When healthcare professionals need specialized training in palliative care, geography can often be a barrier. Alyssa Tilly, MD, has spent much of her career working to overcome those barriers, both through clinical care and global health partnerships.
As an associate professor of medicine and pediatrics, Tilly serves as Associate Program Director for UNC’s Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship and Palliative Care Division Leader for the UNC Project-Malawi Cancer Program. Since first traveling to Malawi in 2015, she has helped expand access to palliative care services and contributed to the establishment of a dedicated Palliative Care Clinic within the Malawi National Cancer Centre in Lilongwe.
“I’ve been fortunate to contribute to multiple ASCO e-courses as a lecturer and small group facilitator, and I am excited to be co-directing this course,” Tilly said. “Connecting virtually allows us to expand access to palliative care education while creating space for clinicians across different settings to learn from one another and directly apply palliative care principles in the communities in which they serve.”
Training Africa and Ukraine
Today, that commitment to improving access extends beyond a single country. As co-director of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Advanced Palliative Care e-Course (APCeC) for Africa and Ukraine, Tilly helps lead a virtual training program that connects clinicians across two regions with expert instruction and practical tools for caring for patients with serious illness. Through the online program, healthcare professionals can access high-quality palliative care education without leaving their communities, allowing them to immediately apply new skills to patient care.
Running from July through November 2026, the program includes 14 virtual learning sessions covering topics such as pain and symptom management, communication skills, prognostication, difficult decision-making, resilience, and end-of-life care. Participants engage in live webinars, case discussions, role-playing exercises, and breakout sessions designed to build confidence and clinical expertise.
The virtual format is especially important for reaching clinicians across Africa and Ukraine, where access to specialized palliative care training may be limited. Ukrainian language interpretation support further expands access, helping ensure healthcare professionals can fully participate in the program and bring new knowledge back to the patients and families they serve.
Throughout the curriculum, participants learn how to assess and manage complex pain, address symptoms such as dyspnea, nausea, constipation, and delirium, communicate effectively with patients and families, and navigate difficult conversations about prognosis and goals of care. These skills are essential for improving quality of life and reducing suffering for patients living with advanced illness.
The program reflects Tilly’s broader vision for global palliative care. In addition to her clinical and educational work, she has led efforts to assess palliative care needs, adapt culturally appropriate patient-reported outcome measures in Malawi, and build evidence that can help countries strengthen palliative care systems. She has also advocated for greater awareness, education, and access to essential pain medications, which remain significant barriers to care in many low- and middle-income countries.
Designed to be practical and immediately applicable, the course provides participants with online videos, course guides, reference materials, and clinical resources that support continued learning long after the program concludes.