Dear Sir/Madame - International Association for Hospice & Palliative ...

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CAREPromoting Hospice & Palliative Care WorldwideIAHPC Board of DirectorsNOMINATION FORM 2011Thank you for your interest in nominating a candidate to the IAHPC Board of Directors.Before you complete this nomination, please make sure that the nominee fulfills thecriteria below and that the rules are met.Criteria for nominees:Nominees may be located in any country, have academic backgrounds and must fulfillthe following criteria:1. Have been active members of IAHPC for at least three consecutive years prior tothe nomination.2. Have demonstrated work and commitment in palliative/hospice care in his/herfield.3. Currently holding or having held a position within a teaching hospital, universityor palliative care organization.4. Have demonstrated willingness to participate and work in the board activitiesincluding working groups and task forces.5. Have demonstrated interest in international palliative and hospice care issues6. Be able to communicate effectively in English.7. Candidates must have access to the Internet and hold an active e-mail account.Criteria for nominators:1. Be an active member of IAHPC at the time of nominationNomination rules:1. Nominators may nominate one candidate only.2. Nominations have to be done by submitting a nomination form.3. Please submit a copy of a current CV of the nominee4. Deadline for nominations is November 30, 2011.Please complete this form and return as an attachment via email. Only electronic formswill be accepted.1. Nominator’s Contact Information:a. Name of Nominator:__Ripamonti Carlab. IAHPC membership number:_______________________________c. Title:__Head Supportive Care in Cancer Unitd. Organization:IRCCS Foundation, National Cancer Institute of Milano,Italy_________________________________________5535 Memorial Drive Suite F –PH (936) 321-9846 FAX (713) 589-3657Toll Free (866) 374-2472www.hospicecare.com

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CAREPromoting Hospice & Palliative Care Worldwidee. Address via Venezian, 1f. City: 20133 Milanog. Country: Italyh. Telephone: + 39 02 2390-3644-3641-3383i. Email address: carla.ripamonti@istitutotumori.mi.it2. Nominee’s Contact Informationa. Name of Nominee: Irenab. IAHPC membership number: 2185c. Title: Executive Directord. Organization: Family Healthcare Association (Korca Palliative Care)e. Address: Lagjia 3, Rr: Nene Tereza mbi Senatoriumf. City: Korcag. Country: ALBANIAh. Telephone (include country and city codes):00355692257953i. Email address: irenalaska@yahoo.com3. In a separate document, please send an updated copy of the Nominee’s CV inEnglish.4. State other information relevant to the criteria for selection (ie past regional andinternational palliative care work, experience at managerial levels or as memberof board of directors, specialized knowledge, recognized leadership, etc).Irena Laska is a professional palliative care nurse and manager of a unique palliativecare (PC) center in Albania. She has started providing PC as a volunteer under thetuition of a team of missionary catholic nurses from the UK providing PC in Albania. Inthe mean time she specialized in this service through experience and continuousinternational trainings. She was promoted to executive director of “Mary Potter PalliativeCare Center” directing a multidisciplinary team that started in its early beginnings as ateam of only nurses. PC services are being made available to a broad area in thesoutheastern region of Albania through this highly committed team under the direction ofMrs. Laska. The team is subject to a continuous capacity building program that assuresquality services offered to terminally ill patients and their families.Mrs. Laska is a pioneer of this service in this country and one of the founders of theNational Association of PC holding the position of the General Secretary. She hascontributed actively as part of the national working group on PC to the preparation of“The National Standards of PC”, “The National Training Manual of PC”, “The NationalPC Action Plan 2011 – 2016”. She is an activist in the framework of PC development in5535 Memorial Drive Suite F –PH (936) 321-9846 FAX (713) 589-3657Toll Free (866) 374-2472www.hospicecare.com

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CAREPromoting Hospice & Palliative Care Worldwidethe country through lobbying and advocacy efforts. She is engaging in various initiativesconcerning PC education providing basic, post basic and advanced PC training withhealth care professionals form the entire country. I find her efforts quite valuable sincethey have brought PC in higher levels in her country – health professionals morequalified to deliver PC services even in the areas that have no access to PC centers;stakeholders like the Governmental Institutions responsible for health services are moreaware on the importance and necessity of PC and more willing to collaborate toelaborate plans on the provision of this service; concrete achievements on theinstitutionalization of PC in a national level; a successful model of professionalism andcommitment facing the difficulties of a poor country of poor health care policies.Irena Laska is member of various international PC associations as well and sheparticipates willingly to international events aiming at improving her knowledge and skillsin PC provision and development. She is member of IAHPC for more that the last fouryears.5. Explain why you believe that your nominee is highly qualified to serve as adirector in terms of IAHPC’s needs for board members who have regional andinternational credibility within the palliative care field, are experiences managersand/or board members and are committed to IAHPC’s mission, values, andprograms.Mrs. Laska has served PC development in her country either by providing a model ofprofessionalism by her committed team delivering PC services or by contributing to theestablishment and development of PC services and its acknowledgment as an essentialservice to all people in need of this service. She is a successful manager of her centerthat is also a nonprofit organization titled “Family Healthcare Association” (FHC).The mission and vision of Mrs. Laska association as provided by her on my request is:- Mission: improving the quality of life of cancer patients in terminal stage throughhome care services, respite care, chemotherapy application and training of healthspecialists. FHC will alleviate the health problems of cancer patients offeringservices free of any charge – treating the symptoms of this disease andconsequently improving their health conditions. These patients will have the chanceof living a better life feeling the love of their relatives. On the other hand FHC willalso engage in training health specialists and caregivers to assure quality serviceand a life lived with dignity for these patients.- Vision – Family Healthcare Association’s vision consists in: setting a daily center ofhealthcare education for the Southeastern part of Albania. FHC aims at extending itshealthcare and education services in Korça region. All patients will have access tospecialized care. Caregivers will be provided with information on pain and other5535 Memorial Drive Suite F –PH (936) 321-9846 FAX (713) 589-3657Toll Free (866) 374-2472www.hospicecare.com

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CAREPromoting Hospice & Palliative Care Worldwidesymptoms management to cancer patients in terminal stage. So they will be able tooffer the patients a better quality of life.These statements are approaching IAHPC mission and vision as well. I strongly supportthe nomination of Mrs. Laska as a very positive model serving palliative caredevelopment as a human right.6. Provide a brief description of the nominee that will be used for distribution toIAHPC board members as part of the voting process (max 200 words).Mrs. Laska is a dedicated PC provider and promoter engaging in offering and developingthis service in her country. She started as a volunteer to become a highly motivatedprofessional and activist of PC. Mrs. Laska successful achievements in managing aunique PC center in southeastern Albania have played an important role to providing animproved quality of life to terminally ill patients. Today more people in Albania haveaccess to PC services and more health professionals are trained to deliver qualifiedassistance. This is due to her efforts and hard working in training these professionalsand being a strong advocate of terminally ill patients. In a country where access toopiates is very limited and excessive opiophobia, she has achieved increasing thenumber of reimbursed drugs by the government in the appropriate lists. The vision ofdeveloping into a center of education for the entire country reflecting a very positivemodel of PC services is encouraging and inspiriting. I have found Irena restless and fullof energy, a very passionate woman who is always ready to provide care and love topeople.Thank you for completing this form. Please submit as an electronic file (word or pdfformat) to admin@iahpc.com5535 Memorial Drive Suite F –PH (936) 321-9846 FAX (713) 589-3657Toll Free (866) 374-2472www.hospicecare.com