Cambia Health Foundation: Honors University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health physician with Sojourns Award

CONTACTS:
Dawn Myrah
(503) 757-7487
dawn@weinsteinpr.com

Susan Lampert Smith
(608) 890-5643

Ssmith5@uwhealth.org

– Dr. Toby Campbell was chosen to receive the $180,000 award
for his work in palliative care –

Madison, WI (September 25, 2014) – The Cambia Health Foundation today announced that Toby Campbell, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, is one of 10 recipients of its Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program. The program recognizes leadership in palliative care, an increasingly important field of health care that relieves suffering and improves quality of life for people facing serious illness.

The inaugural Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program provides emerging palliative care leaders with a two-year, $180,000 grant to support research, clinical, educational or policy projects. The focus of the grant program is to strengthen the palliative care work force by creating a learning community of emerging palliative care leaders.

The 2014 award recipients span the country and areas of focus, with projects that focus on individuals who are recovering from strokes, those with dementia, seriously ill veterans, infants and children and the aging population. The Sojourns scholars are located in California, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Washington and Wisconsin. See profiles of each recipient here: Sojourns Awards Profiles.

Dr. Campbell’s program focuses on improving the decision-making process for older adults facing high-risk decisions about surgery. He created a communication tool to help medical providers describe the available treatment options eliciting the patients’ personal preferences and goals.

“I intend to make an indelible mark on medical practice by influencing the way providers communicate with seriously ill patients and families,” said Dr. Campbell. “The support and visibility provided by the Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program will enable me to continue the push forward on my teaching, leadership, and research efforts to help me meet my goal of changing clinical practice for the better.”

There is a significant need to increase, enhance and support the palliative care workforce on a national level. Today, there is approximately one palliative care medical professional for every 1,200 people facing serious illness. And as the baby boomer population ages, there will be a greatly increased need for palliative care both for patients and their families. In addition to solidifying the future palliative care workforce, the Sojourns program also has the potential to increase general awareness for palliative care. As Americans are diagnosed with serious and chronic illnesses, many do not know what palliative care is or how to access it.

“We created the Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program to recognize and support future innovators and leaders in the field of palliative care, the outstanding doctors and nurses who are really making a difference for patients and families,” said Peggy Maguire, President and Board Chair of the Cambia Health Foundation. “These award recipients are already actively working to advance the field of palliative care, and we hope that our investment will allow them to become the next generation of leaders who will help to improve quality, access and understanding at a crucial time in our nation’s health care landscape.”

Upcoming Sojourns Awards & Palliative Care Summit October 2, 2014

In addition to the Sojourns Scholar Leadership Award Luncheon, Cambia Health Foundation is holding a one-day Palliative Care summit which will bring together regional and national palliative care leaders to share insight and research about palliative care. The event will be held on October 2, 2014 at the Sentinel Hotel in Portland, Oregon. Media are invited to attend this event and are asked to RSVP. Agenda details are available at 2014 Sojourns Awards and Summit.

About Cambia Health Foundation
Based in Portland, Oregon, Cambia Health Foundation is the corporate foundation of Cambia Health Solutions, a total health solutions company dedicated to transforming the way people experience health care. Founded in 2007, Cambia Health Foundation awards grants in three program areas: palliative and end-of-life care through the Foundation’s signature program, Sojourns; Transforming Health Care; and Children’s Health. Since 2007, the Foundation has funded more than $10 million in grants to support these causes. Through Sojourns, Cambia Health Foundation strives to advance patient- and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating suffering. The Foundation is committed to: improving access to and quality of palliative care beyond the hospital setting through increased use of technology and expansion in nontraditional settings and rural areas; facilitating an open dialogue about end-of-life issues; strengthening the workforce to meet increased consumer demand; and recognizing leadership, innovation and inspiration in palliative care. Learn more at www.cambiahealthfoundation.org.