05.02.10 First UK Chair in Paediatric Palliative Care appointed

Myra Bluebond-Langner

Myra comes to this new role from Rutgers University where she was the Distinguished Professor of Anthropology. Her early work on leukaemic children is regarded as marking an important change in the way children are studied and regarded by researchers. Her recent studies of decision making for children with cancer when standard therapy has failed broke new ground in approaches to the study of decision making and in the involvement of children in research.

Talking about her new appointment, Professor Myra Bluebond-Langner said:
“We are at a critical juncture in the development of palliative care for children and young people. As the field continues to advance we need to increase both the evidence-base and the capacity of the current work force to carry on the research and clinical work necessary to deliver the highest standard of care to these children and their families.

My goal as the True Colours Chair in Palliative Care for Children and Young People is to help us to meet these challenges through the development and implementation of a multi-disciplinary and integrated program of research, clinical practice and education. I look forward to working with people here, whose pioneering work grounds the field and sets the standard for excellence.”

The True Colours Chair in Palliative Care for Children and Young People is funded by the True Colours Trust, and the appointment will be jointly held at UCL Institute of Child Health (ICH) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Once in post, it is anticipated that Professor Bluebond-Langner will work closely with key children’s palliative care agencies throughout the UK as well as the ICPCN.