Advocating for Equity: The Role of Nurses in Transforming Palliative Care

Palliative care nursing sits at the intersection of compassion, complexity, and justice. This talk explores how nurses can lead efforts to advance equity in palliative care—addressing disparities in access, quality, and outcomes for structurally marginalized communities. Through stories, evidence, and strategies, we’ll examine how advocacy becomes a core nursing practice and a powerful lever for change in serious illness care.

Kelli Stajduhar, PhD, RN, FRSC, FCAHS, FCAN is a Professor in the School of Nursing and a Research Fellow with the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria. Dr. Stajduhar has worked in oncology, palliative care, and gerontology as a nurse, educator, and researcher. Her practice and research focuses on end-of-life, caregiving, and marginalized populations. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and the Canadian Academy of Nursing. In 2021, Dr. Stajduhar received the Tier 1 CRC in Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health.