Palliative Education Evening Presentations

Spring Palliative Education Evening – March 21, 2023

Keynote Address – A Strained Healthcare System:  Leveraging Systems Thinking, Ownership, and Quality Improvement to Improve Palliative Care Access

Dr. José Pereira
Professor Catedratico, Faculty of Medicine, University of Navarra, Spain; Professor, Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University; Cofounder/Scientific Advisor, Pallium Canada

Access to palliative care across Canada is best described as a patchwork, with areas of excellence and opportunities for improvement. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted areas for improvement and an opportunity to redesign. It has emphasized the need for systems thinking and that palliative care is everyone’s responsibility. This presentation will explore these topics, drawing on examples in the Waterloo Wellington area and elsewhere.

Breakout Presentations:

  • Adult Clinical Presentation – An Introduction to the Serious Illness Conversation Guide

Rachael Halligan
MD, CCFP, FCFP

This presentation will provide participants with:

    • an understanding of the need for and rationale for a systematic approach to improving conversations about patient values, priorities and goals while living with serious illness.
    • a brief overview of the structure and components of the Serious Illness Guide
    • an eagerness to learn more about the role each of us can play in providing “more, better and earlier conversations” with those living with serious illness.
  • Adult General Presentation – The Basics of Palliative Spiritual Care

Gord Alton
Div RP Supervisor-Educator (CASC); Spiritual
Care Provider, Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice and HCCSS.

In the ministry of palliative care, many clients/patients struggle with conflicting thoughts, feelings, and longings related to their illness and the reality of dying.  Spiritual care involves creating a safe place where these soul dynamics can be explored, bringing about understanding, comfort, and inner peace. This presentation will explore how we can develop a safe therapeutic relationship with the people we visit so that we can help clients find meaning and hope, hold their anxieties and fears, and explore their feelings in a non-judgemental way.    As we do so, this allows for greater understanding and the dynamics of the sacred to emerge in our client’s experience.

  • Paediatric Presentation – Grief and Children: Tips and Tricks for Providers

Gregorio Zúñiga
Assistant Professor, Div.Pediatric Palliative Medicine, McMaster University

This presentation will cover how children and parents grieve the loss of a child. We will explore practical approaches and how to support them before, during and after death.

September 8, 2022 – Rooted in Wisdom: Bending not Breaking

Aboriginal Perspectives on the Stages of Life
Clarence Cachagee
Founder, Crow Shield Lodge
www.crowshieldlodge.com/

Music Therapy in the Transitional Space Between Life and Death
Lydia Penner
Counsellor & Music Therapist
Hospice Waterloo Region

Micro-Approaches to Self-Care
Trish Heyes
Client Services Lead
Hospice Wellington

March 24, 2020

Conference Cancelled due to COVID-19

November 20, 2019 – Managing Change in Turbulent Times

Dr. Nick Bontis
Award-Winning Professor of Strategy
McMaster University
www.NickBontis.com

Spring – March 20, 2019

Safe Use of Opioids
Andrea Furlan, MD, PhD, Physiatry
Institute for Work & Health

Supporting Children Experiencing the Death of a Loved One
Dave Lysecki, MD, FRCPC
Tracy Akitt, Certified Child Life Specialist
McMaster Children’s Hospital

Palliative Care in Homeless and Vulnerable Populations: Relationship-Based Nursing Care
Karen Simpson, NP

Fall – November 22, 2018 – The Power of Kindness in Palliative Care

Dr. Brian Goldman, MD
doctorbriangoldman.com

Spring – March 8, 2018

Navigating Challenging Conversations
Dr. Jeff Myers, MD, MSEd, CCFP(PC)] Sinai Health System

Paediatric Palliative Care: You can care for these patients; Project ECHO can help!
Dr. Adam Rapoport, MD, FRCP(C), MHSc
The Hospital for Sick Children

Approach to Advanced Heart Failure at End of Life
Dr. Leah Steinberg, MD, MA, CFC
Sinai Health System

Navigating Challenging Conversations: Practical Applications
Dr. Jeff Myers, MD, MSEd, CCFP(PC)
Sinai Health System

Fall – November 22, 2017

Cannabinoid Therapies:  What’s all the Buzz About?
Dr. Vincent Maida
vincent.maida@utoronto.ca
http://www.vincentmaida.com;  http://drvincentmaida.wordpress.com
Article: A User’s Guide to Cannabinoid Therapies in Oncology

Grief Matters
Rachelle McGuire, MA CT
Kemp Hospice

Spring – March 23, 2017

The Problem with Polysemy
Joshua Shadd, MD, MClSc, CCFP
Palliative Care Physician, Hamilton Health Sciences; Director, Division of Palliative Care; Asst. Professor, Dept. of Family Medicine
Hamilton Health Sciences

MAID and the Waterloo Wellington Response
Waterloo Wellington Regional MAID Working Group
Waterloo Wellington Response

Palliative Care for the LGBTQ Community
Cait Glasson, SPECTRUM’s Aging with Pride Committee; Barb Jones, RSW MSW, Clinical Social Worker, Hospice of Waterloo Region
Spectrum

Pediatric Palliative Care:  An Inpatient Oncology Perspective
Paula MacDonald, BScPhm
Clinical Pharmacist, Paediatrics Hematology/Oncology
McMaster Children’s Hospital

November 17, 2016 – Late-Stage Dementia:  Providing Comfort, Compassion and Care – New Dimensions

Dr. Michael Gordon
Geriatrician, Ethicist, Educator, Speaker, Author
https://www.drmichaelgordon.ca/