative care. Dr. Cormack is certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board and the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center. She is dedicated to increasing palliative care education in nursing programs and is an emerging leader in palliative care graduate nursing education.

She serves as faculty for the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) and educates others in end-of-life care both nationally and internationally. She has been instrumental in the integration of Palliative Care into the programs at the College of Nursing and lead the development and implementation of the new Post-MSN to DNP in Lifespan Palliative Care track. Dr. Cormack is committed to ensuring that nurse graduates at all levels are prepared to deliver quality palliative care for individuals with serious illness and their families.

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou'

Palliative Care Digital Badges

Share your skills, knowledge and accomplishments

Digital Badges are a new and innovative way to recognize learning, qualifications, and professional development. You will be able to share your earned badge on various social networks including Linked In, Facebook, etc. Interested parties, including potential employers will be able to easily view and verify this accomplishment.

Undergraduates

Undergraduate Palliative Care Digital Badge

Graduates

Competencies: From ELNEC & RELIAS

Undergraduates: Download Competencies From ELNEC
Graduates: Download Competencies From ELNEC