Successful Palliative Care Leadership Development Initiative Welcomes Second Cohort

Feb. 8, 2012 - PRLog -- (SAN DIEGO) – The International Programs at The Institute for Palliative Medicine (IPM) at San Diego Hospice is pleased to welcome a new cohort of 23 palliative medicine experts from across the globe, and 10 international senior palliative care leaders who will serve as mentors to them. The International Palliative Care Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) begins in San Diego, CA February 5-12, 2012, and this second cohort will utilize the same formula of education, empowerment exercises and expert mentors that proved successful for the inaugural 2010-11 LDI program.

“Witnessing the growth and dedication of participants in the first LDI cohort was truly inspiring,” said Dr. Frank D. Ferris, FAAHPM, Director of the International Programs at The Institute for Palliative Medicine.  “We are confident this second cohort will continue the momentum established by the inaugural program and are looking forward to their innovative ideas as well as the new paths they will forge in the quest for comprehensive, global palliative care.”

This first week of training officially launches the two-year program that provides core leadership skills, business and strategic planning, advanced communication skills, and opportunities to design and implement new ideas to advance palliative care in their home country. This first of three trainings will focus on the theme “self as a leader” and include activities that examine each participant’s personal strengths, styles and beliefs regarding leadership. From various low and moderate resource countries, the participants will be matched up with mentors to develop an Individual Development Plan that includes a detailed personal leadership development plan, a plan to advance palliative care in their own contexts, as well as resource and financial management for the activities they will undertake during the Initiative.

“These leaders truly are at the forefront of the global phenomenon of untreated pain and suffering,” said Dr. Shannon Moore, Co- Director of the Leadership Development Initiative. “Through the skills developed at LDI, they will have the ability to make a real impact on their patients back home, in their local palliative care community and serve as ambassadors for the global palliative care movement.”

A grant from Open Society Foundations - New York and supplemental funding from the Office of International Affairs of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) helps fund the LDI program. IPM is also pleased to announce to Dr. Kathleen Foley and Mary Callaway from the Open Society Foundation, along with Dr. Joe Harford from NCI, will be joining participants during the weeklong course.

To view the LDI video and learn more about this revolutionary leadership initiative, please visit: http://www.palliativemed.org/Leadership-Development-Initi....

About The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice
The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice is internationally recognized for its excellence in palliative care education and research. Dedicated to the relief of suffering through the transformation of health care, it focuses on discovering, demonstrating and disseminating strategies for palliative care in existing health care systems whether here in San Diego, California or throughout the world. For more information, visit http://www.palliativemed.org or stay connected via Twitter (@palliativecare).