A Reflection from Ethan Harned
Dear colleagues and members of the Global Partners in Care network,
As the sun sets on my time as an intern with Global Partners in Care (GPIC), I find myself reflecting upon the journey we have shared. It is truly bittersweet as I think back on the memories shared, progress made, relationships built and the growth I experienced.
Since 2022, I have worked in the GPIC office to support operations and collaborations. Lacey Ahern, executive director of GPIC, also served as my faculty advisor at the University of Notre Dame. This allowed me to combine my academic pursuits and work with GPIC, fostering my growth as a scholar and professional. As part of this, I have been fortunate enough to travel to Uganda and South Africa through both an experiential learning internship and a formal academic research project.
What began with the goal of doing work to support GPIC through a short-term summer internship quickly evolved into a long-term engagement. Through my internship, I came to realize how powerful the work of palliative care is and how vital a force it can be to communities across the globe. This inspired me, and I became encouraged to grow through this work, learning to become a better collaborator, professional and advocate along the way.
Above all else, I am grateful to all of you in the GPIC network for mentoring and teaching me along the way. To the teams I worked with during my academic projects, Palliative Care for Children South Africa, Palliative Care Association of Uganda and Sunflower Children’s Hospice, you will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for your friendship and willingness to support my growth. I would not be where I am today without you!
On a more personal note, I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to Lacey, John and the entire GPIC team. You took a chance on me years ago, and I will forever be appreciative of that. We shared tender moments and incredible camaraderie over the years. Through it all, you have challenged me to become better in all that I do. In working with you, I learned the true meaning of “partnership” and will continue to embrace this throughout my personal and professional endeavors.
As I embark on my next steps, I am excited to share that I will be continuing to work in global palliative care. Through the Fulbright Program, I will be conducting research in India that focuses on pediatric palliative care and public health. My experience working with GPIC has been formative, and I am confident that the skills I gained, lessons l learned and relationships I built will continue to foster collaboration and innovation that is grounded in compassion.
This letter is not my farewell to the global palliative care community – but rather a change of address. In this transition to collaborating with GPIC and becoming part of its larger network, I look forward to engaging with this work in new ways. In the meantime, I am excited to see one another at global conferences and gatherings – I plan to attend the ICPCN Conference in Manila this November and the Indian Palliative Care Conference in Hyderabad next February. Furthermore, please do not hesitate to connect with me if I can be a resource to you. Together, we can and will work to create actionable change that advances palliative care in our own communities and across the globe!
With gratitude,
Ethan T. Harned