Seventeen years ago, Greg and Denise Venable celebrated their fourth anniversary on a February Thursday night. Happy and carefree, they couldn’t foresee how much their lives were about to change.
Within 24 hours, one foot of then 45-year-old Greg’s ascending and descending aorta dissected. Twenty-two hours of surgery over two consecutive days ensued. Doctors, in deliberate tones, shared mortality rates with Denise; others presented papers for Denise to sign. An unwilling participant, she found herself thrust into the scary world of serious illness and supportive care.
Multiple teams of doctors and nurses repaired Greg’s aorta and identified and stopped an elusive bleed under his heart. During surgery, Greg also suffered a significant stroke—the perfect storm resulting in long-term illness and support needs for the Venable family.
After the initial medical event, an interprofessional care team provided the Venables with services including medical and decision-making information; stress, pain, and nutrition support; symptom management for a variety of complications; spiritual and emotional support; patient advocacy resources; insurance and facility navigation; and even more.
“The demand for professionals who understand the complexity of critical and serious illness and provide supportive care is on the rise,” notes Niki Munk, Ph.D., chair of the health sciences department in the School of Health & Human Sciences. “[This is] driven by an aging population and increased awareness of palliative care’s importance across the life span. This means that job opportunities across disciplines within patient- and client-care roles are expected to continue growing.”
For these reasons, the department is launching a minor in serious illness and supportive care (SISC), intended to provide students with a deeper understanding of palliative care—the team whose focus is based on needs and quality of life not just for patients, but also their families. Cancer, heart failure, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke are samples of diseases palliative-care team members address.
Open to all IU Indianapolis students, particularly those in disciplines involving the care of people, the SISC minor “equips students with a strong foundation in empathetic caregiving, ethics, and the navigation needs for those experiencing or supporting those experiencing serious or critical illness,” said Munk, who anticipates the minor will give students a competitive advantage by differentiating them from other applicants within the health-care or other helping professional fields.
The minor is designed to develop a solid foundation of serious and critical illness concepts and classifications, including diseases and conditions that lead to fragile health states. It also will prepare students for interdisciplinary roles in health care, social work, counseling, and related fields.
“We knew nothing about this type of care before this happened,” Denise Venable shared, noting that the family of four temporarily lost most of its income, its routine and structure, and that the impact of Greg’s illness was their new normal. “I think this program can help students give patients information they need to make decisions and manage everything that comes with this type of illness.”
To help launch the minor, the department is hosting Pathways to Compassionate Care: A Serious Illness and Supportive Care Symposium. Internationally regarded palliative care expert R. Sean Morrison, M.D., will help attendees gain insights into critical illness, identify strategies for enhancing patient quality of life, and elevate compassionate caregiving skills.
Immediately following Dr. Morrison’s presentation, faculty and participants are invited to a networking reception. Students and staff who want to learn more about the minor may attend a lunch and learn.
To read more about the minor or register for the free Thursday, February 29, noon event, visit go.iu.edu/sisc.