End-of-Life Care meetings & conferences

3rd International Public Health & Palliative Care Conference

Limerick, Ireland, 25-27 April 2013

The International Public Health and Palliative Conference has been growing in its number of participants since the first conference was held in 2009 in Kerala, India. Up to 250 delegates will gather together for the 3rd International Public Health and Palliative Conference to be held in Limerick, Ireland between 25-27 April, 2013.

As part of the Conference, we are delighted to announce that the International Association for Health Promoting Palliative Care will be launched.

The scientific programme will consist of key-note speakers, invited papers, concurrent presentations and facilitated workshops based on submitted abstracts. We aim to achive a high number of scientific contributions in Limerick and will mix these with creative, thought provoking contributions, workshops and café conversations that bring clinicians and academics, professionals and non professionals together to discuss and reflect on death, dying, loss and care.

Conference organisers:

Milford Care Centre & the University of Limerick
c/o Milford Care Centre
Limerick, Ireland
Telephone: +353 (0)61 485 843
FAX: + 353 (0)61 331 181
PublicHealthPalliativeCare.org

6th Annual Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association Clinical Practice Forum

Managing Complex Chronic Illness: Trajectories and Transitions

September 14-15, 2012 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The keynote address will be delivered by Judith A. Paice, PhD, RN.

Two pre-conferences are offered on Friday September 14, 2012 from 8 – 11:30 a.m.

-- Creative Management of Complex Wounds in the Presence of Chronic Illness presented by Carol Mathews, BSN, CWOCN, Nurse Clinician, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA

--Putting the Pieces Together for Advanced Practice Palliative Nursing presented by Constance Dahlin, APRN, BC, ACHPN®, FPCN, FAAN, North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA

The HPNA Clinical Practice Forum is purposely developed with an interdisciplinary focus and always provides attendees a unique blend of interaction, participation, conversation, and networking with colleagues from around the country.

Global Summit on International Breast Health: Guidelines for International Breast Health and Cancer Control – Supportive Care and Quality of Life

October 3-5, 2012, Vienna, Austria

The Summit will provide a unique open-registration event in the international health community to enhance knowledge of breast health care delivery in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs) from the perspective of Early Disease, Late Disease and End-of-life & Palliative Care.

Scientifically peer-reviewed Guidelines for International Breast Health and Cancer Control – Supportive Care and Quality of Life will result from the 2012 summit. Convened by the Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI), in co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) of the United Nations.

12th Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved & Health Equity

June 27 - July 1, 2012 Houston, Texas

The goals of the Biennial Symposium series are to:

Exchange the latest scientific and treatment information and to share strategies for reducing the disproportionate incidence of cancer morbidity and mortality among minorities and the medically underserved;

Increase the awareness and enhance the competence of health care providers, researchers, laypersons and survivors in the areas of primary and secondary cancer prevention, early detection and treatment;

Promote culturally competent cancer care and services and ethnically balanced research, especially clinical trials;

Ensure that underserved populations are selectively targeted in the evolution of the Health Care Reform Act;

Provide a comprehensive approach to the issue of health disparities. Provide attendees with a broad knowledge base related to a biopsychosocial approach in addressing health disparities.

THEME
“Empowering Communities in the Era of Health Care Reform.”

OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of the 12th Symposium, participants should be able to:

Summarize the most current scientific information available about specific cancers and chronic diseases of particular concern in minority and medically underserved communities, including the impact of certain health and lifestyle factors;

Discuss and demonstrate the importance and promotion of cancer and chronic disease prevention, early detection, timely and quality treatment, supportive and palliative care, and end of life issues;

Effectively communicate best- or emerging practices which build community capacity to:

Advocate for new programs and policies to improve access to cancer and chronic disease preventive, screening, treatment and survivorship services; and

Build and maintain effective partnerships and networks to prevent and control chronic disease in disparity populations;

Empower participants with knowledge, skills and connections to enhance their work with communities;

Identify and access national and local organizations engaged in cancer- and chronic disease-related activities; and
Introduce community and state-level resources and available funding to reduce chronic disease and health disparities.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Cancer survivors, community-based organizations (CBOs), specialists, family physicians, and scientists interested or involved in community-based cancer prevention and control programs for minorities and the medically underserved

Students from minority or medically underserved communities seeking careers in cancer research and health care

Community leaders, chaplains, business executives, educators, hospitals and clinic administrators, government and voluntary health agency program directors responsible for health promotion and disease prevention for persons who are at higher risk of cancer or other diseases due to economic, cultural, geographic, political, social, medical or other barriers

National or local advocates for cancer survivors and the medically underserved; elected, appointed, or career government officials, public or private opinion leaders involved in biomedical research and health care reform policy

Primary care, community and family physicians, oncologists, nurses, allied health professionals, health educators, community health workers, dietitians, social workers and other persons involved in the cancer care continuum

Contact
Phone: 713-563-2764
Fax: 713-563-2765
Email: icc-symposium@uh.edu (general)
icc-abstracts@mdanderson.org (abstracts)
Mailing Address: University of Houston
Graduate College of Social Work-ICC
110HA Social Work Building, Box #49
Houston, TX 77204-4013

National Gerontological Nursing Association 2012 Annual Conference

Gerontological Nursing Care: A Safe Harbor

October 4 - 6, 2012 Baltimore, Maryland

Sarah Clements, Meetings and Convention Director
National Gerontological Nursing Association
3493 Lansdowne Dr, Suite 2
Lexington, KY 40517
859-977-7453
sclements@ngna.org

2012 Claremont International Jain Conference: Bioethics: Religious and Spiritual Approaches

Cosponsored by Claremont Lincoln University, the International School for Jain Studies, Jain Center of Southern California, and the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA)

Bioethics: Religious and Spiritual Approaches

August 24-25, 2012 Claremont, California

The rapid growth of the medical sciences and of medical technologies has given doctors the ability to diagnose and to cure as never before. At the same time, these breakthroughs raise perplexing ethical questions: when does life begin, and when does it end? When is the quality of life so compromised that doctors should cease further interventions? What is informed consent? What constraints should apply to research on human subjects? And, above all, how can the sanctity of life be preserved? This conference will bring the resources of Jainism (see note below), of the dharma traditions of India, and of the world’s religious and spiritual traditions in general to bear on the most difficult bioethical questions of our day.

Conference Details

Plenary sessions take place in Mudd Auditorium, Claremont Lincoln University, 1325 N. College Ave., Claremont, CA 91711. There is an inexpensive registration fee and a discount for students.Early registration at a reduced rate will close on July 15th.

The conference hotel is the Claremont DoubleTree, 555 W. Foothill Blvd. in Claremont; (909) 626-2411. Other accommodations can be found at Hotel Claremont (909) 621-4831. Claremont is 15 minutes from the Ontario International Airport.

Note on Jainism:

Jainism is one of the oldest religions originating from India. At the very heart of Jainism is the ethic of non-violence, Ahimsa , which means ‘Respect for all living beings.’ Ahimsa continues to guide the daily lives of all Jains, who are vegetarians, and practice ecology and conservation. Out of 14 million Jains in the world, 125,000 are settled in North America. The other two tenets of Jainsim are non-absolutism, which means that real truth has multiple facets, and non-possessiveness, which means that one should balance one’s needs and desires. JAINA is the umbrella organization of nearly 70 Jain centers and congregations in North America, that has Special Consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Organizing Committee:

Matthew Fisher, Coordinator
Dr. Manoj Jain
Dr. Nitin Shah
Manish Mehta, Ph.D.
Rajen Dhami

Grievings 2012

Grievings 2012, the next edition of the Annual International Conference of the Institute of English Cultures and Literatures of the University of Silesia in Katowice, will be held in Ustroń, Poland, 20-23 September 2012.

Although generally resented and deemed unfavourable for individuals, societies and nations, grief, grievance, and grieving, along with a complex list of epithets that could in various situations, under varying circumstances, accompany them – racial grief, political grievance, protracted grieving, chronic grief, traumatic, unresolved grievance – nevertheless occupy a notorious place in culture and its manifestations in literature, art, history, science, or politics.

Confused experiences of melancholia, grief, nostalgia, shame, anguish, hate, longing, and jealousy continue to permeate cultural productions across historical moments, literary epochs, and political sympathies.

It is these veneers that we intend to uncover and dismantle, thus – dissolve, or, assuming yet a different approach, assemble into larger entities exhibiting common patterns of formulaic imagining.

The name Grievings comes with several emphases in mind – we place great impact on attempts to explore questions of how globalization has affected modes of grieving, how it has altered the subjects/objects over which we grieve, and finally, how grievances have come to adopt the shape of ultimatums, sometimes escalating into forms of sabotage, schizophrenia, or even outright military conflict.

Should any questions arise, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Organizers' snailmail address

Department of Postcolonial Studies and Travel Writing
Institute of English Cultures and Literatures
University of Silesia in Katowice
ul. Gen. Stefana Grota-Roweckiego 5
41-205 Sosnowiec
Poland

Association of Professional Chaplains Annual Conference

June 21-24, 2012 in Schaumburg, Illinois

Challenge us to engage diverse and dynamic systems
Empower us to flourish through mutual teaching and learning
Transform us through integration of best practices, competencies and standards

Association of Professional Chaplains
1701 E. Woodfield Road, Suite 400
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Phone: 847-240-1014
Fax: 847-240-1015
Email: info@professionalchaplains.org
 

2012 UICC World Cancer Congress

August 27-30, 2012 Montreal, Canada

The 2012 UICC World Cancer Congress will focus on providing education and training opportunities throughout the programme including interactive meetings, forums, workshops and sessions.

Connecting for Global Impact

The theme for the 2012 UICC World Cancer Congress is Connecting for Global Impact – and highlights the need for continued support and momentum in translating the benefits of knowledge gained through research and practice to those living with and affected by cancer.

UICC believes this can be achieved through global actions, which will result through connections and partnerships made through the international cancer control community at the Congress.

The 2012 Congress will provide education and training opportunities throughout the programme including plenary, interactive sessions, meetings, forums, workshops and symposia. The programme consists of four tracks each directly linked to one or more of the World Cancer Declaration targets and representing the many different segments of the cancer control participants.

Track 1: Prevention and early detection (including tobacco control)
The standard definition of primary and secondary prevention sets the scope for this track, methods targetting behavioural risk factors as well as underlying factors such as social and economic disadvantage will be explored in these sessions. Tobacco control is a vital and specialised aspect of cancer control, and is an established field with knowledge and experience that can be transferred to other risk factors. Including tobacco control in a broader sense will facilitate an important exchange between participants with the goal of improving prevention outcomes for all risk factors.

Session topics include:
- Digital media in cancer prevention and tobacco control
- Countering the tobacco industry
- Education and communication for tobacco control
- Plain packaging
- Diet, physical activity and cancer risk
- Food policy interventions
- Bowel cancer screening
- Cervical cancer prevention and screening
- Alcohol and cancer

Who should attend? Professionals in cancer control, research and programme implementation who wish to expand their knowledge on new prevention and early detection strategies.

Track 2: Cancer care and survivorship
This track includes proven medical treatment of the disease in the context of a desire to provide active treatment and comprehensive care for those affected by cancer, including measures to improve side-effects of treatment, psychosocial assessment and support and rehabilitation. This track will explore in depth what ‘survivorship’ means to people affected by cancer, what they want and need, how the health system can meet those needs, and what survivors themselves can contribute.

Session topics include:
- Costs of cancer
- Improving the patient journey
- Telepathology
- Oncogeriatrics
- International responses to cancer survivorship
- Personalised therapy
- Social media in cancer care and support

Who should attend? Individuals engaged in cancer care including researchers, healthcare professionals, volunteers, patient support teams, advocacy groups, cancer networks and survivors.

Track 3: Palliation and pain control
As over one third of patients die within 5 years of a diagnosis (even in the most advanced health systems), dying, and humane methods to ease the psychological and physical burden of impending death will be explored, as will the challenges (and benefits) of an early introduction of palliative care into the patient’s journey. In terms of equity, giving palliation and pain control importance helps address the inequity arising in resource-constrained countries where end of life interventions are often all that can be offered.

Session topics include:
- Global access to pain relief
- International efforts in palliative care
- Advances in cancer pain assessment and management
- Strategies for improving global palliative care
- Media and advocacy for global pain relief
- Pain relief as a human right
- Paediatric cancer pain

Who should attend? Professionals and volunteers engaged in palliative care, symptom and pain control.

Track 4: Systems in cancer control
Emphasising systems solutions builds upon the theme of the 2010 Congress -‘Systems to make it happen’ - and is a priority for those who wish to make an impact at a community level to improve the access to care. A broad definition of the term ‘system’ will be used to allow for the discussion of issues, and solutions for improving national, regional and local health systems. Surveillance systems, including cancer registries, and population risk factor monitoring will be a key focus, as will how to advocate for the cancer cause, creating an infrastructure around fundraising and the distribution of resources.

Session topics include:
- Global surveillance of survival
- Partnerships for prevention
- Cancer registration in low and middle income countries
- Workforce solutions
- Cancer control in indigenous populations
- Advocacy for cancer control
- Legal strategies in cancer control

Who should attend? Cancer control researchers and programme implementers. Professionals and volunteers, engaged in programme monitoring and evaluation, fundraising, advocacy, policy work or governance will also find value in attending.

Centre for Death and Society Conference 2012--Dying in the Digital Age

9-10 June 2012 Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute (BRLSI), Bath, United Kingdom

The 2011 CDAS Conference, Death & Dying in the Digital Age, was possibly the first ever to bring together computer scientists and death studies researchers. Reflecting the literature, the most coherent body of the 2011 papers referred to post-death phenomena, specifically digital mourning and legacy, and a selection of those papers will appear in a special issue of Bereavement Care in spring 2012.

By contrast, research into how digital technologies affect the interactions and experiences of those near the end of life – the frail elderly, the terminally ill – is much more limited and fragmented. Considerable research has been done on technologies to sustain people’s physical wellbeing toward the end of life, but very little on technologies to sustain their social lives.

Topics can include, but are not limited to, the modelling, development or use of technologies that promote social inclusion, blogs, social networking, health & social care technologies, narrative analysis, etc. Our aim is to bring together the fragmented research and knowledge in this area.

The University of Bath’s Centre for Death & Society (CDAS) has extensive contacts in death studies, palliative care, the funeral industry, gerontology, and computer science, and is in a unique position to promote engagement between computer sciences and death studies.

The conference will be held in the centre of the world heritage city of Bath, in the amenable surroundings of the Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institute (car park nearby, Bath Spa station 10 minutes walk, Bristol Airport 1 hour). The cost, £45 for a single day, £80 for the weekend, includes lunch and refreshments. There will be opportunities to socialise over a drink on Friday evening or meal on Saturday evening (neither included in price). There is plentiful accommodation nearby, which delegates need to arrange for themselves.