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Message from the Executive Director
Liliana De Lima, MHA (USA)
Dear readers:
As many of you know, we have started the initial process of developing a new strategic plan with our current board of directors and with the advice of our past chair, Dr. Kathleen Foley.
In 2000, when Eduardo Bruera was elected as Chair of IAHPC, he proposed a five year strategic plan which was reviewed, discussed and developed by the board. Several of the proposals made in the strategic plan were implemented and many of the tasks completed. At that time, important decisions were made, including defining our mission and vision statements, and deciding the role IAHPC should play in the global palliative care community.
Several years have passed and many changes have taken place, including the strengthening of regional organizations and the development of another global hospice and palliative care organization. In addition, many things have affected positively our ability to communicate and new advances in technology are enabling us to interact more effectively not only among ourselves, but also with our stakeholders and the community that we serve.
We recently reviewed the IAHPC processes and programs and analyzed the factors that influence our performance and our ability to be efficient and effective in the use of our resources. Many opportunities and challenges are emerging for IAHPC and we feel that it is the right time to work on a new strategic plan which will enable us to respond to the needs and demands of the palliative care community, our members, and our donors for the next five years.
We look forward to the recommendations resulting from the board’s discussions, and hope to improve ways to meet your needs and demands of our members, palliative care workers, patients and families around the world.
IAHPC has received an unconditional donation from Grunenthal GmbH in Germany. Thanks to this generous gift, we now have additional funds available to support individuals and programs in developing countries in addition to the global development of hospice and palliative care. To learn how you may also help and donate to IAHPC, click on https://www.hospicecare.com/give/donate.html .
Three Traveling Scholarships were awarded last month to support the participation of Doctors Maryisia Rodrigues from Brazil, Beatriz Thompson from Belize, and Eduardo Garcia Yanneo from Uruguay. They will attend the IV Congress of the Latin American Association for Palliative Care that will take place in Lima, Peru, March 26-29th. Additional information about this meeting is available in the Congress’ website at http://ivcongresoalcp.org/ We are glad that we are able to support these extraordinary individuals and look forward to their reports. IAHPC is also proud to be supporting this meeting along with the WorldWide Palliative Care Alliance, the National Cancer Institute in USA and the Spanish Society for Palliative Care (SECPAL).
Until next month,
Liliana De Lima, MHA
Executive Director
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