A Lakehead University professor has been recognized nationally for her work in hospice palliative care.
Mary Lou Kelley is the first researcher from Northwestern Ontario to receive the Award of Excellence in Hospice Palliative Care. She and her team conduct research in a variety of settings, hoping to find bette ways to care for the dying and their families.
“I am honoured to be the recipient of this year’s award,” Kelley said in a release issued Monday by the school.
“The success of my work is due in large part to the strong commitment and participation of health-care organizations, numerous researchers, front-line care providers and patients across the country. It is gratifying to have the Canadian palliative care community recognize our work and the contribution It makes to improving health care.”
She received high praise for her efforts.
“Dr. Kelley is unwavering in her quest to advance quality palliative care and has worked tirelessly to improve end-of-life care across diverse settings and populations including long-term care homes and among seniors,” says Katherine Campbell, chair of the Northwestern Ontario End-of-Life Care Network.
Campbell nominated Kelley for the award because her "leadership, commitment, and achievements have pioneered new ideas and services that have significantly improved access to quality palliative care, especially for seniors and people living in rural, remote, and First Nations communities in Canada.”
Kelley became the first university-based researcher to win the award, which is usually given to a clinician.
Her work is hosted at the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health at Lakehead University.
