Colin Good, a member of the Inaugural Class at Campbell University’s Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM), was selected to be the Student Representative on the American Osteopathic Association’s Council on Palliative Care Issues.
“Palliative care is disease management and chronic care – symptom management for patients with non-curative diseases,” says Good.
The council is charged to develop policy guidelines for pain management and end-of-life care education as well as promoting organ donation awareness and education.
At one time, Hospice was the primary provider for palliative care in an end-of-life context, but now as medical practices and disease states have evolved, patients are living longer with non-curative diseases. In response, palliative care has become multi-disciplinary, specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, the pain, and the stress of a serious illness with the goal of improving the quality of life for both the patient and the family.
“Palliative care is what drew me into medicine,” Colin reflected. “The suffering…helping patients who are experiencing this type of suffering involves treating the mind, body, and spirit – the values of CUSOM.”
Witnessing the need for palliative care with family members in Hospice was not the only experience that drew Colin to medical school; medical missions have also been in his heart for a long time. He went on his first mission for a year between graduating from high school and beginning college. While in Kenya, he saw true need in regards to medical healing as well as spiritual healing. “For me, the trip to Kenya solidified the priority of missions first, and then medicine – that is what brings healing.”
After entering medical school at Campbell, Colin shadowed a palliative care physician at Wake Med between his first and second year of medical school. The experience confirmed his suspicions of the major need in caring for the healthcare system’s most vulnerable and complex patients. “I saw the relief on the faces of patients and families who were overwhelmed with their situations when they found new possibilities thanks to the palliative care they received,” Colin said.
As the AOA Palliative Care Student Representative, he hopes to help educate all healthcare workers about the need for palliative care in home healthcare settings as well as in all hospital departments. “It’s my personal goal to work towards educating my peers and the public through the Council. Also, I am urging educators to integrate palliative care into the curriculum. At some point, everyone will face a situation where a family member or close friend may need the help of a palliative care professional, and I want people to know the option is out there. It’s not limited to end of life decisions; it’s about improving quality of life for all those impacted – the patient and the loved ones.”