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FMHS lecturer’s award to advance palliative medicine in SA
Author: Susan Erasmus
Published: 19/08/2019

​​Dr Henriette Burger from the Division of Radiation Oncology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) recently received an ASCO IDEA award from Conquer Cancer, and travelled to Chicago in June 2019 to receive it. 

The International Development and Education Award in Palliative Care (IDEA) from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) supports the professional development of early-career oncologists in low- and middle income countries around the world. It does this by establishing mentoring relationships between these early-career oncologists, who have a specific interest in palliative medicine, with oncology leaders based in Canada and the Unites States, who are specialists in the field. 

Out of 30 applicants from low- and middle-income countries across the world, five awards were granted in 2019. 

"The award provides medical education in palliative care and includes attendance at the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting and a post-meeting visit to the mentor's institution, with the aim of developing a long-term, knowledge-sharing relationship to improve palliative cancer care in the mentee's home country," says Burger. 

Burger's mentor is Professor Eduardo Bruera, Head of the Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas. 

As mentioned above, the award is given to early-career oncologists with a specific interest in palliative medicine who stand to become leaders in their field. 

"The recipients stand to benefit meaningfully from the educational and career development opportunities that the award offers," according to Burger. "The main aim of the award is to ensure wide dissemination of knowledge and skills so awardees need to commit to sharing the knowledge and training received through the program with colleagues in their home countries on their return." 

So what does this award mean to Burger on a personal level? 

"This award enables me to build a professional mentorship relationship with Prof Bruera who has a strong interest in the development of palliative care around the world and has extensive experience in palliative care research, teaching and training, publication and policy making on a local and global level. 

"It is recognition for the work I have done in the field of palliative care and motivates and inspires me to continue my work as chair of the undergraduate and postgraduate palliative care modules taught at Stellenbosch University. 

"It also strengthens the relationship that SU already has with the MD Anderson Cancer Centre through the ECHO Tele-mentoring Project in collaboration with the African Cancer Institute. 

When asked about her specific research interests, Burger said that she was currently enrolled for her Master's degree in palliative medicine at the University of Cape Town in which she will be investigating communication preferences for advance care planning in multi-cultural oncology settings. Her other interests include palliative care education and training and palliative radiotherapy.