Center for Practical Bioethics Announces Creation of the Kathleen M. Foley Chair for Pain and Palliative Care
New endowment creates platform to advance national dialogue on urgent pain and palliative care issues
Contact: Lorell R. LaBoube
(816) 979-1358
llaboube@practicalbioethics.org
Kansas City, MO - May 8, 2009 -- The Center for Practical Bioethics announced on Thursday the establishment of the Kathleen M. Foley Chair for Pain and Palliative Care at their 25th Anniversary gala in Kansas City. The new chair - which will continue to raise the bar on pain education, research and policy development - is named after Kathleen M. Foley, MD, a revered neuro-oncologist and international leader in pain and palliative care.
"The chair is being created at a time when complex and challenging pain management issues are impacting patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. This new position ensures that a trusted expert will have the chance to focus on ways to overcome barriers to care for those in pain, and champion the cause for generations of patients to come," said Myra Christopher, president and CEO of the Center. "The holder of the new chair will be charged with the critical task of uncovering solutions to ensure that everyone in pain has access to appropriate care."
Through its work, the Center has sought to create a candid dialogue between medical professionals, policymakers and patients to identify and confront complicated ethical dilemmas; a key focus of these efforts is achieving balanced, practical pain care. In the last 25 years, the Center has worked to develop programs, policies and publications that deal with medical issues like access to pain care that might otherwise have remained marginalized.
This includes working in partnership with other leading organizations to establish pain as the 'fifth vital sign' in clinical settings across the country, as well as spearheading the National Balanced Pain Policy Initiative to help both physicians and law enforcement agencies address the prescribing and enforcement-related problems that currently contribute to the under treatment of pain.
"I'm honored to have an endowed chair established in my name at the Center for Practical Bioethics - an organization that shares my commitment to improving access to pain care and enhancing pain policy in the United States," said Dr. Foley, attending neuro-oncologist in the Pain & Palliative Care Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York City. "With this endowed chair, the Center has elevated its level of dedication still higher to relieve pain and suffering at all stages of life."
The new chair is the third of five endowed positions planned to support the Center's work. The first two chairs are the John B. Francis Chair in Bioethics and the Rosemary Flanigan Chair at the Center for Practical Bioethics.
The Center is currently identifying potential candidates for the Kathleen M. Foley Chair for Pain and Palliative Care, which will be funded by a $3 million endowment. Purdue Pharma has provided a lead gift of $1.5 million, and Christopher said efforts are under way to raise the balance of the endowment.
"Purdue is pleased and proud to play a part in establishing such an important position in the pain community. Purdue and the Center both recognize the necessity of proper pain care to avoid and alleviate unnecessary suffering," said John Stewart, CEO, Purdue Pharma. "This endowment embodies our longstanding commitment to ensuring proper pain management and access to care for the millions of Americans suffering from chronic, debilitating pain."
About the Center for Practical Bioethics
The Center for Practical Bioethics (www.practicalbioethics.org) is a nonprofit, free-standing and independent organization nationally recognized for its work in practical bioethics.
Since 1984, the Center has helped patients and their families, healthcare professionals, policymakers and corporate leaders grapple with ethically complex issues in medicine and research. In 2009, the Center for Practical Bioethics celebrates 25 years of raising and responding to ethical issues in health and healthcare.
