PHPCI Newsletter | Issue 10 | January 2025

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FROM THE PRESIDENT

On behalf of the PHPCI Council, I hope that you have all enjoyed a very nice Christmas break and offer my best wishes for 2025. We look forward to collaborating with all of you in this new year. It has been an exciting 2024 for the Association with a transition of presidency from John Rosenberg to Luc Deliens and a range of activities undertaken. I wish to highlight some of these activities, and acknowledge the many people members and allies of PHPCI alike – who contribute their time and energy to advancing the goals of PHPCI.

We started the year with the intention to reach out more to all of you. To manage this within PHPCI, an executive board was set up at the start of 2024. And we cannot thank the people of this executive board enough for the many hours and days they voluntarily invested in PHPCI. Next to the president, are Kerrie Noonan, vice-president (Australia), Bert Quintiens, general secretary (Belgium), Saif Sabil, membership secretary (India), and Emma Hodges, treasurer (UK). By the end of 2024 we also renewed half of the members of the General Council and are welcoming the new council members Farah Demarchkieh from Lebanon, Samar Aoun and Jason Mills from Australia and Tania Pastrana from Columbia, but living in Germany.

Many challenges are on the horizon and PHPCI need to be ready to manage these challenges well. Public health palliative care ideas and initiatives are spreading rapidly around the world and as international organisation we want to showcase and support these ideas and initiatives. All these initiatives can be very inspiring for others and we need to capitalise on this. We have to improve to get our messages across and for that purpose we could collaborate better than ever. We have to improve our collaboration internally and externally.

We can reach out more to other palliative care associations and with that purpose we have collaborated in the past year with the International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), the World Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) and the Public Health Reference Group of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) within our council meetings. These collaborations have mutually reinforced our activities. As a consequence, we can increase our impact on communities, services and policies, including on the policies of national governments, regional and global organisations.

The most prominent activities of 2024 were the successful delivery of the second PHPCI Academy (previously the PHPCI summer school organized in Ghent, Belgium, in 2022) for early career researchers, October 18th - 20th 2024, in Schloss Münchenwiller in Switzerland and the 8th Public Health Palliative Care International Conference October 22nd - 25th, 2024, in Bern, Switzerland, including the city festival with over 100 activities. I sincerely want to congratulate and thank Steffen Eychmüller, Monika Hagemann, Sibylle Felber and Claudia Zürcher-Künzi for their successful hosting of this year’s outstanding conference, but also for organizing the city festival.

It was a great pleasure at the conference in Bern to introduce also the newly established awards of PHPCI. I am very grateful that the Council approved the principle to celebrate PHPCI awards at each of our two yearly conferences. In my humble opinion we cannot celebrate enough any kind of outstanding achievements in PHPCI. The three 2024 PHPCI Awards established by the council went this year to the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care (PHPCI Community Building Award), Kerrie Noonan (AUS) (PHPCI Research Impact Award), and Malin Eneslätt and Max Kleijberg, both from Sweden (PHPCI Early Career Researcher Award).

Let me finish by acknowledging the many people – members and allies of PHPCI alike – who contribute their time and energy to advancing the ideas and goals of PHPCI. I look forward to the continued growth of this important work and the increasing influence of the Association in 2025.

My very best wishes and happy new year,

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Reflections on the 8th PHPCI International Conference - Bern Switzerland

The central theme of the 8th Public Health Palliative Care International (PHPCI) Conference was "Building Bridges between Science and People". The event consisted of three main components: the PHPCI Academy, followed by the International Conference, and the City Festival. The conference focused on bringing together professionals from all around the world to exchange latest knowledge in research and practice, while the Academy provided an opportunity for junior researchers to discuss their projects and benefit from international experts in an innovative, collaborative atmosphere. At the same time, the City Festival acted as a bridge between academia and the public, fostering open conversations about dying, death, grieving and caregiving at the end of life.

PHPCI Academy

The PHPCI Academy was held prior to the main conference and took place from October 17th to 20th, 2024, in Münchenwiler, near Bern. This year’s Academy brought together 28 junior researchers from diverse disciplines and countries, offering them the chance to learn from 10 leading experts in the field. The Academy fostered a constructive, knowledge-sharing environment where participants discussed their experiences and explored innovative research avenues. The goal was to enhance current and future research in public health palliative care, identify emerging trends and methods, and further integrate these insights into research and education. Video testimonials from PHPCI Academy 2024 participants can be found here.

PHPCI Conference

The 8th PHPCI Conference took place in Bern, Switzerland between October 21st and 25th 2024, bringing together 450 participants from 49 countries to discuss the societal frameworks surrounding the end of life. In over 50 sessions, including plenaries, workshops, parallel sessions, and cultural experiences, the conference underscored the importance of integrating end-of-life issues not just into healthcare but into society as a whole. The emphasis was on building greater competence and knowledge, which would ultimately help reduce the fear surrounding the end of life.

A key message was that healthcare systems cannot provide adequate end-of-life care solely. The global shortage of healthcare professionals is leading to more care being provided by family members, friends, and neighbours. Despite the widespread willingness to support each other, public health systems have largely left the issue of end-of-life care to the individual. However, structured networks and integrated care are just as necessary at the end of life as they are at the beginning.

In response, the conference's Policy Summit launched the Bern Declaration, which called for greater societal recognition of end-of-life care. This international declaration defines the responsibility of society as a whole for a dignified end of life and aims to embed these principles into schools, businesses, and public institutions, empowering people to support each other. Participants agreed that there is a pressing need for increased awareness, training, and social and financial recognition of those providing care at the end of life. The consensus was clear: society must engage more openly with end-of-life topics, providing support and solidarity through mutual care and human warmth as life draws to a close.

A short video showcasing a number of PHPCI Conference 2024 moments and memories can be found here. Further, the Bern Declaration is available on the PHPCI website.

Left to right: Steffen Eychmüller (Professor for Palliative Care, MME Head, University Center for Palliative Care); Christian Ntizimira (Executive Director of ACREOL); Anne Lévy (Director-General of the Federal Office of Public Health - Switzerland); Marie-Charlotte Bouësseau (former Team Leader at WHO Integrated Health Services Department) discuss the Bern Declaration 2024.

City Festival endlich.menschlich. (ultimately.human.)

Running parallel to the Conference, the City Festival “endlich.menschlich.” took place in Bern from October 19th to 27th, 2024. Organised by the association endlich.menschlich., the festival brought the themes of dying, death, and mourning into the public domain, encouraging an open dialogue about these deeply human topics.

The City Festival was part of broader efforts to integrate palliative care topics into society and normalize conversations about the end of life. The festival helped to raise awareness that dying, death, grieving and caregiving are not just part of health systems, but are central to our everyday lives.

The city's engagement with the event (both conference and festival) was truly remarkable, reflecting a widespread and heartfelt desire among the public to openly discuss death, dying, and grief. This collective interest was supported by a range of local organizations, including the local football club Young Boys Bern, public transportation services (Bernmobil), and local bookstores, all of which played a key role in promoting the City festival and encouraging participation. Their involvement helped create a sense of community and shared responsibility in bringing these important conversations into the public space.

Congratulations to our PHPCI Award Winners!

The PHPCI Awards recognise work from PHPCI members from around the world who have recently made, or are currently making, an outstanding contribution to the field of public health palliative care. Selected winners from each category were presented with awards at the 8th PHPCI Conference in Bern, Switzerland in October, 2024. Customised awards certificates were designed by Ekkapop Sittiwantana, Peaceful Death (Thailand) co-founder and coordinator.

Showcasing Public Health Palliative Care

The Trees for Remembrance Project

An initiative developed by: Asociación CuidNOS (Badajoz, Compassionate City project) with the collaboration of the Badajoz City Council and Solidarity Musicians without Borders.The "Trees for Remembrance" project is an initiative promoted by the Cuidandonos Association, within the framework of Badajoz, Compassionate City.

The Trees for Remembrance project has the following key objectives:

1. To provide a space of remembrance and tribute to deceased loved ones, allowing people to plant trees for remembrance as a unique form of commemoration.

2. To foster the connection with nature and promote the relevance of caring for the environment, integrating environmental values ​​in the act of remembering our loved ones.

3. To raise community awareness about compassion and mutual support in times of loss and grief, promoting a sense of community.

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Emerging Leaders in Public Health Palliative Care

Public Health Palliative Care international congratulate recent PhD graduates: Hanne Blakelants; Louise D’Eer; Marjolein Matthys; and Bert Quintiens. All four of these PhD recipients have undertake research that adds substantively to the body of knowledge concerning public health palliative care. Well done to all four graduates, all of whom are set to be future leaders in public health palliative care.

• Dr Hanne Bakelants: Navigating Serious Illness, Death, and Bereavement in Higher Education. Click here for access to the full thesis and thesis summary.

• Dr Louise D’Eer: The development and evaluation of civic engagement in neighbourhoods concerning serious illness, death and loss. Click here for access to the full thesis and thesis summary.

• Dr Marjolein Matthys: Palliative Care in the Public Eye: Insights & Strategies to Enhance Understanding & Engagement. Click here for access to the full thesis and thesis summary.

• Dr Bert Quintiens: The development and evaluation of two compassionate communities. Click here for access to the full thesis and thesis summary.

Have you recently completed a higher degree research thesis focusing on public health palliative care? Email the PHPCI Newsletter editor (details below) so that we can share your work.

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Upcoming Events & Opportunities

4th International Research Seminar on Public Health and Palliative Care

You are invited to attend the 4th International Research Seminar on Public Health and Palliative Care, hosted by the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, and the EAPC Reference Group on Public Health and Palliative Care, in partnership with McMaster University. The seminar will be held on June 18-19, 2025, with a pre-conference session on June 17, at the University of Victoria, located on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples. Please visit our website to see the schedule and speakers: click here.

The seminar theme, "Innovating Care: Research and Action for Public Health and Palliative Care," emphasizes the need for innovative approaches that support social networks, address social determinants of health, and ensure culturally safer care. This event is designed for students, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers at all stages of their careers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers who are passionate about advancing palliative care and public health. It will foster critical dialogue and collaboration, offering a platform to share knowledge and drive meaningful, community-centered change in palliative care systems globally.

Abstracts will be accepted until January 31st, 2025 via the conference website. Early bird pricing and registration is available until April 30th, 2025.

See below for a full registration price list:

Registration type*

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19th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care

The 19th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care brings together the world’s leading palliative care experts, providing a key international platform to learn, network and share knowledge and research. The event offers a high quality educational experience, allowing participants to discover both innovative long-term strategies and solutions to challenges they meet in everyday practice. The congress is also a key opportunity for networking, affording those involved the opportunity to exchange ideas with hundreds of leading professionals and remain at the forefront of the latest developments in their field. 

This gathering is a crucial event in helping to shape the future of palliative care around the globe. It brings together ideas and innovations aimed at improving the way we can practice, teach and learn. Participants can engage with a diverse audience and garner a wealth of insights that help transform their daily practice. Details of the Congress program can be found by clicking here.

The congress will take place in Messukeskus - Helsinki, Finland between 29th and 31st May 2025.

PHPC Tools and Resources Updates

A collection of resources can be found on the PHPCI website, including toolkits, reports events, useful websites to name a few.

Website: https://www.phpci.org/tools

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Journal | Palliative Care and Social Practice

PHPCI has its own academic journal Palliative Care and Social Practice

The primary purpose of this peer-reviewed, open access journal is to raise the research and policy profile of a social model of palliative care. It encourages scholarly articles that challenge current discourse about the process of death, its current care models and practices, and of grief and bereavement. The journal welcomes articles from symptom science, clinical practice, and health services research. However, its aim is also to publish cutting-edge research from the realm of social practice - from public health theory and practice, social medicine, and social work, to social sciences related to dying and its care, as well as policy analysis, criticism, and cultural studies. The journal welcomes reports from work with under-represented groups, community development, and studies of civic engagement in end-of-life issues. The journal accepts a broad range of methodological designs – from trials to ethnography to analysis of existing sources.

The journal is supported by an international editorial board and is a member of Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All articles are listed on PubMed, PMC and Scopus, and are freely available to read and download.

Looking to submit to PHPCI’s has academic journal Palliative Care and Social Practice ? View the submission guidelines for details on the submission process, article processing charge and formatting your manuscript.

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Recent Publications

Bakelants, H., Dury, S., Chambaere, K., De Donder, L., Deliens, L., Vanderstichelen, S., Marynissen, S., Cohen, J., & Van Droogenbroeck, F. (2024). Mapping the ripple effects of a compassionate university for serious illness, death, and bereavement. Palliative Care and Social Practice, 18, 26323524241272110-. https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524241272110

Dellinger Page, A., Husain, J. H., & Glascock, J. H. (2024). Demystifying Death: Reflections on End-of-Life Doula Work. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 302228241305479-. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228241305479

Matthys, M., Chambaere, K., Deforche, B., Cohen, J., Deliens, L., Beernaert, K., Van Brussel, L., & Dhollander, N. (2024). Patterns of shared meaning across personal narratives surrounding experiences with palliative care, serious illness, and the end of life. Social Science & Medicine, 363, 117473-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117473

Nawaratne, S. D., Dale, J., Mitchell, S., & MacArtney, J. I. (2024). An interpretative qualitative case study of a Compassionate Cities initiative in the United Kingdom: Lessons for implementation in other settings. Palliative & Supportive Care, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951524001251

Quintiens, B., Smets, T., Chambaere, K., Van den Block, L., Deliens, L., & Cohen, J. (2024). Willingness to support neighbours practically or emotionally: a cross-sectional survey among the general public. Palliative Care and Social Practice, 18, 26323524241249196–26323524241249196. https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524241249196

Vanderstichelen, S., De Moortel, D., Nielsen, K., Wegleitner, K., Eneslätt, M., Sardiello, T., Martos, D., Webster, J., Nikandrou, I., Delvaux, E., Tishelman, C., & Cohen, J. (2024). Developing and evaluating Compassionate Workplace Programs to promote health and wellbeing around serious illness, dying and loss in the workplace (EU-CoWork): a transdisciplinary, cross-national research project. Palliative Care and Social Practice, 18, 26323524241281070-. https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524241281070

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From PHPCI Council

On behalf of the PHPCI council, we extend good wishes for the coming months, and we look forward to working in partnership with you over the year ahead.

Full members

• President - Prof Luc Deliens (Belgium).

• Vice President - Dr Kerrie Noonan (Australia)

• General Secretary - Dr Bert Quintiens (Belgium).

• Treasurer - Dr Emma Hodges (UK).

• Membership Secretary - Saif Mohammed (India).

• General Member - Farah Demarchkieh (Lebanon).

• General Member - Prof Samar Aoun (Australia).

• General Member - Dr Tania Pastrana (Columbia / Germany)

• General Member - Dr Jason Mills (Australia).

• General Member - Dr Esther Nafula (Kenya).

• General Member - Elizabeth Johnson (USA).

• General Member - Bonnie Tompkins (Canada)

Ex officio members

• Journal Representative - A/Prof Libby Sallnow

• EAPC PHPC Representative - Dr Steven Vanderstichelen

• IAHPC Representative - Dr Natalie Greaves

• WHPCA Representative - Dr Stephen Connor

• Conference Representative - Prof Yingwei Wang (Taiwan)

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Social media

For questions and inquiries please visit our PHPCI website, by clicking here.

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Would you like to contribute to the PHPCI Newsletter?

We would love to hear about your Public Health Palliative Care Project! Please send your experiences, stories, events or resources to be included in forthcoming Newsletters to Daniel Lowrie at daniel.lowrie@jcu.edu.au.

We are also looking for regional partners to act as co-editors in assisting us in identifying and sourcing stories of public health palliative care initiatives that can be shared and celebrated in this newsletter. If you would like to take on this role, please get in touch with Daniel Lowrie, using the email address above.

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Editorial Team

Daniel Lowrie thanks the PHPCI Council for assistance with the development of this newsletter. Thank you also to all article contributors for sharing your resources, ideas and practice examples.

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