Lynn F. Reinke, PhD, APRN, FAAN, has been appointed as the inaugural Claire Dumke Ryberg, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair in End-of-Life/Palliative Care at the University of Utah College of Nursing (CON)—effective January 3, 2022.
As the Claire Dumke Ryberg, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair in End-of-Life/Palliative Care, Reinke will help build the pipeline of palliative care clinicians, scholars, and researchers within the CON and in collaboration with interdisciplinary organizations across University of Utah Health. She will advance the discovery, organization, transmission, and application of knowledge and health policies to meet the unique health care needs of patients living with serious illness and/or near end-of-life.
“I’m excited and honored to be named the Claire Dumke Ryberg, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair in End-of-Life/Palliative Care,” says Reinke. “The creation of this position demonstrates the University’s commitment to offering the highest-quality palliative and end-of-life care to patients and their loved ones. I am thrilled to join this talented and committed group of top-level researchers, educators, and students.”
“We are thrilled Dr. Reinke will be joining the University of Utah College of Nursing as our inaugural holder of the Claire Dumke Ryberg, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair in End-of-Life/Palliative Care. She is a nationally recognized palliative care nurse leader with a bold vision and desire to develop interprofessional scholars, advance palliative science, and influence health policies. She is an ideal fit for this presidential endowed chair, and our community and I look forward to collaborating with her,” says Caroline Stephens, PhD, RN, GNP-BC, FAAN, Associate Professor and Helen Lowe Bamberger Colby Presidential Endowed Chair in Gerontological Nursing.
Dean of the CON Marla De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN, adds, “We eagerly anticipate Dr. Reinke’s arrival. Based on her expertise and professional and personal commitment to advancing palliative and end-of-life care, I know that she will make an immediate impact within the College and throughout University of Utah Health.”
Reinke currently serves as co-director of the University of Washington School of Nursing’s Palliative Care Graduate Certificate program, where she teaches palliative care to interprofessional scholars across the United States. A nationally recognized leader in palliative care, she serves on the board of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.
Reinke received her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Washington School of Nursing in 2008. She completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Health Services Research & Development at the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system in Seattle, Washington. Recognizing the importance of research informing health policy, she was a VA Health and Aging Policy Fellow from 2016-2017. In 2014, Reinke was selected as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Cambia Health Foundation’s Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program.
Her clinical practice and research are focused on improving the delivery of palliative and end-of-life care for patients with serious illnesses. Her studies are designed to test nurse-led palliative care interventions in sub-specialty and primary care services, while improving the quality of clinician’s end-of-life communication skills.
“My vision is to develop a regional center of excellence and promote the University of Utah and College of Nursing as nationally recognized leaders in palliative care,” says Reinke. “The ultimate goal is that everyone living in Utah who needs palliative and end-of-life care will get it.”
"Steve and I are honored to collaborate with the College of Nursing in investing in talented and highly respected nurse leaders. End-of-life/palliative care is an important and emerging issue, and we are pleased Dr. Reinke has accepted this position," says Claire Dumke Ryberg, RN.