Venue: Radisson Hotel, Galway

The conference will explore the philosophy of Palliative Medicine and Palliative Care which aim to help patients to live both pain and symptom free, with good subjective quality of life, and to empower patients to live as whole and independent a life as possible.

The conference, called “Cuisle Beatha” (the pulse of life), is organised by Dr Dympna Waldron and colleagues at Galway University Hospitals, with support from local GPs and Cancer Care West.

A number of the world’s leading experts in the field will be speaking at the conference, including clinician and researcher Dr. Declan Walsh, Professor and Director of The Harry R. Horvitz Centre for Palliative Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA; Dr Michael Kearney, Medical Director of the Palliative Care Service at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, USA; Mr Gavin Quigley, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast;and experts from Galway University Hospitals.

The format of the conference includes presentations, round table discussions and interactive patient videos, which will prompt lively debate among delegates and provide the vision to explore challenging new concepts which will maximise their patients’ quality of life.The seven “Learning from…” themes of the conference will be examined in detail with presentations, debate and discussion on each topic. These include as a sample:

Learning from Research includes a review of recent palliative medicine research carried out at GUH and a presentation by Dr. Declan Walsh on “An Overview of Relevant Palliative Medicine Research Findings over the last Decade in the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA”.

Learning from Learningwith a presentation on “Forging an Innovative Undergraduate Medical Curriculum – an Update on the Galway Experience” by Dr Gerard Flaherty, Lecturer in Medical Education & Clinical Skills, NUI Galway.

Learning to Cope with presentations on “The Unconscious at work in the Palliative Care setting” by Dr Evelyn McCabe, Consultant Psychiatrist and“Complicated Grief – Recent Developments in our understanding of Grief” by Dr Helen Greally, Director of Psychology and Support Services, Cancer Care West.

Learning to Change: “Patient Selection for Brain Stimulation” by Mr Gavin Quigley, Consultant Neurosurgeon, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.

Learning from Others with presentations on “Plastic Surgery and Palliation – an oxymoron?” by Mr Alan Hussey, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, GUH; and “What is Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS)?” by Mr Dave Veerasingam, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, GUH.

Learning to Diagnose Dyingwith a panel discussion representing views of General Practitioners and Consultants in Palliative Medicine, Geriatrics, Oncology, Intensive Care and Neurology on the complex decision making process required to anchor a diagnosis on dying.

Learning to Care for the Carerswith a presentation on“Self-care of caregivers working at the end-of-life” by Dr. Michael Kearney,Medical Director of the Palliative Care Service at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, USA and a presentation on “Care of the Team” by Ursula Bates, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Blackrock Hospice, Dublin.

For further information on the conference and to register, please go to www.cuislebeatha.ie or call 091 591222.