Medical Oncologist
Health Ministry Diskapi Education and Training Hospital
Ankara, Turkey

E-mail: dilsencolak@yahoo.com

Dr. Colak is an attending medical oncologist at the Health Ministry Diskapi Education and Training Hospital. She is committed to integrating palliative care into existing healthcare system. She is interested in increasing the understanding of palliative care among public and health care professionals.

Download and Read Dilşen’s Personal Story (260 KB)

Education / Honors

• Graduate, International Palliative Care Leadership Development Initiative, The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice, San Diego, CA, and OhioHealth, Columbus, Ohio, USA, 2012-2014
• Medical Oncology Fellowship, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey, 2004-2007
• Internal Medicine Fellowship, HM Ankara Education and Training Hospital, 1999-2003
• Medical Degree, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey, 1993

Key Publications
Journal articles:

• Akşahin A, Çolak D, Altınbaş M. Kanser Hastalarında Psikososyal Sorunlar (Psychosocial problems in cancer patients). Ortadoğu Tıp Dergisi. Mart 2010; sayfa 50-53. Colak D, Ozyilkan O, Akcali Z
• Akşahin A, Çolak D, Altınbaş M. Kanserde Psikososyal Destek-Onkoloğun Rolü (Psychosocial Support in cancer- The role of oncologist). Ortadoğu Tıp Dergisi 2009: Aralık; 22-27.
• Akçalı D, Çolak D. Kanser hastalarında palyatif bakım ve yaşamın sonu (Palliative care and end of life care in cancer patients). Clinic Medicine Nisan 2007, 66-70.
• Çolak D, Özyılkan Ö. Kanser hastalarında palyatif tedaviler (Palliative treatments in cancer patients). Türkiye Klinikleri. (Kanser Rehabilitasyonu Özel Sayısı) 2006; 2(10):1-10.
• Tanrıkol G, Kaya P, Çolak D, Alkış N, Özyılkan E. Onkolojik hastalarda yaşam kalitesinin değerlendirilmesi (Evaluation of life quality in cancer patients) Klinik Bilimler ve Doktor 2, 122-126, 2005.

Book

• Colak D, Ozyilkan O. Metabolic Problems, 80-86. European Society for Medical Oncology. Handbook of Advanced Cancer Care. Ed. Raphael Catane. Taylor & Francis, 2006

Key Presentations

• Dünyada ‘hospice’ uygulamalarına örnek. Türkiye’de evde bakım ve ‘hospice’ hizmetinin durumu. (Examples of Hospice. Implementation of home care and hospice in Turkey). Anadolu Tıbbi Onkoloji Derneği Onkolojide Palyatif Bakım ve Terminal Hastaya Yaklaşım Sempozyumu, Gaziantep, Turkey, 27-30 Mayıs, 2010.
• Truth telling of diagnoses and prognosis. European Society of Medical Oncology Course on Palliative Care in Oncology, Ankara, Turkey. November 17-18, 2006.
• Quality of life for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. MASCC 17th International Symposium-June 30-July 2, 2005.

Coordinator, Palliative Care Unit
Kenyatta National Hospital
Nairobi, Kenya

E-mail: drcege@wananchi.com

Dr Munyoro coordinates the palliative care unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. The unit serves to offer palliative care education to all local healthcare workers. She is particularly interested in improving pain management for both adults and children, especially those with life threatening illnesses for whom a good quality of life is a priority. She has lectured in various venues in Kenya and hopes to get Pain and Palliative care curriculums offered to all healthcare workers in Kenya.

Download and Read Esther’s Personal Story (200 KB)

Other Appointments

• Member; Hospital Transfusion Committee, Kenyatta National Hospital
• Board Member and Vice Chairperson, ‘Hope for Cancer Kids’ a group that lobbies for the welfare of children with cancer

Key Accomplishments

• Co-Founder/Coordinator, Palliative Care Unit Kenyatta National Hospital; first Palliative care unit in a government hospital, 2007
• Consultant, Introduction and offering support for the use of Oral Morphine in the Burns Unit at Kenyatta National hospital

Education / Honors

• Graduate, International Palliative Care Leadership Development Initiative, The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice, San Diego, CA, and OhioHealth, Columbus, Ohio, USA, 2012-2014
• Trainer of End-of- life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) International Training Program, 2009
• Multi-professional Week in Palliative Care St Christopher’s Hospice London, 2006
• Post-graduate training University of Cardiff Diploma in Palliative Medicine
• Post-graduate training, University of Nairobi Medical School Department of Surgery, 1991
• Medical Degree, University of Nairobi Medical School, 1985

Key Publications
Journal articles:

• CEGE E.M 2008. Palliative Care in Kenya; Making it real. The Nairobi Hospital Proceedings Volume 11 , No 2 , April/ June 2008
• Technical person on a research project. Quality of Life in Cancer patients in Kenya. Lead researcher Dr Zipporah Ali.
• Technical person on a research on Quality of life in cancer patients with cancer wounds. Lead researcher Joyce Marete.

Key Presentations

• Salzburg Open Medical Institute & Open Society Foundations Seminar in Palliative Care in Cancer, September 2010.
• Joint paper, A focus on Essential Pain Medication Accessibility; the Kenyan Situation, at the Advocacy Workshop for Palliative Care in Africa; Jun 27th – 29th 2006. Oral Presentation.

Research Professor, Institute for oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

E-mail: nena.bosnjak@gmail.com
Skype: snezana.bosnjak11
Twitter: @bosnjaksupport

Dr Bosnjak is devoted to integration of palliative care into oncology. She has been actively involved in educational activities in efforts to improve the availability, accessibility and affordability of opioid analgesics and other drugs essential for palliative care; efforts to improve relevant policy research in palliative and supportive care and in attempts to introduce the philosophy of supportive oncology into Serbia.

Download and Read Snezana’s Personal Story (300 KB)

Other Appointments

• Member, Pain & Policy Studies Group (PPSG) / World Health Organization Collaborating Center International Expert Collaboration (IEC)
• National WHO Counterpart for Pain Treatment
• Member, Governmental Commission on Psychoactive Controlled Substances
• Board of Directors, MASCC, 2010 – 2014
• International Pain Policy Fellow (IPPF), Pain & Policy Studies Group, University of Wisconsin, 2006 – 2011
• ATOME Project (Access to Opioid Medication in Europe), Academic Advisory Board Member, Member of the Serbian Team, 2010 – 2014
• President, Palliative Care Commission (established by the Ministry of Health), 2008 – 2013
• National Health Insurance Fund: cancer pain expert

Key Accomplishments

• Member, the proposal development group: how to revise the regulations for prescribing and dispensing opioid medicines in Serbia (2013, in collaboration with the ATOME and PPSG)
• Palliative Care expert for TV show “To Live Without Pain is a Human Right” which aired on May 20, 23, and 25, 2012.
• Editor of supportive oncology chapter for the first Serbian website for cancer patients  (http://onkonet.rs)
• Interview about supportive oncology  at: http://onkonet.rs/suportivna-onkologija.html )
• Member, WHO 2011 Policy Guidelines Development Group (Ensuring Balance in National Policies on Controlled Substances)
• Initiated collaboration with relevant governmental bodies, national authorities and professional societies, which resulted in improvements of opioid availability and education and change in overly restrictive policies on opioid use, IPPF, 2006-2011
• President, PC Commission that wrote the National PC Strategy and its action plan ( adopted 2009) and proposal to amend the draft Law on Psychoactive Controlled Substances (adopted 2011)
• First National opioid availability workshop (2010): lecturer, and co-chair (2010)
• Participated in the drafting of the National Program ”Serbia Against Cancer” (topic: Pain, Palliative Care and Supportive Care), adopted 2009
• Co-editor in chief for the first Serbian textbook on cancer pain (2007)
• EAPC Task Force on the Development of Palliative Care In Europe: key collaborator for Serbia and Montenegro, 2005
• Co-author of the first national Palliative Care Guidelines (2004)
• First regional Symposium on supportive and palliative care (2004): lecturer and co-chair
• Founder of the first Serbian outpatient service for cancer pain consultations at the IORS (1996)
• Initiated and provided evidence for incorporating palliative and supportive care into comprehensive care of cancer patients at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, 1995-present

Education / Honors

• Graduate, International Palliative Care Leadership Development Initiative, The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice, San Diego, CA, and OhioHealth, Columbus, Ohio, USA, 2012-2014
• International Visiting Scholar, San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine, San Diego, CA USA, 2010
• International Pain Policy Fellowship, Pain Policy, Wisconsin University, Wisconsin, July 6-7, 2006
• Research Professor, 2004
• International Visiting Scholar, , Centre for Palliative Care and Treatment of Pain, Hospital “Hotel Dieu”, Paris, France (2004)
• International  Visiting scholar,  Sheffield Palliative Care Studies Group University of Sheffield, UK, (2003) 
• Doctor of Medical Science (PhD), Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia, 1995-1998
• Clinical pharmacology in Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia, 1993-1996
• Master of Medical Science degree, Oncology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, 1989-1992
• Doctor of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia, 1983-1989

Key Publications
Journal articles

• Gralla, R; Bosnjak, S; Hontsa, A; Balser, C; Rizzi, G; Rossi, G; Borroni, M; Jordan, K(2013) A Phase 3 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of NEPA, a fixed-dose combination of netupitant and palonosetron, for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting over repeated cycles of chemotherapy. Annals of Oncology Advance Access published March 14, 2014
• Bosnjak S, Maurer MA, Ryan KM, Leon MX, Madiye G (2011) Improving the Availability of Opioids for the Treatment of Pain: The International Pain Policy Fellowship. Journal of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2011 19(8):1239‐1247
• Bruera E, Moyano JR, Sala R, Rico MA, Bošnjak S, Bertolino M, et al. Dexamethasone In Addition To Metoclopramide for Chronic Nausea in Patients with Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 28:381-388, 2004
• Milićević N, Bošnjak S, Gutović J, Nalić D, editors. Palijativno zbrinjavanje onkoloških bolesnika: nacionalni vodič za lekare u primarnoj zdravstvenoj zaštiti (Palliative care of cancer patients: national clinical practice guideline) 1.izd. Beograd: Medicinski fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu; 2004
• Roila F, Ballatori E, Bošnjak S, Tonato M, for the Italian Group for Antiemetic Research. Randomized, Double-Blind, Dose-Finding Study Of Dexamethasone In Preventing Acute Emesis Induced by Antracyclines, Carboplatin, or Cyclophosphamide. J Clin Oncol 22: 725-729, 2004
• Bruera E, Lynn J Palmer, Bošnjak S, et al. Methadone verusus morphine as first line strong opioid for cancer pain: A randomized double-blind study. J Clin Oncol 22: 185-192, 2004
• F. Roila, E. Ballatori, B. Ruggeri; V. De Angelis, Tonato, S. Bosnjak, A. Del Favero for the Italian Group for Antiemetic Research. Dexamethasone alone or in combination with ondansetron in the prevention of delayed nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy. New England Journal of Medicine 342: 1554-1559, 2000
• S. Jelić, S. Radulović, Z. Nešković-Konstantinović, M. Kreačić, Z. Ristović, S. Bošnjak, N. Milanović, L. Vuletić: Cardioprotection with ICRF-128 (Cardioxane) in patients with advanced breast cancer having cardiac risk factors for doxorubicin cardiotoxicity, treated with the FDC regimen. Support Care Cancer 3: 176-182, 1995

Key Presentations

• Promoting supportive care in developing nations (MASCC/ISOO annual meeting, 2014)
• Olanzapine: nausea and vomiting (MASCC/ISOO annual meeting 2014)
• The role of opioids in the treatment of persistent moderate to severe pain (UITBS 2014 Symposium)
• Early integration of palliative care into oncology (WIP ALGOS International Symposium 2013)
• Integration of palliative care in oncology workshop, Annual meeting of Serbian Oncologists, 2012)
• State-of-the-Art of Pain Management: Focus on Opioids. ATOME Project, 2011
• “Increasing Access To Opioid Medication – ATOME Project” and “International Guidelines for Pain Management with Focus on Opioids”, The XIIth Conference of the Romanian National Palliative Care Association with International Participation, 2011
• Palliative Care of Patients with Lung Cancer (Annual meeting of Serbian Oncologists, 2011
• Education in Palliative Care for Home Care Teams in Serbia: Palliative Care: Philosophy and Key Principles; Communication with Patient and Family; EEMMA Strategy in Symptom Management; Anorexia/Cachexia, 2010
• Improving Access to Opioids: Have We Made Progress? (MASCC/ISOO International Symposium, 2010
• Workshop on Cancer Pain Management: How To Organize Yourself As Advocate in Palliative Care: Case Study-Serbia, OSI Patient Advocacy Seminar, Budapest, June 29th-30th, 2009
• Improving Patient Access to Palliative Care and Opioid Analgesics by Improving National Policies: Experience from Serbia, University of Wisconsin, Pain and Policy Studies group, Madison, USA, October, 2007

Resources

• Pain and Policy Studies Group
• The World Health Organization (WHO)
• The ATOME project
• Serbian Association of Pain Research and treatment
• Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)
• Onkonet website

Head of Centre of Excellence for Palliative Care, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa

E-mail: vervet@iafrica.com
Skype: Charmaine Blanchard

Dr. Charmaine Blanchard is aiming to strengthen the clinical palliative care service at the Chris Hani hospital as well as initiating and supporting palliative care services at the district and primary care levels in our area. She would like to see this become a model for implementation of palliative care services in other districts in South Africa. In addition, the centre is involved in teaching undergraduate medical students as well as family medicine registrars in palliative medicine. She hopes to see this teaching expanded to other specialties. Her personal special interest is in the spiritual care of patients and of healthcare workers involved in palliative care. She also has a special interest in the preparation of medical students (emotionally and spiritually) for dealing with the emotional demands of caring for ill people.

Download and Read Charmaine’s Personal Story 200 KB

Other Appointments

• Senior Lecturer. Faculty of Health Sciences. University of Witwatersrand

Key Accomplishments

• Established the Gauteng Palliative Care Doctors’ Group in Gauteng in collaboration with Dr. Trish Luck of Big Shoes Foundation in Johannesburg. A support group for doctors working in palliative care in Gauteng to exchange information and ideas and to debrief on a monthly basis.

Education / Honors

• Graduate, International Palliative Care Leadership Development Initiative, The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice, San Diego, CA, and OhioHealth, Columbus, Ohio, USA, 2012-2014
• Higher Certificate in Management at the Foundation for Professional Development, South Africa, 2010
• Master of Philosophy in Palliative Medicine at University of Cape Town, Graduated 2009
• Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine at University of Cape Town, Graduated 2004
• MBBCh at University of Witwatersrand, Graduated 1998
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) at University of Witwatersrand. Graduated 1993

Key Publications
Journal article

• Blanchard C. Spiritual Aspects of Palliative Care. Continuing Medical Education 2011 Volume 9 No. 7

Key Presentations

• Cervical Cancer and Palliative Care, Dr Charmaine Blanchard, Caring for Women with HIV. Johannesburg, South Africa, July 19 2011
• Validating the FICA spiritual assessment tool in South Africa Dr Charmaine Blanchard and Workshop on the use of the FICA spiritual assessment tool. Dr Charmaine Blanchard and Rev Michelle Pilet at the Palliative Care – Mind, Body and Spirit International Conference, Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa. South Africa: Cape Town, 2-4 December 2005