IAHPC Traveling Scholar’s Report
In November 2009, I was very fortunate to be awarded a traveling scholarship by IAHPC to attend the Intensive Board Review Course in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the 13th Annual Interdisciplinary Approach to Symptom Control and Hospice Care Conference in Houston, Texas. I live and work on the island of Jamaica where I am the only physician with formal training in palliative medicine. Much of my time is spent in educating others, so attending this course was an excellent opportunity to enhance my own knowledge!
Houston is a very interesting city with carefully tended evergreen oak trees lining the streets and extraordinary skyscrapers in modern architectural styles towering above them. The MD Anderson Cancer Centre, where the course was held, is located in the Texas Medical Centre. This is the largest free standing cancer center in the world with one of the highest densities of clinical facilities for patient care, basic science, and research.
The intensive board review was certainly intense. It spanned 3 days and covered every aspect of palliative care from an evidence based standpoint. This was very refreshing for me as I seldom have an opportunity to attend a course delivered at such a high level. It was comforting to hear updates and new studies that will help us to refine our own evidence based practices in this developing discipline of medicine. From the standpoint of an educator, the course helped me to gain insight into novel ways of delivering material, and the importance of using humour when teaching! Dr. Eduardo Bruera is a master at this. Some highlights for me were updates on the benefits of using hydration at the end of life, and the recognition and management of delerium and cancer related fatigue.
The Interdisciplinary conference that followed the board review course was highlighted by an excellent talk on international palliative care deliverd by Dr Kathy Foley. This was followed by a fascinating presentation on the art and science of compassion by Dr James Duffy.
As always, networking with other practicioners and experts was important. I would like to thank Liliana de Lima, Executive Director of IAHPC, for her continuing support and inspirational ideas she shares with those of us working to bring palliatve care to the developing world.
Dr Dingle Spence
Palliative Care Program
Hope Institute Hospital
Kingston, Jamaica
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