Betty Ferrell

Betty Ferrell has shaped palliative care nursing research and education for over four decades, advancing quality of life as a fundamental outcome in oncology. Her research has characterized the multidimensional nature of quality of life for cancer patients and family caregivers across the illness trajectory. She led the development and validation of quality-of-life instruments widely used in oncology research and clinical practice. Her ELNEC (End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium) program has trained hundreds of thousands of nurses in palliative care globally.