08/04/2026
Integrating psychosocial care into oncology is not just an added layer. It is central to how we deliver meaningful, patient-centred care. Manipal Hospice and Respite Centre, along with departments of Palliative Medicine, Medical Oncology, Psychiatry, and Clinical Psychology jointly conducted the “Integrating Psychosocial Care into Oncology Care: From Reflection to Implementation” conference on April 7, 2026 under Continued Medical Education programme.
The conference witnessed five panel discussions. From “Communication in Oncology and Hospice Care,” where conversations themselves become therapeutic, to “Distress and Assessment in Oncology,” focusing on identifying and addressing emotional struggles before they escalate, to “Caregiver Burden and Family Systems,” recognising that cancer impacts entire support networks, to “Psychosocial Referral Systems in Oncology,” addressing how building referral pathways from hospital to hospice is critical to support the patients at their most vulnerable time, and finally, “Reflective Practice and Professional Sustainability,” ensuring necessary support is acknowledged and provided to the workforce that looks after them.
We express our immense gratitude to our Chief Guest, Dr. Sharath Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Health Sciences, MAHE. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Anand Venugopal, Chief Operating Officer (Operations), MAHE, and Dr. Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent, Kasturba Hospital. We sincerely thank our moderators and panellists for their insightful contributions. We thank the entire team at MHRC and MAHE for their significant contribution to the event.
The conference did exactly what it promised: moved us from reflection to implementation, with one clear takeaway — compassionate, holistic care must be built into the system, not added as an afterthought.
[ MAHE, KMC, MHRC, Manipal, Palliative Care, Oncology , Psychosocial Oncology , CME ]
