Celebrating Erin Collins, 2025 CDF Nursing Awardee and Trailblazer Blending Clinical Expertise with Empathy
On July 24, 2025, the Cunniff Dixon Foundation proudly honored Erin Collins, MN, RN, CHPN, Co-founder and Director of Programs at The Peaceful Presence Project, as a 2025 CDF Nursing Awardee. The celebration took place during the End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) workshop in Portland, Oregon, and was attended by over 150 guests, including Erin’s husband, Owen, and their sons, Angus and Daishell. The event was a heartfelt tribute to Erin’s transformative contributions to palliative and end-of-life care.
With 17 years of experience as a certified hospice and palliative care nurse, Erin has made significant impacts in hospice care, as well as adult and pediatric oncology. Trained as an end-of-life doula, she brings a unique perspective to her work, blending clinical expertise with deep empathy. Erin’s leadership extends to her roles as a board member of the Oregon Hospice and Palliative Care Association, an appointed member of the Oregon Health Authority’s Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council, and the former vice-chair of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s End-of-Life Doula Advisory Council.
Erin co-founded The Peaceful Presence Project to address a critical gap in end-of-life care: the fear and lack of preparation many patients face when confronting terminal illness. Through her organization, she has dedicated herself to educating individuals, families, students, and clinicians about serious and terminal illnesses. Her approach emphasizes open, compassionate conversations about death, empowering families to be fully present with their loved ones during their final moments, whether those moments are days or months.
Erin’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that planning for death and discussing it openly can significantly reduce the suffering associated with life’s final chapter. Her work fosters a culture of acceptance and tenderness, ensuring that patients and their families are supported with dignity and care.
Erin Collins’ work exemplifies the heart of palliative care, and her recognition as a 2025 CDF Nursing Awardee is a testament to her unwavering commitment to improving end-of-life care. Join us in celebrating her remarkable contributions and inspiring legacy by reliving the highlights from Erin’s award celebration here: https://vimeo.com/cdfoundation/naec.
For more information, contact:
Susan Gold, Director of Communications
Cunniff-Dixon Foundation
susan@cunniffdixon.org