Institute for Palliative and End of Life Care

Vision

Improved understanding and utilization of palliative care will foster optimum quality of life – physical, psychosocial and spiritual - in the presence of serious illness and the final stages of life.

— Pierre Tielhard de Chardin

"We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey."

Mission

Marquette College of Nursing’s Institute for Palliative and End of Life Care (IPEOLC) aims to change the status of palliative, serious illness, and end-of-life care and education.

Purpose

The IPEOLC contributes to improvements in palliative and serious illness care through its education, research, clinical, interprofessional, and community activities. In accordance with the Jesuit educational principle, "Care for the Whole Person," the IPEOLC educates students, clinicians from multiple disciplines and the public about palliative care. It promotes research and quality initiatives and serves as a resource for information with the aim of further improving this vital area of care.

Palliative Care and Hospice

Palliative care is specialized care for individuals with serious illness that aims to relieve pain, stress, and other symptoms of the illness to improve quality of life for an individual and their family. Palliative care an extra layer of support provided best by a health care team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who focus on the individual’s health care needs as well as their wishes and goals. Palliative care can be provided in many health care settings. It is appropriate for a person at any age or any stage in a serious illness, and can be provided along with curative-focused treatment.

Hospice care is care provided by an interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and other team members (including chaplain, volunteer, and bereavement services) for individuals with advanced, serious, terminal illness whose goals are for supportive care.  Its focus is on quality of life of the individual and their family. It addresses the individual’s physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. Hospice care can be provided in a variety of settings.

History of Marquette IPEOLC/Aurora Visiting Nurses Association

In 2003, Marquette College of Nursing Institute for End-of-Life Care Education and the Aurora Visiting Nurses Association (part of Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee) formed a unique partnership to advance the quality of end-of-life care, working together to forge new initiatives in care, education and services. In 2012, it was renamed the Institute for Palliative and End of Life Care (IPEOLC).

Thank you for your interest in the IPEOLC.

Recent Events

wake lecture group photo 2022

2022 James Wake Memorial Lecture
Grief and Grieving Through a Multi-Disciplinary Lens by Mary-Frances O’Connor

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 | 4 to 5:30 p.m. CST

If you missed the program or would like to view it again, the archived recording and slide presentation is now available. 

Instructions for viewing: 

  1. Click on the link. When the page opens, click on the “WATCH NOW” link. 
  2. A Zoom registration page to watch the video will open. 
  3. Fill out the registration form and submit. 
  4. The video will open for viewing. 

Grief and Loss Healing Ceremony 

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 | 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. CST

If you missed the ceremony, HERE is the material that was handed out at the event. 

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Resources