IAHPC Traveling Scholars

IAHPC TRAVELING SCOLARSHIP TO ST. CHRISTOPHER’S HOSPICE
BY DR. ISRAEL K. KOLAWOLE

I first heard about St Christopher’s Hospice very early in my involvement with palliative care. Through readings and Internet browsing on palliative medicine, I developed an interest and desire to visit the centre.

My dream came true after my encounter with Prof. Barbara Monroe, whom I met at the 2011 COMPASS Annual Scientific meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. I expressed my desire to visit St Christopher’s Hospice which led to an invitation to visit for two weeks of clinical attachment.

With the generous support of a traveling scholarship grant from the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, I spent time at St. Christopher’s from 14th – 25th November 2011 for clinical observation.

I had the following objectives:

1. To acquaint myself with the way palliative care is practiced in an established standard palliative care centre in order to improve my palliative care clinical skills.
2. To gain more experience in the various approaches to patient care in palliative practice.
3. To gain more experience in palliative care symptom management.
4. To gain confidence and experience in hospice organization and management and see how I could adapt what I had learned back home.

Activities

The clinical placement consisted of organized visits to the following departments of the hospice:

• Education and training department
• Inpatients wards
• Home Care Nursing (including home visits)
• Spiritual Care department
• Anniversary Centre (For patients and families)
• Arts Team
• Social work, Bereavement and Welfare department
• Library department.

Accomplishment

I achieved all of my objectives!

I enjoyed participating in pre-round patient reviews and clinical ward rounds with various consultants. I gained experience in the use of newer drugs available for symptom control and newer techniques of drug administration. I also had useful interactions and educational sessions with registrars.  

Pictured with Dr. Emma Hall (Consultant) and her Team after ward rounds

The opportunity I had to join the home care team was eye opening because it demonstrated how palliative home care can provide effective linkages to the Hospice care services.

My interactions with the social work, bereavement and welfare departments and the  library service department were highly inspiring, educational and fulfilling.

I was also privileged to attend a “Think Tank” teaching session on the management of spasticity in palliative care.

Conclusion

The programmes for my clinical attachment were preplanned, and well packaged. It was highly educational and inspiring. It helped to broaden my experience and expand my scope of palliative care practice. The staff was receptive, cordial and friendly; always willing to share with me their wealth of knowledge and experience.
 
I strongly believe that the time spent at St Christopher’s Hospice was well worth it and I am eternally grateful to everyone who made this possible.
 
I also wish to thank the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) for giving me this opportunity to fulfill my desires.

Dr. Israel K. Kolawole
Consultant Anesthetist and Palliative Care Physician
University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria

Dr. Thuy Trong Do (Vietnam) Graduates from the Institute of Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice

Dear Professors, Ass. Professors, Teachers, Mentors and Colleagues,

Thank you for the help you provided me as I met the educational challenges of the International Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program at the Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice (SDH). The Institute for Palliative Medicine is unique and the best place I’ve studied during over 20 years of schooling.

I thank Dr. Eric L. Krakauer, my very first Palliative Care teacher, and Phar. Nguyen Thi Phuong Cham. I know that you all have been working very hard to develop palliative care in Vietnam.

Thank you Dr. Frank Ferris, Dr. Holly Yang and your amazing staff at SDH for creating such an excellent teaching and learning experience and for providing me with the necessary tools, knowledge and capability to work in the field of palliative care.

I also want to thank the IAHPC for the traveling scholarship which made it possible for me to travel to San Diego five times during the training. 

On the occasions of Christmas and the New Year, I wish you all great love, joy and happiness and the very best in the New Year.

Yours sincerely,

Thuy Trong Do, MD, MSc,
Oncology Dept
Hanoi Medical University
Cancer and Palliative Care Dept
HMU Hospital
N01 Tonthattung, Dongda
Hanoi, Vietnam
Skype: bsthuy_hmu
Cell phone: +84 936190668
www.hmu.edu.vn