Physician, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam

Fellow, International Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program, Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice

E-mail: dotrongthuy@hmu.edu.vn, dotrongthuy08@gmail.com
Skype: bsthuy_hmu

Dr. Do began the International Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program in 2008 and graduated in 2011. He is a staff physician at the National Cancer Hospital in Hanoi, and a member of the Palliative Care Support Team of the Ministry of Health. Dr. Do is part of a team that is establishing a new Palliative Care Unit with 15 beds, a volunteer program, and a homecare program. The unit is scheduled to open in 2012. A new Palliative Care Consultant service at Campus 1 of National Cancer Hospital will also open in 2012. Dr. Do instructs medical students and fellows in Pain and Palliative Medicine at Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Oncology Department. He also teaches Palliative Care throughout the country. Dr. Do is particularly interested in caring for patients at the end stage of life and those who are not able to afford medical care.

Other Appointments

• Lecturer, Oncology Department, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Member, Palliative Care support team, Ministry of Health.

Education / Honors

• International Palliative Medicine Fellowship, San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine, San Diego, United States, 2008-2011
• Ministry of Health Palliative Care Training Scholarship, 2008
• Post-Doctoral training, Residency in Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam, 2003-2006
• Medical Degree, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi City, Vietnam, 2002

Key Publications

• Nguyen Cuong, Do Trong Thuy (2011) “A review of treating dyspnea in advanced cancer patients by using low dose of morphine in Medical Hospital University Hospital”. GRADUATION THESIS (M.D.)
• Do Trong Thuy, Hoang Minh Thang (2010) “Review clinical characteristics of advanced rectum cancer at the National Cancer Hospital, Vietnam” GRADUATION THESIS (M.D.)
• Ho Giang Nam, Do Trong Thuy (2010) “Review clinical characteristics of advanced breast cancer at the National Cancer Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam”. GRADUATION THESIS (M.D.)
• Do Trong Thuy et al. (2008) “Assessment of Pain After Cancer Surgery in Vietnam National Cancer Hospital” Hanoi Medical University Symposium on Palliative Care, 2009.
• Do Trong Thuy, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan (2002) “Bone lesions in multiple myeloma patients” The Medicine Journal, Ministry of Health, Vol 11.
• Do Trong Thuy, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Giap Thi Minh Nguyet, Trinh Van Bao, Tran Thi Thanh Huong (2002), “Screening maternal serum for α-feto protein, human chorionic gonadotropin and conjugated estriol to identify fetuses with aneuploidy and neural tube defects”, Journal of Medical Research, Volume 20.N04. November, 2002, p1-7.

Key Presentations

• Nausea/Vomiting Assessment and Treatment
• Pharmacotherapy for Pain
• Palliative Care Assessment
• Palliative Care Assessment and Approach to the Patient: Principles of Pain Relief, Skin problems, Constipation / Diarrhea
• Definitions & Principles of Palliative Care, Principles of Pain Relief, Case study

Resources

• Oncology Department, Hanoi Medical University
• Cancer and Palliative Care department, Hanoi Medical University Hospital
• General Surgery Department, National Cancer Hospital (K Hospital)

Fellow, International Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program, Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice

E-mail: agnescalsina@yahoo.es
Skype: agnes calsina

Dr. Calsina began the International Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program in 2009 and graduated in December, 2011. She currently works as Attending Physician at the Institut Català d’ Oncologia (ICO) in L’ Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. Dr. Calsina has always had the desire to treat the ‘whole’ patient rather than just the disease. This desire led her to seek out the fellowship program. Agnès is very interested in sharing her knowledge of palliative medicine with peers, residents, patients and families. She is particularly interested in and sensitive to the death and dying experience in different cultures. She has worked with Consorci Sanitari Parc Taulí, Sabadell. She is also collaborating in a research project called NECPAL that is studying the needs of patients who require palliative support and who are admitted in a Tertiary Hospital.

Key Accomplishments:

• Member of SCMFIC (Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicine)

Education / Honors:

• Masters in Palliative Medicine, Universitat de Barcelona, Anticipated graduation June 2012
• International Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program, Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice, June 2009 – December 2011
• Presentation of the manuscript, “Interference in sleep in patients with pain in primary health care,” for research proficiency, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, November 2009
• Master’s Degree in Primary Health Care and completion of research project: “Interference in sleep in patients with pain in primary health care”, January 2008 – June 2009
• Residency in Family and Community Medicine, Florida Nord and Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 2005-2009
• Passed M.I.R. exam (licensing examination) in the first round, 2005
• Graduate of Medicine and Surgery, Universitat de Barcelona, 1998-2004.

Key Publications:

• Treatment of Chronic Hiccups in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2012; 15(10): 1142-50.
• Frequency of Pain as a Reason for Visiting a Primary Care Clinic and its Influence on Sleep. Calsina-Berna A., Moreno Millán N., González-Barboteo J., Solsona Díaz L., Porta-Sales J. Aten Primaria. 2011 November; 43 (11):568-75 . Epub 2011 Mar 5.
• Cancer Cachexia. Tuca Rodríguez A., Calsina-Berna A., González-Barboteo J., Gómez-Batiste Alentorn X. Med Clin (Barc). 2010 Oct 16; 135(12):568-72.
• Delirium in Advanced Oncology Patients admitted in a Palliative Care Unit. Calsina-Berna A., Garzon-Rodriguez C., Porta-Sales. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2009; 16 (5): 286-90.
• Descriptive study about the use peritoneal catheters for the management of malignant ascites. Sales Moreno P., Calsina-Berna A., López Postigo M., Cabrera Pajarón M., Poyato Gómez E., Grimau Malet I. Medicina Paliativa. Currently in press.

Key Presentations:

• The square of care and the model of needs, December 2011
• Constipation in Palliative Care, March 2011
• Last days of living situations, March 2011
• How to treat a patient with symptoms: instruments, idea of globality, March 2011
• Rounds: Covering physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs, March 2011
• Palliative care and team work, December 2010
• Sensitization workshop about the end of life, October – November 2010
• Last days of Living, October 2010

Honoring Hasan Abbas, MD, International Palliative Medicine Specialist
Sept. 3, 1962– November 18, 2012

Dr. Hasan Abbas, Palliative Medicine Consultant at King Abdullah Medical City in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, died unexpectedly on November 18, 2012. The palliative care community mourns his loss, and The International Programs at San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine have lost a dear friend and member of our global family.

Along with Dr. Mohammad Bushnaq, Hasan helped to start the Division of Palliative Medicine at the King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, the first hospital to deliver palliative care in Jordan. An Internist, Hasan was the second person to become an International Palliative Medicine Fellow (2006-2008).

Hasan was a strong advocate for and pioneer in palliative medicine in the Middle East. He strove to care for all people who need palliative care, and worked especially hard to remove barriers to care for those of Muslim faith. We are indebted to Hasan for teaching us about providing palliative care in the Muslim context, for his thoughtfulness as we evolved the international fellowship program, for his generous spirit, and for his wonderful sense of humor.

Our thoughts and sympathies are with Hasan’s family, friends, and colleagues.

If you would like to contact Hasan’s family, you can send his wife an email at layanabbas@hotmail.com.

Dr. Hasan Abbas and Dr. Mohammad Bushnaq in front of the first palliative care unit at King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, Jordan.