Death affects us all, however, it is a topic of conversation that is often avoided. The newly approved J-Term 2025 Gateway Study Away program in England & Ireland aims to break this stigma. The brochure reads, “Embark on a riveting J-Term study abroad exploring the United Kingdom’s distinction as the world’s top place to die.”
The program, “Is Death Allowed?: An International Comparative Look at End-of-Life Policies,” is a long-term project that nursing faculty Dr. SarahAnn McFadden and Dr. Jodi Erickson have worked on for about a year. The curriculum’s building blocks are health policy and end-of-life decision-making. Students in this program will read texts such as Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande, The In-Between by Hadley Vlahos, and literature from T.R. Reid.
There may be visits to the Dublin and London parliament buildings, speakers from the National Health Service (NHS), and students will have “free days” to allow for travel. Dr. McFadden also expressed hopes to incorporate a visit to St. Christopher’s Hospice Care Center in England, “the birthplace of modern-day hospice.”
The Mast asked the two faculty members, “Why is your program important to students, and why should they care?” McFadden responded, “Death is not a widely talked-about topic here in this country.” Erickson followed up, saying, “We are excited to give students time to reflect on death and how it impacts them.”
Though it is listed as NURS 287, all majors are encouraged and welcome. If you are still looking for J-Term plans next year, consider applying for this one-of-a-kind program before the April 15 deadline.
