New beginnings… All change at the EAPC

This year’s 14^th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care held last week in Copenhagen, was probably one of the biggest yet with around 2,800 delegates from 80 countries of the world. Praise to the hosts, led by Professor Per Sjøgren, for such an excellent choice of venue and the Scientific Committee, led by Professor Irene Higginson and Professor Carlo Leget, for a stimulating programme. One thousand two hundred abstracts were submitted this year – the highest-ever number!

Held in the beautiful surroundings of the Bella Center the atmosphere from the first moment was one of fellowship and warmth, passion for new knowledge and reinforcement of good practice. We shall be publishing posts in the coming weeks that will comment on the quality and impact of the scientific content of the programme but for now we want to bring you some of the people behind the scene: a new beginning and two poignant farewells.

Front row: (L-R): Danila Valenti, Christoph Ostgathe, Philip Larkin, Irene Murphy, Mai-Britt Guldin. 2nd row: Josep Porta Sales, Tiina Saarto. Third row: David Oliver, Anne de la Tour, Catherine Walshe, Carlo Leget

EAPC welcomes new President and Board of Directors.
Following elections on Saturday 9 May, a new EAPC Board of Directors was formally constituted. Our new president is Professor Philip Larkin, Joint Chair, Professor of Clinical Nursing (Palliative Care) at University College Dublin School of Nursing Midwifery and Health Systems, and Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, Dublin, Ireland. In his welcoming speech, Philip thanked the 2011-2015 Board members for their contribution and looked forward to working with the new Board. The new Board includes:

• President: Professor Philip Larkin, Ireland
• Dr Anne de la Tour, France
• Dr Mai-Britt Guldin, Denmark
• Professor Carlo Leget, The Netherlands
• Assistant Professor Daniela Mosoiu, Romania
• Irene Murphy, Ireland
• Dr David Oliver, UK
• Dr Christoph Ostgathe, Germany
• Dr Josep Porta Sales, Spain
• Professor Tiina Saarto, Finland
• Dr Catherine Walshe, UK
• Dr Danila Valenti, Italy
• Dr Paul Vanden Berghe, Belgium

Closing ceremony on Sunday: Esther Schmidlin, on behalf of the Board, thanks Prof Sheila Payne (left) for the enormous contribution she has made to the EAPC and to palliative care in general

Farewell to Professor Sheila Payne
After eight years, first as a member of the Board of Directors and since 2011 as its president, Sheila Payne has worked unstintingly, not only in Europe but globally too to represent the EAPC. Now her term of office has come to an end as she hands over to a new president.

 

Prof Sheila Payne presents Heidi with a special book of messages and memories from colleagues and friends across the world honouring her work

Farewell to Heidi Blumhuber
In a special presentation on Friday, Sheila Payne thanked Heidi for the crucial part she has played in driving the EAPC to the position it holds today.

Heidi with her husband, Dr Franco De Conno, Honorary Director of the EAPC

Heidi has now stepped down after 25 years as CEO of the EAPC, handing over to Dr Julie Ling.

 

 

Behind the scenes…

Left to right: Marlene Sandvad, Prof Per Sjøgren and Fiona Wong

Behind every successful event is an army of backroom people: EAPC head office staff and committees, the Interplan team and many others. Seen pictured with Professor Per Sjøgren are Fiona Wong and Marlene Sandvad, who coordinated the Scientific and Organising Committees.

 

Volunteers at the congress in their distinctive green shirts are personally thanked by Per Sjøgren

As so often in palliative care, volunteers also contributed hugely to the success of the 14th EAPC World Congress.

• To find out more…
  For more pictures from the 14^th EAPC World Congress and a special message from the organisers, please visit the congress website
• For more information on the 2015-2019 Board of Directors visit the EAPC website.
• We shall be publishing more posts from congress contributors, delegates and volunteers in the coming weeks. If you missed previously published posts from congress contributors please click here.

Coming up…
5th International Seminar of the European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC) and European Association for Palliative Care Research Network (EAPC RN), Leeds, UK, 15-16 October 2015. Several slots  available for oral and poster presentations. Deadline for abstract submission and early bird registration: 31 July. Visit the congress website to download the programme and register.

9th World Research Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care, 9-11 June 2016. Call for abstracts will open soon. Save the date and check website for updates.