Institute News

California State University Shiley Institute for Palliative Care Announces Seed Grant Funding

Support from the Gary and Mary West Foundation Encourages Projects That Focus on Seniors

SAN DIEGO, CA – June 5, 2018 – The California State University Shiley Institute for Palliative Care has received support for seed grant awards for a third year from the Gary and Mary West Foundation. This year’s funding provides $50,000 for projects that advance palliative care education and research, particularly proposals that focus on improving care for seniors or family caregivers of seniors. Applications for seed grant funding will be accepted through August 27, 2018.

The seed grants are offered in conjunction with the National Symposium for Academic Palliative Care Education and Research, to be held Oct. 11-12, 2018, at the San Diego Hyatt Regency Mission Bay hotel. This annual event is designed to advance education and research in palliative care among educators, researchers and practitioners. Recipients of the grant awards will be announced at the Symposium.

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CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care Symposium Announces Keynote Speakers and Program

National Conference Advances Academic Palliative Care Education and Research

SAN DIEGO, CA – May 29, 2018 –  The California State University Shiley Institute for Palliative Care has announced the keynote speakers headlining this year’s National Symposium for Academic Palliative Care Education and Research.  Quality in Palliative Care: Fusing Education, Research and Practice will be held Oct.11-12, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina in San Diego. The event, designed for educators and practitioners, fosters collaboration and innovation in teaching, research, and patient care, with the goal of improving care and quality of life for seriously ill patients and their families. 

Palliative care provides those with a serious or chronic illness – from the time of diagnosis throughout the course of treatment – care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering. It is delivered by an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists and other practitioners to address the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.

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San Diego Palliative Care Conference to Explore High Tech, High Touch Care

Early bird registration discount available until May 15

San Diego, CA – May 10, 2018 – Palliative care professionals from across San Diego County will gather June 15 at Cal State San Marcos for a full day of education and collaboration on how technology and compassion can be used to improve quality of life for seriously ill patients and families.

Registration is now open for the Third Annual San Diego Palliative Care Conference — themed “Palliative Care: High Tech / High Touch” — presented by the CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care at CSUSM and the San Diego Coalition for Compassionate Care. Featured speakers include renowned palliative care physician Michael Rabow, MD, FAAHPM, delivering the 2018 Thomas J. Chippendale Memorial Keynote Address.

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Changes in Medicare Law Create New Urgency for PA Palliative Care Training

SAN DIEGO – May 7, 2018 – A recent change in federal law that allows physician assistants (PAs) to manage and provide hospice care for Medicare patients is good news for terminally ill patients and families, and highlights the need for effective palliative care education aimed at PAs and other generalist clinicians.

The Medicare Patient Access to Hospice Act, passed by Congress and signed by the President in February, will take effect Jan. 1, 2019. It allows PAs to serve as the attending physician to hospice patients and to provide hospice care within their scope of practice.

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New Program Targets Major Healthcare Workforce Gap

Patients Needing Palliative Care Far Outstrip Number of Trained Providers

SAN DIEGO – March 5, 2018 – A serious workforce gap in palliative medicine that prevents vulnerable patients from accessing needed care has spurred a new education initiative launched by the California State University Shiley Institute for Palliative Care.

The initiative, Primary Palliative Care Skills, is a comprehensive online curriculum that equips family physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other providers to utilize basic palliative care principles in caring for patients with serious or life-limiting disease. Palliative care is a whole person approach to care focused on supporting patient choices, managing pain and psychosocial distress and improving quality of life, with or without curative treatment.

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