Robert Gordon University (RGU) has today announced the appointment of Kandyce Powell, executive director of The Maine Hospice Council and Center for End of Life Care (MHC), as visiting professor.
Kandyce began developing a Hospice Program at the Maine State Prison 18 years ago. For the past three years she has been working closely with RGU Occupational Therapy lecturer Stephanie Morrison and the School of Health Sciences, in a collaboration of learning, designed to expand boundaries between the USA and Scotland.
The work to date has focused on the development of a module entitled ‘Humanising Healthcare’, in conjunction with the International Futures Forum and Dr Margaret Hannah, which involved prisoners at Maine State Prison, who are volunteers in the Prison Hospice Programme.
The success of the delivery of the module with the prisoners was achieved through the collaboration and support of Maine State Prison.
The partnership between RGU, Maine Department of Corrections and Maine Hospice Council, enabled 12 prisoners at Maine State Prison in 2017, undertake an MSc module entitled Humanising Healthcare. Building on the successful collaboration, it is envisaged this will extend to involve occupational therapy students and the hospice volunteers in discussing the importance of ‘humanising healthcare’ in the prison setting.
Commenting on her appointment, Kandyce said: “I am honored to accept this position in order to continue ground-breaking collaborative work with my colleagues at the Maine State Prison, the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) and Robert Gordon University.”
Liz Hancock, Head of RGU’s School of Health Sciences, added: “Kandyce visited RGU in November 2017 to host a seminar, building on the innovative collaborative prison hospice work, between occupational therapy and the School of Health Sciences, in relation to Humanising Healthcare.
“Kandyce’s expertise in end of life and palliative care and the challenges of remote and rural working will add to the expertise within the School of Health Sciences and ongoing collaborations with Maine State Prison.”
Stephanie Morrison will attend the Maine State Prison Hospice Conference on, June 25 - 26, as an invited guest speaker to continue the ongoing collaboration.
