SHANNON V. D’ALTON, PHD, CPNP, CHPPN
Pediatric Palliative Care
MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital
For Shannon D’Alton, the quiet moments mean the most.
A pediatric palliative care nurse practitioner, D’Alton helps families navigate complex medical decisions, and she works hard to ensure her colleagues never lose sight of the child and family at the center of their care.
“The most rewarding part is building relationships with families and being invited into their vulnerable moments,” she says. “Sometimes that means helping with difficult conversations or decisions or simply making sure they feel heard, supported and less alone. It’s incredibly challenging work but it’s deeply meaningful.”
Helping families celebrate milestones, hold or care for their child and feel heard and supported are her defining moments. While analytics drive success today, those moments “remind me that some of the most important work we do can’t always be measured.”
D’Alton finds rewarding the chance to overcome challenges, like when communication breaks down, or families feel unheard or their needs aren’t being met.
“Those experiences have pushed me to become a stronger advocate and a better communicator,” she says. “They’ve taught me to be willing to listen before trying to fix something and to always look for ways to improve how we care for families. Some of the work I’m proudest of has grown directly out of the situations that initially felt like failures.”
D’Alton continues to be inspired by the families and children she cares for, her colleagues and her sons, who keep her grounded.
“If my work has taught me anything, it’s to tell people you love them, show up for the people who matter and truly enjoy the time you’ve been given.”
