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Join Dr Benzi Kluger (Departments of Neurology and Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA) and Dr Susan Mathers (Statewide Progressive Neurological Disease Assessment, Management and Education Services, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Victoria, Australia) for this year’s Centre for Palliative Care Annual Lecture.
Neuropalliative care is an emerging field that recognises the need to address the unique palliative care needs affecting people living with neurologic illness and their families. Research over the past decade has demonstrated the existence of significant palliative care needs in neurologic populations, an openness to palliative approaches, and initial signs of effectiveness when incorporating palliative care. However, to create a significant impact, the field of Neuropalliative care must develop models to integrate the palliative care approach into real world everyday practice. The lecture will present a public health perspective on several models and strategies to better meet the palliative care needs of patients and families affected by neurological illness.
We are delighted to have two experts in Neuropalliative care to jointly present this year’s Annual Lecture.
Dr Benzi M. Kluger, MD, MS, FAAN
Departments of Neurology and Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
Dr. Kluger completed an undergraduate degree in psychology, medical school and neurology residency at the University of Colorado before going to the University of Florida to complete fellowships in movement disorders and behavioral neurology. From 2008 to 2019 he was at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where he rose to the rank of Professor and was the founding director of several innovative programs including the University of Colorado’s Movement Disorders Center, Neuropalliative Care Clinic and Neuropalliative Care Section which included a fellowship track. He is now a Professor of Neurology and Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the founding Director of their Neuropalliative Care Division and Palliative Care Research Center. In addition to seeing patients in the supportive and palliative care clinic, he directs a very active research program working towards improving therapies for non-motor symptoms (e.g. Fatigue, dementia) and improving standards of care for patients and caregivers through supportive and palliative care models. His research has been funded by the Michael J Fox Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, the Davis Phinney Foundation and the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
Dr Susan Mathers
Statewide Progressive Neurological Disease Assessment, Management and Education Services, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Victoria, Australia
With a clinical and research focus on the management of progressive neurological diseases and models of care, I have led the development of a specialist statewide service at Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, sponsored by grants from the Victorian Government. The statewide service offers multidisciplinary care for people with a progressive neurological disease living in Victoria and bordering states. Over a thousand patients attend this service, including 350 people with ALS/Motor Neurone Disease. Through secondary consultation, education and Telehealth, the specialist team also supports local clinicians and service providers to care for patients close to home.
The statewide service enables patient involvement in a number of investigator-driven, national and international research studies and clinical trials, including 4 neurological patient registries and databases.
Our team has an established track record in the successful administration of a number of phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials in neurological disease.
I am a member of the scientific committee of Motor Neurone Disease Research Australia and also review grant applications for Fight MND research foundation. I am a founding member of the Australian Motor Neurone Disease Registry and Victorian MND research tissue bank.
For any enquiries, please contact us either by phone or email: +61 39416 0000 & centre.palliativecare@svha.org.au.