Education and Training

Pre-Conference Nursing Workshop on Integrated Palliative Care in Thoracic Oncology Held at AIIMS, New Delhi

A pre-conference nursing workshop on the theme “Integrated Palliative Care in Thoracic Oncology: Advancing Nursing Practice” was successfully conducted on 27^th  March, 2026, at AIIMS, New Delhi. The workshop was jointly organized by the Department of Onco-Anesthesia & Palliative Medicine, Dr. BRAIRCH & NCI, and the Department of Nursing, Dr. BRAIRCH.

The workshop aimed to enhance the knowledge, clinical skills, and interdisciplinary understanding of nursing professionals in delivering comprehensive palliative care for patients with thoracic malignancies. It brought together experienced clinicians, nursing officers, and subject experts for a day of academic exchange and skill development.

The programme began with a pre-test and overview session, followed by an inaugural ceremony. The inaugural ceremony was graced by distinguished dignitaries and senior faculty, including Dr. Seema Mishra (HOD, Department of Onco- Anesthesia and Palliative Medicine and ), Dr. Sunil Kumar (HOD, Surgical Oncology), Dr. Prabhat Singh Malik (Professor, Medical Oncology, Dr B.R.A. IRCH), Dr. Rahul Ranjan (PHA, Dr B.R.A. IRCH), Mrs. Nirmal Kain (CNO, AIIMS), Mrs. Mithilesh Singh (DNS, Dr B.R.A. IRCH), Mr. Mallappa B. K (DNS, Dr B.R.A. IRCH), Mrs. Baljinder Kaur (DNS, Dr B.R.A. IRCH), and Mrs. Nileema Sharad Shingade (Coordinator & SNO I/C, Dr B.R.A. IRCH), who set the tone for a day of academic engagement and professional enrichment.

A key highlight was a multidisciplinary panel discussion on the early integration of palliative care in thoracic oncology, emphasizing collaborative decision-making, symptom burden management, and the importance of improving quality of life.

Subsequent sessions focused on both pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of symptoms, including pain and treatment-related side effects. Discussions also covered psychosocial and spiritual care, along with communication skills such as breaking bad news and addressing ethical concerns. Interactive case-based group discussions further enriched participant learning.

The workshop, accredited by the Delhi Nursing Council with 5 CNE credit hours, concluded with a post-test, valedictory session, and certificate distribution. Participants appreciated the practical and comprehensive nature of the sessions.

Overall, the workshop served as a valuable platform for strengthening nursing competencies and reinforcing the importance of integrated, multidisciplinary palliative care in thoracic oncology.

MHRC CME Reiterates: Cancer Care Is Not Complete Without Caring for the Mind

The Manipal Hospice and Respite Centre (MHRC), under Manipal Academy of Higher Education, commemorated World Psycho-Oncology Day with a CME on “Integrating Psychosocial Care into Oncology Care: From Reflection to Implementation.” The program was designed to position psychosocial care as a core, embedded component across the cancer continuum, from diagnosis through survivorship and end-of-life care.

Inaugurating the event, Dr Sharath K Rao (Pro-VC, Faculty of Health Sciences and VC Designate, MAHE) emphasized the need for systematic integration of psychosocial care into routine oncology practice, highlighting that clinical excellence must encompass emotional, psychological, and social well-being alongside disease management.  Dr Anand Venugopal (COO, MAHE), and Dr Avinash Shetty (MS, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal) were the Guests of Honour.

The CME was held under the leadership of Dr Seema R Rao (Director & Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Manipal Hospice and Respite Center (MHRC)) and coordinated by Mr Vijay C (Psycho-oncologist, Manipal Hospice and Respite Centre).

The academic program included an overview of psychosocial care across the cancer trajectory and interdisciplinary panel discussions on communication, distress assessment, caregiver burden, referral systems, and reflective practice. The program highlighted strong integration between Medical Oncology, Psychiatry, Psychology, and Palliative Medicine, while also showcasing the MHRC model as a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to care.

With participation from 72 delegates across MAHE and Mangalore, the CME received strong positive feedback—particularly for its panel-based, interdisciplinary format—reinforcing the growing recognition that psychosocial care is integral to comprehensive, patient-centered oncology practice.

Healing Through Brush: A Workshop by Amritcaregivers, Jalandhar

Team Amritcaregivers successfully organised a beautiful healing workshop titled “Healing Through Brush” on 25th April 2026 at the Amritcaregivers (NGO) Centre in Jalandhar, Punjab.

The workshop was organised with a focus on the principles of palliative care, emphasising that care extends beyond medicines and pain relief to include healing through compassion, words, creativity, and human connection.

Team Amritcaregivers remains committed to supporting not only patients requiring palliative care, but also individuals who may appear physically healthy yet silently carry emotional pain.

The workshop was gracefully moderated by Miss. Raman Takkar and organised by Dr. Ruchi Singh Gaur (Founder, Amritcaregivers). All attendees were given a meaningful activity—to draw on paper or on a handkerchief, expressing their inner strength and personal emotions through art.

A total of 21 participants attended the workshop. Everyone used colours of their choice and openly shared their strengths, fears, insecurities, and the challenges they wish to overcome. It became a safe and beautiful space for reflection, courage, and healing.

The workshop was filled with positivity, warmth, and self-expression. It reminded us that sometimes a brush can speak what words cannot, and colours can heal wounds unseen.

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

The organisers expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all participants for making this workshop memorable and meaningful.

Going Beyond Medicines – Guest Talk Organised on World Health Day at AIIMS Bhubaneswar

On the occasion of World Health Day 2026, the Student Nurses Association (SNA), College of Nursing, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, organized a guest lecture on the theme “Patient Care: Going Beyond Medicines.”  The lecture was delivered by Dr K. V. Ganapathy (Clinical Psychologist and volunteer counselor, Department of Palliative Medicine, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and CEO JESCAP). The programme was held in the Mini Auditorium of the College of Nursing. AIIMS Bhubaneswar on 6^th April, 2026. A total of 178 participants attended the session, including 23 nursing faculty members, 16 MSc Nursing students, 137 BSc Nursing students, and 2 nursing officers.

The programme commenced at 10 a.m. with Vande Mataram. Dr. Asha P. Shetty (Professor-cum-Principal and President of SNA, College of Nursing, AIIMS Bhubaneswar) welcomed the gathering and formally introduced the guest speaker.

The first session was on the topic “Core Fundamentals.” Dr. Ganapathy discussed the principles of palliative care and emphasized the importance of addressing patients’ psychological needs. The session was highly informative and relevant to clinical practice. The second session, titled “Clinical Communication,” highlighted the significance of effective communication in oncology settings. The speaker elaborated on strategies for handling difficult conversations, supported by real-life scenarios.

In addition, quiz and poster-making competitions were organized as part of the celebrations. The winners of the quiz competition, Ms. Deblina Nandi and Ms. Anshdeep Kaur, and the poster-making competition winners, Ms. Priyanka Ghosh and Ms. Anshdeep Kaur, were awarded certificates and prizes.  Dr. Asha P. Shetty and Dr. K. V. Ganapathy presented the awards to the winners.

Dr. Asha P. Shetty felicitated the guest speaker with a memento and uttariya as a token of appreciation. The programme concluded at 1:15 p.m. with a vote of thanks delivered by the Ms. Mousathi Mallick (Vice President, SNA)

The sessions were of considerable clinical significance, imparting valuable knowledge on palliative care, enhancing understanding of effective communication in clinical settings, and guiding participants in appropriately breaking bad news to patients’ families.

Strengthening Community-Based Palliative Care: Workshop on Home Care and Hospice Care Held in Guwahati

Pratishruti Cancer and Palliative Trust, in collaboration with the Assam Chapter of the Indian Association of Palliative Care, successfully organized a workshop on “Palliative Home Care & Hospice Care” on 25^th April, 2026 at The Assam Royal Global University, Guwahati, Assam.

The workshop was inaugurated by renowned writer Mayur Bora. Dr. Gayatri Gogoi (Honorary Programme Director, Pratishruti Trust) extended a warm welcome to the guests and participants and outlined the objective of the workshop—strengthening community-based palliative care services.

The scientific sessions began with insightful presentations on home-based palliative care models. Dr. Kabindra Bhagawati (In-charge, Department of Palliative Medicine, Dr B Barooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati)  shared the experience of the home care model implemented by Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, while Ms. Panna Bharali (Secretary, Pratishruti Trust) presented the organization’s home care model. These sessions highlighted both the strengths and challenges of delivering palliative care within community settings, offering practical perspectives for improving outreach and patient support.

A key highlight of the workshop was a series of seven case presentations by volunteers of Pratishruti Trust—Asmita Kalita, Dipika Dutta, Karabi Hazarika, Aditi Baruah, Moushumi Gogoi, and Seema Devi Haque—demonstrating the diverse and complex needs of patients and their families in palliative care settings.

Dr. Samujjgal Bhardwaj from Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute delivered an engaging session on palliative care awareness, sharing practical experiences and field-based examples. Dr. Dinesh Chandra Goswami (President, Assam Chapter of IAPC), spoke on “Transition to Hospice: End-of-Life Care”, emphasizing the importance of continuity of care.

The session on the “Deepshikha Model of Hospice Care” was delivered by Dr. Mrinmoyee Baruah (Secretary, Deepshikha Foundation) providing valuable insights into hospice care delivery in the region.

Following the workshop, the Pratishruti team visited the Deepshikha Hospice at Mirza to gain hands-on understanding of hospice operations and care practices.

The workshop witnessed the participation of around 80 attendees, including distinguished professionals such as Dr. Arun Deka, Dr. Dipankar Dakua, Dr. Prabin Chandra Thakur, Dr. Monica Sarma, and Dr. Pankaj Deka. The event served as a meaningful platform for knowledge exchange and reaffirmed the collective commitment to advancing accessible and compassionate palliative care in the community.

Conservative Kidney Management at the World Congress of Nephrology 2026, Yokohama, Japan

— A Report by Dr Nandini Vallath

The World Congress of Nephrology (WCN), organised annually by the International Society of Nephrology, is a premier global platform that brings together advances in science, education, and research in the field of nephrology. The 2026 congress was held in Yokohama, Japan, from 28^th to 31^st March, 2026.

A distinguished delegation of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) on Conservative Kidney Management (CKM) included Dr Sara Davison (USA), Dr Peace Bagasha (Uganda), Dr Barnaby Hole (UK), Dr Brendan Smith (Australia), and Dr Nandini Vallath (India). The congress featured an in-depth course on Kidney Supportive Care (KSC) and CKM, designed as an interactive learning experience with case presentations and discussion-based sessions.

The course offered a case-based, practical overview of conservative kidney management within the philosophy of kidney supportive care (KSC), using two implementation case-studies, one from High-income County and another from low-income country. Participants explored shared decision-making, goal-directed treatment planning, symptom management, and the differences between chosen and choice-restricted CKM. Key topics included:

1. Survival and quality-of-life outcomes compared with kidney replacement therapy
2. Approaches to managing common symptoms, strategies for care delivery in diverse resource settings, and managing the transitions and end-of-life care.

Designed to be interactive and patient-centered, the course equipped clinicians to deliver high-quality CKM and support for persons with end-stage-kidney-disease at advanced stages of illness trajectory. 

The participants were predominantly nephrologists who contributed to the learning in the hall through incisive, in-depth questions that elicited the nuances of CKM further. As may be seen in the photograph, the hall was full to the brim. 

Interestingly, the course has also generated interest within Japan, where a significant ageing population has growing supportive care needs.The organisers of nephrology academic events, who attended the course are now considering including CKM as an important component within their annual meet later in the year, to cater to the CKM needs of their own elderly.

(Dr. Nandini Vallath currently serves as Professor and Head of the Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care at St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru.)