Education and Training
The ‘Part A’ component of the ‘IAPC’s Foundation Course in Palliative Care for Volunteers’ was conducted successfully in November 2024
28 enthusiastic individuals from across the country participated in the 16-hour virtual and theoretical ‘Part A’ component of the fifth online batch of the IAPC’s ‘Foundation Course in Palliative Care for Volunteers’.
The ‘Part A’ component of the course was delivered over 6 days (2 hours each during the weekdays and 4 hours over the weekend) on 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd November, 2024.
During the course period, participants were empowered with the relevant knowledge and interpersonal skills needed to volunteer in palliative care settings. They were also trained in the basics of communication skills, counselling skills, and sensitised towards the various psycho-social issues and its management, which a volunteer might potentially be faced with.
Course participants will now proceed to the ‘Part B’ component of the program, which is a 16-hour observership in any recognised palliative care unit. Those successfully completing both components of the program will be eligible to receive course completion certificates.
The IAPC thanks Dr Ganpathy KV (Co-ordinator, IAPC’s National Volunteer Program) and the expert faculty for their support towards this program. The IAPC also thanks the participants for their participation and for sharing feedback about the program which will help us to further evolve the program.
Submit applications before 24th December, 2024, for the IAPC’s ‘Foundation Course in Essentials of Palliative Care’
Grab the last chance and submit applications before Tuesday, 24th December, 2024, to participate in the IAPC’s ‘Foundation Course in the Essentials of Palliative Care’ (FCEPC) batch scheduled to begin in January 2025. The course was previously known as the IAPC’s Certificate Course in Essentials of Palliative Care.
The basic course in palliative care is intended for doctors and nurses and aims to inculcate the principles of palliative care in everyday practice for doctors and nurses to improve patient care through proper communication and effective management of difficult symptoms.
The online batch of the IAPC’s FCEPC will be delivered in two parts: A mandatory theory ‘Part A’ component and a practical hands-on ‘Part B’ component (recommended but optional).
The theoretical ‘Part A’ component of the upcoming batch will be held as half day sessions over 3 weekends (Saturdays: 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sundays: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.) on 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th January 2025. Select Clinical sessions will be held separately for Doctors and Nurses.
Please click here for information and to apply for the program.
Applications invited by 15th December, 2024, for the IAPC’s ‘Certificate Course in Basics of Palliative Care – A blended learning program’
The Academy of Palliative Medicine (APM) is inviting applications before Sunday, 15th December, 2024, for the IAPC’s ‘Certificate Course in Basics of Palliative Care – A Blended Learning Program’.
The course aims to equip candidates with the knowledge and skills to deliver basic palliative care. Candidates will learn the core concepts and benefits of palliative care in the care of patients with serious illness. The course covers symptom and distress assessment and management (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological), communication skills for handling difficult conversations, ethical decision-making, and end-of-life care for patients.
Doctors who are post MBBS or post-graduates interested in incorporating palliative care in their clinical career are encouraged to register for the 6-month certificate course scheduled to begin on Friday, 10th January, 2025.
The course will feature 8 modules which will be delivered over 6 months and include 600 hours of curated blended learning. The course is designed to be delivered via a combination of self-study, asynchronous, and synchronous learning (4 hours per week; every Friday and Saturday between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.) through a Learning Management System. The course is designed to be held over two weekends of virtual face-to-face training (on 11th and 12th January, 2025; and on 4th and 5th June 2025), a 12-day clinical attachment component, along with an examination that will be conducted towards the end of the course.
Please click here for further information and to register for the course.
Applications invited for ‘Farishtey: A death doula training program’ at Nayagarh, Odisha, between 6th and 7th December, 2024
Applications are invited for ‘Farishtey: A death doula training program’ at Sambhav, Nayagarh, Odisha, between Friday, 6th December, 2024, and Saturday, 7th December, 2024.
The two-day, in-person program is being offered by the International Death Doula Foundation in collaboration with Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust, and Sambhav.
The program aims to empower participants with the art of restoring sacredness, meaning and comfort to the process of dying. The program aims to also sensitise individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to facilitate them to offer meaningful and compassionate support to patients and their caregivers, during the patient’s end of life.
Those interested to apply for the program are requested to reach out to Mr Avtar Singh Cheema (Founder Secretary, International Death Doula Foundation) at 7986609911. Please also note that each batch can accommodate only 25 participants and that registrations are on a first come first serve basis.
Apply before 20th December, 2024, for the 1 year Post Doctoral Fellowship Course in Palliative Medicine, offered by SAMCPGI, Indore
Applications are invited before Friday, 20th December, 2024, for the 1 year Post Doctoral Fellowship Course in Palliative Medicine, offered by the Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG Institute (SAMCPGI), Sri Aurobindo University, Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
MBBS graduates and candidates with an MD / DNB in General Medicine/ Anaesthesia/ Paediatrics/ Geriatric Medicine/ Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation / equivalent degree are encouraged to apply for the program.
The program is aimed to foster palliative medicine specialists by providing high quality practical training, along with empowering candidates with the relevant clinical knowledge and professional skills.
Please click here for further information and to apply for the program.
A 2-day CME on ‘Pain and Palliative Care’ for in-service doctors was held on 4th and 5th November, 2024, at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
The State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP), conducted a two-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) training program for in-service doctors at the State Training Institute, Government of Uttar Pradesh, on Monday, 4th November, 2024, and Tuesday, 5th November, 2024.
26 doctors from various districts of Uttar Pradesh were empowered as part of the training program. The in-person sessions were led by the course coordinator, Dr Sarita Singh (Professor and Unit-incharge, Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, King George’s Medical College (KGMU), Lucknow, UP), and eminent faculty from KGMU, and Kalyan Singh Cancer Super Specialty Hospital (KSCSSH), Lucknow, UP. Other faculty included Dr Prommila Verma and Dr Rythem Bains from the Conservatives Endodontic Dental Department, KGMU; Dr Nisha Manay Pandey and Dr Akansh Sonal from the Geriatric Mental Health Department, KGMU; Dr Abhishel Rajput and Sr Viji Nari, KGMU; and Dr Archana from (KSCSSH).
During the training period, participants were introduced to topics such as Introduction to pain and palliative care, how to identify those who are in need of palliative care, An update about the current status of palliative care, symptom management in oncological palliative care, handling emergencies in palliative care, End-of life care, geriatric palliative care etc. Role plays were also conducted while teaching concepts in communication (eg. Breaking bad news).
The symposium on ‘Compassionate Leadership in Digital Era – 2024’ conducted successfully at Chennai on 6th November, 2024
A one-day symposium on ‘Compassionate Leadership in Digital Era – 2024’ was conducted successfully at the Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, 6th November, 2024. The symposium was conducted jointly by the Sri Ramachandra Faculty of Management Sciences (SRFMS), Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (SRIHER) and the RMD Group of Hospitals.
The inaugural ceremony was graced with the presence of Dr Uma Sekar (Vice Chancellor, SRIHER), Dr Mahesh Vakamudi (Pro-Vice Chancellor, SRIHER), and Dr Latha Ravichandran (Dean-Education, SRIHER), Dr Sudagar Singh (Medical Director, SRIHER), Dr Selvam Jessiah (Principal, SRFMS) and Dr Republica Sridhar (RMD) along with several other guests.
200 participants represented by management students, faculty, representatives from various organisations and industries participated in the symposium which featured respected national and international speakers. Sessions covered topics such as communication, understanding compassionate leadership, self awareness to be a leader, personality styles, Essential skill sets, etc. Sessions for the day concluded with an interesting panel discussion on ‘Workplace wellbeing and mental health – A compassionate leadership Approach’.
The organisers share that the symposium was the first-of-its-kind symposium when compared to other leadership seminars/symposiums as it focussed on showcasing the necessity of having the quality of ‘Compassion in a Leader’ irrespective of discipline.
Please click here to read the complete report.
The ‘EPEC India’ program was held successfully between 14th and 16th November, 2024, at Bengaluru
The ‘Education in Palliative and End of Life Care (EPEC) India’ program was organised successfully at Karunashraya, Bengaluru, Karnataka, between Thursday, 14th November, 2024, and Saturday, 16th November, 2024. Organised jointly by Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya, EPEC India and the Asia Pacific Hospice and Palliative Care Network (APHN), the program brought together healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing pediatric palliative care across the country.
The program featured two-sections as follows:
The 1.5 day session on EPEC-India Pediatrics Training of the Trainers was attended by 35 healthcare providers caring for critically ill children. The training emphasized interactive teaching methods like case presentations, role plays, and lectures to develop skilled trainers in pediatric palliative care.
The 1.5 day EPEC-India Professional Development program was attended by 27 EPEC trained professionals focusing on adult learning theories, clinical practice improvement, and teaching strategies to enhance palliative care education and delivery.
Both sessions were designed to empower healthcare providers with advanced skills, foster collaboration, and build a robust team of expert trainers in pediatric palliative care.
Over 100 delegates participated in the ‘Amrita Annual Review – Palliative Medicine Practice updates: A hybrid CME program’ in Kochi on 16th November, 2024
The Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, successfully conducted a hybrid Continuing Medical Education (CME) program, ‘Amrita Annual Review: Palliative Medicine Practice Updates’ on Saturday, 16th November 2024, between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala.
The program was successful in providing updates on recent developments in palliative medicine which was well received by enthusiastic and keen medical professionals (60 of who attended it in-person; and over 40 of who attended it virtually) who were seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in this field. Eminent speakers from across the country provided excellent lectures featuring well-crafted topics.
The event was inaugurated by Shri Arif Mohammed Khan (Hon. Governor, Kerala) in the midst of other eminent dignitaries. The team also went on to inaugurate the hospital’s Regenerative Pain Medicine and Wellness Clinic and Patient Support Group.
The CME was meticulously designed and delivered by the organizing committee, led by Dr Shoba Nair and Dr Rajashree K C (Organizing Co-chairs), and Dr Meera Prabha (Organizing Secretary).
SGRDIMSR, Amritsar, sensitise individuals in the basics of palliative care at the ‘Vigyan Utsav’ between 18th and 20th November, 2024
A team from Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SGRDIMSR), Amritsar, Punjab, participated at the ‘Vigyan Utsav’, a festival of science, organised at Khalsa College, Amritsar between Monday, 18th November, 2024, and Wednesday, 20th November, 2024. The innovative event was organised jointly by the Society for Promotion of Science and Technology in India, Punjab State Council for Science and Technology and the District Administration Amritsar.
Over 1000 individuals which included teachers from schools and colleges, college students and school going students from government and private schools from across Amritsar, participated in the event.
Led by Dr Harjot Singh (Professor, Department of Community Medicine, SGRDUHS), Dr Paramjot Bindra (Incharge, Sri Guru Ram Das Hospice) and team, an activity corner on palliative care was set up at the event to spread awareness and sensitise individuals in the basic concepts and principles of palliative care who participated at the festival. Additionally, the activity center aimed to sensitise individuals on how they can identify potential patients from within the community who are in need of palliative care services and where they can be referred to.
80 individuals participate in KIPCER’s virtual monthly Guest Lecture ‘Self-management strategies for breathlessness in India’ on 19th November, 2024
The Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education and Research (KIPCER)’s virtual monthly Guest Lecture on ‘Global Breathlessness Research and the Breathe-India Project’ was held on Tuesday, 19th November, 2024, between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
80 individuals from across the country including staff from Karunashraya participated in the session presented by Dr Joseph Clark (Lecturer, Global Palliative Care, Wolfson Palliative Care Research Center, University of Hull, UK).
During the session, Dr Clark highlighted how Breathlessness had now emerged to be a global health problem. He then proceeded to shed light on a few self-management techniques, varoius strategies and the challenging factors which contribute to the rise in breathlessness in low-middle-income countries. Next, Dr Clark also touched upon the ‘Breathe India Project’, which provided a realist’s review to understand how self-management for breathlessness works and through which he co-designed an intervention to manage breathlessness within an Indian community setting.
The session concluded with a rich discussion session.
‘Chai pe Charcha: Let’s talk about Death and Dying (and living)’ conducted on 21st November, 2024
The November edition of ‘Chai pe Charcha’ was conducted on Thursday, 21st November, 2024, on ‘Let’s talk about Death and Dying (and living)’.
The interesting session was led by Dr Asha Deshmukh (Intensivist, Nine Pearls Hospital, Nasik) who provided insights and shared a perspective on how death is viewed through the lens of a doctor.
The session was attended by 6 individuals from across India and beyond who shared insights about the ignorance and fear associated with the ‘unknown’ which leads to avoidance of discussions on such topics, unfortunately even within the medical community. The session was filled with both laughter and profound wisdom as participants shared personal experiences, spotlighting the importance of networking, and the exchange of valuable stories of patients and families who had benefited from receiving compassionate palliative care, all of which led to the group to reach consensus to say that comfort and kindness were the two things that eventually matter at the end of one’s life. Participants also shared that End of Life Care had another novel name, ‘caring until the very end’ which immediately had a positive connotation to palliative medicine.
The next session of Chai pe Charcha will be held on Friday, 6th December, 2024. Those interested to join the subsequent sessions are requested to reach out to Dr Asha Deshmukh at betsasha@gmail.com.
The ‘Evidence for Integrating Palliative Oncology in Advance Cancer Setting’ CME conducted successfully at Bengaluru on 23rd and 24th November, 2024
The two-day CME on ‘Evidence for Integrating Palliative Oncology in Advance Cancer Setting’ was organized successfully by the Aster Hospitals, Bengaluru, Aster International Institute of Oncology, in collaboration with the Academy of Palliative Medicine, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, between Saturday, 23rd November, 2024, and Sunday, 24th November, 2024.
170 healthcare professionals from across the country participated in the two-day CME. 21 expert speakers presented 7 sessions and 8 panel discussions on specialist topics, all of which presented delegates with a unique platform to discuss a comprehensive overview of evidence-based palliative care. The discussions also highlighted the role of evidence-based palliative care in enhancing both symptom management and patient survival. Over the two days, eminent speakers from across India and from different disciplines discussed cutting-edge topics in supportive oncology care and demonstrated how evidence-based practices can be effectively integrated across differing oncological specialities.
AESCO the Panda, the Mascot for AESCO, was created by Dr Raghavendra Ramanjulu (Lead Consultant and Head, Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru). AESCO the Panda, reflects the calm and empathetic nature central to palliative medicine. The orange heart adorning his chest, symbolizes warmth, encouragement, and a steadfast dedication to compassionate patient care. To complete the picture, the Panda sits beside Aster flowers that represents qualities of love, wisdom, faith, and valour – all of which are fundamental to palliative care.
The organisers also shared that the CME was the start of a journey to build Evidence specific to our Indian context.
The ‘2nd Academic Series on Palliative Care for Nursing Students’ by DNipCare, GNC, and ECHO India, concluded on 23rd November, 2024
The second batch of the DNipCare Academic Series on Palliative Care for Nursing Students was completed on Saturday, 23rd November, 2024, after completing 8 interesting sessions by expert speakers.
A total of 697 Nursing Students from across the country registered for the virtual training program which was presented jointly by DNipCare, the Goa Nursing Council (GNC) and ECHO India. The program was especially beneficial to students pursuing their 4th semester BSc Nursing as it helped them to complete the mandatory palliative care module from their curriculum. Each session in the series included a lecture, an interactive discussion section and a pre-post test.
Dr Priya John (General Secretary, Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI)) graced the inaugural session on Saturday, 12th October, 2024, as the Chief Guest, while Dr Prasun Chatterjee (Director, WHO Collaborating Center for Healthy Ageing, AIIMS, New Delhi) graced the occasion as Chief Guest for the valedictory session on Saturday, 23rd November, 2024. The Special Guests for the valedictory session was Ms Shimy Mathew (Secretary, Nurses League, CMAI) and Ms Flosy Rodrigues e Menezes (Registrar, GNC).
The valedictory session began with Mr K V Hamza (General Secretary, DNipCare) delivering the welcome address. The sessions were presented by subject experts Ms Neelima Shinghde, Prof (Dr) B Valli, Prof (Dr) A T Kora, Ms Alice Stella Verginia, Dr Madhu Dayal, Lt. Col Lovely Antony (Rtd), Ms Shakila Murali, Dr Latha A, Ms Anu Savio Thelly etc. The sessions were ably moderated by Dr C N Bhargavi (DNipCare). Mr Suresh T P (Vice President, DNipCare) coordinated the program.
Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Center, Madurai, celebrated ‘National Family Caregivers Month’ on 23rd November, 2024
The Department of Medical Oncology and Palliative Care Unit, at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Center, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, celebrated caregivers month on Saturday, 23rd November, 2024, with an event at their hospital’s Auditorium.
The team celebrated this observance to acknowledge and applaud the cancer survivors and the caregivers (present and past) of the patients who are/ were under the care of the unit. The event attended by over 150 individuals cherished this year’s theme, ‘I care’ and launched a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) booklet on the occasion, designed exclusively to cater to the needs of these invisible heroes, the caregivers. The booklet underlines the trajectory of caregivers’ gratification, compassion fatigue, poignancy and the vacuity a caregiver feels at times. The booklet also accentuates several inarticulate issues such self-care, compassion, resilience and coping strategies through the ‘5W1H’ framework.
Dr J Loganathan (IPS, Commissioner of Police, Madurai, Tamil Nadu) graced the occasion as Chief Guest, which made the event only more memorable and endearing.
The event concluded with every participating caregiver being pinned with a ‘caregiver’s badge’ to showcase that caregiving was a part of their DNA and that it is an inevitable aspect of one’s life. The event truly cherished caregiving which encompasses love, loss, life and beyond words.
A two-day ‘ELNEC Pediatric Palliative Nursing Workshop’ conducted at AIIMS Jodhpur in September, 2024
A two-day End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Pediatric Palliative Care Nursing Workshop was successfully completed at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on Thursday, 26th September, 2024, and Friday, 27th September, 2024. The training was conducted in collaboration with ELNEC India, the Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS Jodhpur, and Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association (HPNA).
The workshop brought together 32 healthcare providers, primarily nurses, from various pediatric areas across the hospital to enhance their knowledge and practical skills in pediatric palliative care. Dr Suresh Kumar Sharma (Professor and Principal, College of Nursing, AIIMS Jodhpur), Dr Manoj Kamal (Professor, Anesthesiology, and Pain and Palliative Care, AIIMS Jodhpur), Dr Siya Ram Didel (Associate Professor, Pediatrics, AIIMS Jodhpur) and Dr Sanjeeta Dara (Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, AIIMS Jodhpur) inaugurated the workshop with the lamp lighting ceremony and fostered the motivation in pediatric nurses of the hospital.
The workshop was presented by Mr Arvind Kumar, Mr Jagdish Prajapathi, Mr Ramswaroop Garwa and Mr Yashwant of AIIMS Jodhpur, Dr Mamta Parihar from Government College of Nursing, Mr Ram Solanki of SLBS Nursing College, and Sr Hanife MacGamwell. Ms Monica, a nurse practitioner and an ELNEC trainer joined the team virtually from Oregon, USA, for one of the modules.
The interactive workshop included case studies, skill-building activities, and open discussions that allowed participants to engage with experts and peers. The workshop also included a hands-on training component in certain key areas. Participants left the workshop with a deeper understanding of the nuances of pediatric palliative care and a renewed commitment to implement these essential practices in their professional environments. A Training of the Trainers session from this group and other trainings for the nurses who were unable to attend this workshop will be organised in early 2025.
Update from the APM’s lecture series
Report on activities in November 2024
The ‘Academy of Palliative Medicine’s online Lecture Series 3’ presented four sessions in November, 2024. The series has been designed to present a total of 52 lectures focussing on ‘Recent Advances in Palliative Care’, with sessions from the series being delivered by Students of MD and DNB in Palliative Medicine from across the country and moderated by expert Faculty from across the country. Please click here to view the schedule from the new series.
The first session for the month began with a superb presentation on ‘Review of evidence on blood and blood component transfusion at end of life’ presented by Dr Vrinda Satija and moderated by Dr Lekha Vijaykumar Raval. This was followed by a comprehensive presentation on ‘Review of evidence on serious-health related suffering internationally and in India’ presented by Dr Priyanka Shete and moderated by Dr Jayita Deodhar. The third session for November was a detailed presentation on ‘Review of guidelines and evidence on use of octreotide in a palliative care setting’ presented by Dr Pallavi Ghosh and moderated by Dr Praneeth Suvvari. The sessions concluded with an interesting presentation on ‘Evidence-based approaches for deprescribing in patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care’ presented by Dr Arun Kumar Garg and moderated by Dr Deepak Kumar Garg.
The IAPC thanks all our speakers and the moderators for sharing their time and expertise to enrich the knowledge of the palliative care’s community.
Sessions planned for December 2024
We invite you to join us for the lectures scheduled for December, 2024, from the APM’s Lecture Series 3. Details as follows:
