BACKGROUND: Psychologists, social workers, and spiritual care professionals report inadequate preparation to maximize their effectiveness in advocating for institutional reform to meet oncology patients' diverse bio-psychosocial-spiritual and cultural needs. This article provides an overview of the ACE Project, a National Cancer Institute, 5 year, R25-funded transdisciplinary palliative care education program designed to enhance the advocacy and leadership skills of 301 competitively selected psycho-oncology professionals. METHODS: ACE Project participants identified an institutional goal, refined their goals during the course and received mentorship and support throughout the subsequent year. Participants were invited to return to a Reunion Conference in year five to report on their activities, network, and share the results of their change efforts. A subset of 28 ACE Project participants contributed to this OMEGA special issue. RESULTS: Participants' goals primarily focused on strategies to improve clinical care through program development and improvements in palliative care education within their institutions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this transdisciplinary leadership skills-building program for psycho-oncology professionals affirm the feasibility and perceived need for the program. See the ACE Project website (http://www.cityofhope.org/education/health-professional-education/nursing-education/ACE-project/Pages/default.aspx) for additional program information.
BACKGROUND: Psychologists, social workers, and spiritual care professionals report inadequate preparation to maximize their effectiveness in advocating for institutional reform to meet oncology patients' diverse bio-psychosocial-spiritual and cultural needs. This article provides an overview of the ACE Project, a National Cancer Institute, 5 year, R25-funded transdisciplinary palliative care education program designed to enhance the advocacy and leadership skills of 301 competitively selected psycho-oncology professionals. METHODS:ACE Project participants identified an institutional goal, refined their goals during the course and received mentorship and support throughout the subsequent year. Participants were invited to return to a Reunion Conference in year five to report on their activities, network, and share the results of their change efforts. A subset of 28 ACE Project participants contributed to this OMEGA special issue. RESULTS:Participants' goals primarily focused on strategies to improve clinical care through program development and improvements in palliative care education within their institutions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this transdisciplinary leadership skills-building program for psycho-oncology professionals affirm the feasibility and perceived need for the program. See the ACE Project website (http://www.cityofhope.org/education/health-professional-education/nursing-education/ACE-project/Pages/default.aspx) for additional program information.
Authors: Meaghann S Weaver; Katherine E Heinze; Katherine P Kelly; Lori Wiener; Robert L Casey; Cynthia J Bell; Joanne Wolfe; Amy M Garee; Anne Watson; Pamela S Hinds Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2015-12 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Meaghann S Weaver; Katherine E Heinze; Cynthia J Bell; Lori Wiener; Amy M Garee; Katherine P Kelly; Robert L Casey; Anne Watson; Pamela S Hinds Journal: Palliat Med Date: 2015-04-28 Impact factor: 4.762
Authors: Shirley Otis-Green; Barbara Jones; Brad Zebrack; Lisa Kilburn; Terry A Altilio; Betty Ferrell Journal: J Cancer Educ Date: 2015-09 Impact factor: 2.037