Thanks to the generosity of the Forgan-Smith family, hepatology patients at the PA Hospital (PAH) will benefit from improved outcomes and greater care.
The Forgan-Smith family gave a significant gift in memory of their daughter Kate, who worked in hepatology at the PAH, so that her legacy of caring for patients diagnosed with digestive health as well as liver, gall bladder, pancreas, and biliary tree (hepatic system) issues will continue for years to come. The Kate Forgan-Smith bursary allows the current Clinical Liver Fellow to attend an international conference each year.
Kate was herself a Clinical Liver Fellow at the PAH and worked as gastroenterologist before sadly passing away from bowel cancer at the age of 38.
The first recipient of their generosity is the Clinical Liver Fellow in the PAH’s Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Dr HooiLing Si, who was awarded a bursary to attend the European Association for the Study of the Liver Congress Conference in Milan in June.
Dr Si’s role as a Clinical Liver Fellow has a strong emphasis on the assessment and management of patients with advanced liver disease, including those being assessed for liver transplantation. She also functions as an interface between the consultants and other departments, as well as colleagues from other hospitals, ensuring a collaborative approach to healthcare excellence for every patient.
Dr Si took much away from the conference and remains incredibly thankful for the opportunity to attend afforded to her through the bursary.
“Receiving this award means a great deal to me. It offers an invaluable opportunity for trainees such as myself to broaden our professional networks, engage with esteemed experts in the field, and acquire new insights and knowledge in hepatology,” she said.
“Furthermore, it inspires me to pursue excellence with increased enthusiasm and determination. I am deeply grateful to Kate’s family for their continuous support in nurturing the next generation of gastroenterologists.
“The conference was informative and inspiring. My primary focus was on general hepatology sessions, but I also delved into the realm of viral hepatitis. The discussions on the evolution of clinical guidelines, driven by novel therapies and emerging evidence, were particularly enlightening.
“The practical knowledge shared on vascular liver disease and the management of portal hypertension is something I am eager to bring back and share with my colleagues.
The presentations on emerging therapies for hepatitis D and the ongoing clinical research on a cure for hepatitis B were not just inspiring, but testament to the exciting developments in our field.”
One of the key areas the PA Research Foundation funds alongside research, patient support and state of the art equipment is staff education, something which can be often overlooked in terms of its contribution to creating better outcomes for hospital patients.
“Staff education is essential as it does have a profound impact on patient care and treatment. Well-educated staff possess enhanced knowledge; therefore, they can instill confidence in our patients by consistently delivering superior medical care,” Dr Si said.
“Continuous medical education ensures that as clinicians and staff we remain up to date with the latest advancements in the medical field and facilitate patient-centred care based on evidence-based medicine.
“Moreover, it fosters a learning culture, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving within the healthcare environment.”
