Join us on Tuesday, October 6, at 11:00 a.m. (Washington, D.C. time or EDT) on the webinar "Dimensions of Suffering and Palliative Care: Beyond Physical Pain", organized by the Pan American Health Organization and the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care as the second session of a new series of webinars aimed at strengthening the palliative care community of practice, while broadening its reach to include diverse stakeholders such as policymakers, clinical and public health professionals, academics, and primary care teams. The webinar aims to strengthen regional exchange of knowledge and experience on the psychosocial, spiritual, and existential dimensions of suffering in palliative care, promoting a holistic, person- and family-centered approach to serious health-related suffering.
Objectives:
- To explore the psychosocial and spiritual dimensions of suffering experienced by patients with serious illness.
- To examine the impact of serious illness on families and caregivers.
- To identify intersections between palliative care, mental health, aging, and human rights.
- To foster collaboration opportunities with other PAHO units and with social and faith-based services.
How to participate
- DATE: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
- TIME: 11:00 a.m. (Washington, DC time or EST) [Check at the end of the page for the time in other cities]
- LANGUAGES: English and Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation in those languages.
- REGISTER: https://paho-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fQiIPSscTBypTfJu9xzhvQ#/registration
Agenda
- Welcome remarks.
- Francesca Merico, IAHPC
- Speakers:
- Sister Maria Elena Faulkner, RN, IAHPC Interfaith Network
- Lorena Etcheverry, Palliative Care Physician, Argentina
- Jorge Espinel
- Discussion and Q&A.
- Moderator: Francesca Merico, IAHPC
- Closing remarks
Context
Palliative care aims to relieve serious health-related suffering by addressing not only physical symptoms, but also the psychological, social, spiritual, and existential needs of patients and their families. Suffering that extends beyond physical pain is often under-recognized and under-addressed within health systems, leaving significant gaps in truly holistic, person-centered care.
Within the framework of strengthening palliative care in the Region of the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) have established a collaboration to promote the exchange of evidence, regional experiences, and intersectoral approaches that address serious health-related suffering and support the integration of palliative care into health systems.
This webinar is the second in a series aimed at strengthening the palliative care community of practice, while broadening its reach to include diverse stakeholders such as palliative care workers, primary care providers, health administrators, and policymakers.
Webinar series
1: Place of Death as an Indicator of Access to Palliative Care in Latin America
Time in other cities
- 8:00 a.m. – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
- 9:00 a.m. - Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, San Salvador, San José (Costa Rica), Tegucigalpa.
- 10:00 a.m. - Bogotá, Kingston, Lima, Panama City, Quito,
- 11:00 a.m. - Bridgetown, Caracas, Georgetown, La Habana, La Paz, Ottawa, Puerto España, Puerto Príncipe, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Saint George's, Saint John's (Antigua), Washington D.C.
- 12:00 p.m. – Asunción, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Montevideo, Paramaribo.
- 5:00 p.m. – Ginebra, Madrid.
For other cities, check the local times in the following link.