Virginia LeBaron, Ph.D., APRN, FAAN is the Kluge-Schakat Associate Professor of Compassionate Care at the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Dr. LeBaron's nursing career centers on alleviating suffering for patients and family caregivers coping with advanced cancer and supporting healthcare providers in this work. Before entering academia, she practiced clinically as a medical oncology staff nurse and palliative care nurse practitioner, and since 2004 she has been involved with global palliative care and cancer control efforts (primarily in India and Nepal).  Dr. LeBaron’s program of research aims to enhance equitable access to quality cancer care, particularly related to pain management and opioid policy, patient-clinician communication, and the design and deployment of smart health technology. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (Fogarty International Center; National Institute of Nursing Research), the American Cancer Society, and the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators.