Professor Kimberley Widger of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing has been renewed for a five-year term as the Canada Research Chair – Tier 2 – in Pediatric Palliative Care. The renewed appointment recognizes Widger’s standing as a leading expert in the field and her passion for ensuring quality palliative care is available for all children.
“It is an incredible honour to be renewed for a second term as Canada Research Chair and more importantly as a voice advocating for good pediatric palliative care and supports for children and their families. Though it is a form of care that no parent wishes to require for their child, it is critical that we have quality palliative care in place for the youngest members of our society,” says Widger, who is also a Nursing Research Associate with the Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT) at Sick Kids Hospital and Adjunct Scientist at the ICES.
First term as Chair
In her first term as Canada Research Chair, Widger helped to advance the expansion of pediatric palliative care services at the national level and provided guidance on policies related to access to care services. She has also led an international study, which is now in its final stages, with researchers from nine different countries aimed at identifying the most important indicators for clinicians to use when assessing the quality of palliative care for children.
Widger’s research has had a national impact. It has proven essential in developing policies that support the integration of pediatric palliative care into the routine care of all children diagnosed with a life-threatening condition instead of only for those at end of life.
“World-wide there is a rising prevalence of life-threatening illnesses among children. It is imperative we ensure that optimal pediatric palliative care is available for children regardless of their choice of location in which to receive that care, and whether they survive or die from their condition,” says Widger.
Looking ahead
In her renewed role as Canada Research Chair Widger will continue to be responsible for measuring the quality of pediatric palliative care in Canada. This includes examining ways to enhance its delivery, improving outcomes for both children and their families as well as the health systems in which they receive care. She will also be assessing the scope of grief and bereavement services available for children and improving best practices for pediatric palliative care referrals across the country.