UBC Division of Palliative Care CME Day
Palliative medicine continues to evolve as advances in treatment, changing patient needs, and increasingly complex care decisions reshape clinical practice. Our care teams must thoughtfully integrate evidence, experience, compassion, and patient values to provide individualized care in the face of uncertainty.
This year's conference, The Canvas of Care: Exploring the Uncertainties of Contemporary Palliative Medicine, invites participants to examine the many dimensions of modern palliative care through the lens of today's most relevant clinical challenges. Expert faculty will explore emerging approaches to symptom management, including interventional procedures for pain, discuss the evolving science of prognostication in the era of novel cancer therapies, and review practical strategies for managing patients with complex conditions such as renal failure. Sessions will also highlight the realities of delivering high-quality home-based palliative care, the importance of culturally safe and sensitive care, and the role of narrative medicine in strengthening therapeutic relationships and preserving meaning for both patients and clinicians.
In the spirit of innovation, the Division has also made some additions to our usual program! An interactive expert panel will provide an opportunity to discuss your challenging clinical cases and unanswered questions with experienced palliative care specialists. The day will conclude with facilitated Social Zoom networking sessions, offering participants a chance to reflect on key lessons, exchange experiences with colleagues, and build connections that support continued learning and collaboration.
Join us as we explore the evolving canvas of palliative medicine—embracing both the science and the humanity of caring for patients and families through some of life's most complex and uncertain journeys.
Can't attend live?
All lectures (with speakers' consent) will be recorded and on-demand access is available for up to three months after the event. Note that CME credits are only available for participants who attend live — watching the recordings is not an accreditable group learning activity. If you missed the live event, you may be able to claim self-learning credits after watching recordings: How-to-Claim-Self-Learning-Credits
| Time | Session | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:15 a.m. | Welcome, Opening Remarks and Housekeeping | Dr. Adam Fowler | |
| 8:25 a.m. | Interventional Procedures for Pain in Palliative Care | Dr. Tim Murray | |
| 9:25 a.m. | Narrative Medicine | Dr. Catherine Courteau | |
| 10:25 a.m. | Break | |||
| 10:40–11:40 a.m. | Concurrent Sessions — Choose one of two | |||
| A | Prognostication in the Age of New Cancer Treatments | TBC | |
| B | Resident Talk: "Care and Particular Locations" | Dr. Claire Morris Dr. Peter Song Dr. Andrew Jeung Dr. Maya Rosenkrantz | |
| 11:45 a.m. | Lunch Break | |||
| 12:20 p.m. | Renal Failure | TBC | |
| 1:20 p.m. | Cultural Sensitivity | Dr. Kelvin Lou | |
| 2:20 p.m. | Break | |||
| 2:35 p.m. | Expert Panel The Art of Clinical Judgement: Cases that Keep Us Up at Night | Dr. Adam Fowler Dr. Danielle Downe | |
| 3:55 p.m. | Closing Remarks | Dr. Adam Fowler | |
| 4:00 p.m. | Conference Ends | ||
| 4:00 p.m. | Non-Accredited Breakout Sessions A) Socialize and connect with colleagues B) Discuss topics from today This year, we're trying something new. We know it's important to have a chance to network with others, but it can be difficult to come to a single location for an entire day or even just a dinner afterward. For CME Day 2026, we will be offering virtual networking opportunities after the main program is over. There will be two Zoom rooms open: one for socializing and catching-up, and one for a more focused discussion of the topics of the day. Please indicate if you think you would be interested in sticking around for one of these discussions and if so, which stream you would prefer Not Recorded Not Accredited |
| Early Bird By September 21 | Standard After September 21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians/Nurse Practioners | $190 + GST | $205 + GST |
| All Other Delegates | $65 + GST | $75 + GST |
| Residents/Students | $65 + GST | $75 + GST |
"Relevant & Courageous Content: It tackles real, complex issues—like bias in symptom management, palliative care for marginalized communities, and navigating ethical tensions—not just textbook cases"
- Past Participant
By the end of this program, learners will be able to:
- Develop skills to assist with self-care and communication in a Palliative Care setting
- Describe how modern cancer treatments affect prognosis and conversations
- Approach nonmalignant and non-hospital disease management with renewed confidence
The Division of Continuing Professional Development, University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine (UBC CPD) is fully accredited by the Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Committee (CACME) to provide CPD credits for physicians. This activity is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by UBC CPD. You may claim a maximum of 6.25 hours (credits are automatically calculated). This activity meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by UBC CPD for up to 6.25 Mainpro+® Certified Activity credits. Each physician should claim only those credits accrued through participation in the activity.