Global First for Observatory

Lancaster University’s International Observatory on End of Life Care is the only institution in the world to offer a Doctorate in Palliative care.

The first such doctorate in the world will begin in June next year, and is intended to be international in focus, appealing to people working in a variety of settings whether as doctors, managers, educators, policy makers or researchers.

The new Director of the Observatory Professor Sheila Payne said: “This is an exciting opportunity for people to study at the highest level and will create the future leaders in palliative care.”

The Observatory already has a worldwide reputation for teaching and research and is well known for its comparative analysis of international hospice and palliative care services.

Liliana De Lima, Executive Director of the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, has worked with the Observatory on several projects.

“I have always admired the excellence and commitment of its staff members as well as the outstanding quality of their work. The Observatory has established a global reputation for the excellence of its work.”

The part-time PhD, normally lasting five years, will be delivered through an annual course at Lancaster and online learning. The aims of the doctorate are to promote advanced practice, enhance leadership and research skills and to develop a critical understanding of policy and practice issues.

The doctorate follows the launch of a successful part-time MA in Hospice Leadership jointly provided by LUMS and the Observatory which was developed in partnership with Help the Hospices. It is designed for chief executives and senior managers who aim to lead hospices in the UK and internationally.