The mission of The CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care at Fresno State is to increase palliative care awareness through education and related activities among faculty, staff, and students. The ‘What Gives Your Life Meaning’ student health and resource fair, draws over 300 students, introducing them to advanced health care directives and providing caregiving resources.

Fresno State is in the San Joaquin Valley. The Engaged University supports community-based projects to improve the quality of life in the region. The CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care at Fresno State is engaged in awareness programs to support caregiving students.

Helen Miltiades, PhD

Faculty Director, Helen Miltiades PhD, is professor and director of the Gerontology Program at Fresno State. Her research interests are in caregiving, and she contributed to the development of the Palliative Care Faculty Toolkit. She leads the Central Valley Long Term Care Supports and Services Coalition, a group dedicated to advocating for supportive services for older adults. She conducts workshops on advanced directives and ethical wills.

Welcome! We are so happy you are with our team.

Rika Meyer, PhD

Professor (Assistant)
California State University, Northridge

Expanding palliative care education, awareness along California’s Central Coast

Cal State Monterey Bay is a public university in Seaside, California, along the state’s northern Central Coast. The CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care at CSUMB is engaged in research, education, and awareness programs aimed at expanding access to high-quality palliative care in the surrounding communities.

Leading research on palliative care education in Monterey County

At the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care at CSUMB, Faculty Director Alyssa Erikson lead research works across campus to facilitate a palliative care faculty learning community, coordinates events to promote awareness around palliative care issues, organizes interprofessional education events with palliative care cases, and collaborates with community partners like Hospice Giving Foundation. She is part of the Monterey County Palliative Care Collaborative group that meets monthly.

Alyssa Erikson, PhD

Alyssa Erikson, is also notably part of the planning committee for Jerry’s Place, a social model hospice home. Their comfortable home-like environment is intended for individuals, enrolled in a hospice program, to live out their final days, specifically when they do not have a safe and stable living situation or caregiver.

We are at a remarkable time globally. Our partnership with CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care is a wonderful opportunity for SJSU to promote palliative care within our existing Interprofessional Care curricula that provide our undergraduate students, graduate students, staff and faculty with competency-based education on how to work with interprofessional health and behavioral health care teams in addressing the needs of patients and clients. This partnership allows us to integrate palliative care into our IP curricula and programs, enabling us to better address chronic pain, end -of-life issues, patient rights, family concerns, and delve deeper into what makes a quality life and the role of health and behavioral services in contributing to that quality of life and the individual’s wishes.

San Jose State University in San Jose, California, is one of the West’s top public universities. Nestled within Silicon Valley, San Jose State University is in the center of innovation in technology, healthcare, and research. We proudly serve diverse students from varied backgrounds and strive to provide rigorous academics and effective guidance and support. Our campus is located near world-renowned medical facilities. We are excited to become a partner of the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care this coming Fall 2025. Our College of Health and Human Sciences is home to Audiology; Public Health and Recreation; Kinesiology; School of Nursing; Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging; Occupational Therapy; School of Social Work. Our other colleges offer Communication Disorders and Sciences, Counseling, Child and Adolescent Development, and Psychology. Each of these disciplines will be enriched through our partnership with CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care as we create research opportunities, educational programs, events, and teaching materials to increase awareness and understanding of palliative care.

Nicole Dubus, PhD

Associate Professor
California State University, San Jose

Nicole Dubus is a licensed clinical social worker and a tenured Associate Professor of social work at SJSU. She has been in the health and behavioral health field for over 35 years and has extensive clinical and research experience working with individuals and families throughout the life course. She is the CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care faculty director at San Jose State University.

The CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care at CSUSM

CSUSM offers a range of programs on and off campus to promote palliative care in our region and enhance the education of current and future palliative care providers. Our “What Gives Your Life Meaning?” campaign encourages participants to think about quality of life and complete advance directives reflecting chosen goals of care. Our annual conference for palliative care professionals provides continuing education and networking opportunities for those working in our region. We offer a monthly POLST Training Webinar for students and in-service professionals seeking to gain confidence in advance care and POLST planning. Our free online Caregiver Support course builds self-care skills for family caregivers. We partner with The Elizabeth Hospice and the CSUSM Center for Contemplative Practices to offer monthly in-person workshops focused on mindfulness and resiliency training for family caregivers supporting hospice patients.

Elevating Palliative Care Awareness & Education in San Diego County

CSUSM values innovation and community engagement. The CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care at CSUSM embodies these values through partnerships with local nonprofits, hospices, and health care agencies invested in the future of palliative care in our region. We promote palliative care teaching, learning and research on the CSUSM campus and provide community education throughout our service region.

Michael Mcduffie, PhD

Faculty Director Michael McDuffie is Associate Professor and Chair of the Philosophy Department at California State University San Marcos. He specializes in bioethics and clinical ethics, and he also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the CSUSM School of Nursing and for the systemwide CSU Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care.

First Year as Campus Partners

The Faculty Learning Community brings together five dedicated faculty members from four diverse disciplines—Nursing, Business, Sociology, and Hutchins Liberal Arts—to collaborate on impactful, interdisciplinary initiatives. This vibrant team is actively engaged in projects that enhance student experiences and community engagement, including curriculum development and implementation, mental health support for students, mapping community resources for palliative care, and strategic event planning. Their collaborative efforts demonstrate a commitment to innovation, student well-being, and meaningful community impact.

Events

As part of its ongoing efforts to foster dialogue and community engagement around end-of-life care and support, the Faculty Learning Community hosted two impactful events. On November 1, 2024, the “Death Cafe” welcomed 15 participants from across the campus community, including faculty, staff, and students, for an open, respectful conversation on death and dying. Looking ahead, the community is organizing a special event titled “Who Cares? On Giving and Receiving Care”, scheduled for April 23, 2025, as part of the WGYLM initiative. This event will feature distinguished speakers including Redwing Keyssar; Dr. Doug Wilson, Palliative Care MD; Denise Turner, Palliative Care Chaplain; and Tess Abts, Hospice and Palliative Care LCSW. These gatherings reflect the community’s commitment to compassionate care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and meaningful dialogue.

Co-Directors:

Krista Altaker, RN, MSN, PhD

Professor and Chair of Nursing
Sonoma State University

Adele Santana, PhD

Business, Sonoma MBA
Sonoma State University