Know the Basics: Building bridges - How does Palliative Care complete paediatric cancer care?
2025-09-29 17:00 - 18:30 (Europe/Vienna) | Online Webinar
register hereAbout the webinar:
This webinar aims to dispel any misconceptions surrounding paediatric palliative care and better clarify its role and how it can better support children with cancer and their families. Through a multi-disciplinary approach and presentation, and enough time for discussion with the participants, we aim to raise more awareness on what palliative care is and what benefits it can bring.
We will start with a short introduction and presentations on the topic, from the various experts, and will close with a panel discussion, and Q&A from the audience.
Our Speakers:

Georgia Kokkinou
Bereaved mother, CCI Europe Committee Member, and Vice president of Floga
Georgia is a bereaved mother and the Vice President of Floga, the largest parents’ association of children with cancer in Greece. Through Floga, she has gained significant experience in raising awareness for childhood cancer, collaborating with healthcare professionals to promote better care and treatment for children with cancer and advocating based on first-hand knowledge of the patients’ actual needs. In October 2023, she was elected as new European Member to the CCI Board. Within CCI Europe, Georgia participates in various projects under the Diagnosis, Treatment and Care Pillar.

Nathalie Hofer
Bereaved mother and founder of Ophelia’s Legacy
Nathalie Hofer is a curious soul who loves asking questions and reflecting deeply. A happy wife to Lukas and mom of three daughters—one of whom they lost to an ATRT brain tumor—she finds joy in baking, decorating their home, and embracing growth through self-reflection. For over 11 years, she has worked as an organizational transformation consultant in the professional services industry.

Eva Maria Tinner
Senior physician Pediatric Palliative Care University Children‘s Hospital Zurich, member of SIOPE Palliative Care Steering Committee and PanCare Board
Dr. Eva Maria Tinner is a paediatric oncologist and hematologist with extensive expertise in paediatric palliative care. Her commitment began during her fellowship in the UK in 2009 and was strengthened through specialized training in Switzerland. Since 2018 she has focused her clinical work on PPC, and since 2023 she has dedicated 50% of her time to the PPC team at University Children‘s Hospital Zurich. She is an active member of PPCN CH and serves on the Steering Committee of the SIOPE Palliative Care Working Group, helping to advance PPC at both national and international levels.
Ana Lacerda
Senior oncologist, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Chair of SIOPE Pediatric Palliative Care Working Group
Dr Lacerda is a pediatric oncologist working in Lisbon, Portugal, with a very special interest in the implementation and development of pediatric palliative care (PPC).
In 2005 she founded the first in-hospital PPC team in Portugal, at the Department of Paediatrics of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology Lisbon Centre / IPOLFG (which she chairs since June 2023). In 2013 she founded the PPC Taskforces at the Portuguese Association of Palliative Care and the Portuguese Pediatric Society. She is also a founding member of the Portuguese Observatory of Palliative Care, and has been working closely with the Portuguese Ministry of Health. She is also a member of the EAPC Children and Young People Reference Group, which she co-chaired 2019-21 and chaired 2022-23, and currently serves on the EAPC Board (2023-27).

Ulrike Leiss
Clinical Psychologist at the Medical University of Vienna
Dr. Ulrike Leiss is a Clinical Psychologist, specialised in the field of paediatric psycho-oncology and paediatric neuropsychology. She has been working at the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Unit of the Comprehensive Center for Paediatrics of the Medical University of Vienna since 2001, both in the field of inpatient psychosocial care and in (long-term) follow-up care. She has established an interdisciplinary psychosocial team there, which is active both clinically and scientifically as COPEgroup. In the context of international collaboration, she has been increasingly involved in the development and implementation of guidelines in recent years. Moreover, her research focus is in (long-term) follow-up care, interdisciplinary communication, neuropsychological outcome and treatment.
María Avilés
Nurse at Comprehensive Pediatric Palliative Care Unit at Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús Madrid
María Avilés is a nurse from Spain and a member of the SIOPE Nursing Group. Since completing her nursing studies, she has worked in various units in Spain and England.
In 2019, she joined the Comprehensive Pediatric Palliative Care Unit at Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús in Madrid, where she currently works as part of the homecare palliative care team.
She holds a Master of Science in Perinatal and Childhood Care and a PhD. In addition to her clinical practice, María is actively involved in research and teaching on pediatric palliative care. She is also an associate lecturer in the Nursing Department at Universidad Autónoma of Madrid.
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