NSMHPCN 2025 Clinical Conference: Palliative Care for Progressive Heart Disease

The North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network (NSMHPCN) is proud to present the 2025 Clinical Conference, dedicated to the vital and timely topic of palliative care in progressive heart disease. This impactful event will bring together healthcare professionals from across the region to explore best practices, innovative approaches, and the crucial role palliative care plays in improving the quality of life for individuals living with advanced heart conditions.

Conference Highlights

This year’s conference will delve into the following key areas:

  • Understanding Progressive Heart Disease
    Explore the complexities of advanced heart failure and its wide-ranging impact on physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
  • The Role of Palliative Care
    Learn how palliative care supports symptom relief, enhances comfort, and aligns care with patients’ goals and values.
  • Symptom Management Strategies
    Discover effective approaches for managing symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, fatigue, and anxiety in patients with advanced heart disease.
  • Communication & Shared Decision-Making
    Highlighting the importance of transparent, compassionate conversations to support informed and collaborative care planning.
  • Advance Care Planning
    Practical guidance on initiating meaningful conversations to ensure patient wishes are understood and honored.
  • Psychosocial & Spiritual Support
    Address the emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of care, with tools and resources for holistic support.
  • Ethical Considerations
    Explore common ethical dilemmas in the care of patients with progressive heart disease and strategies for thoughtful navigation.

Event Details

In-Person Conference
This portion of the conference has taken place. Please see Virtual Access information below for your opportunity to catch up on the important conversations that took place with our guest speakers. 

Virtual Access
On-demand access to pre-recorded sessions
Available the week of May 19–23, 2025
$25 per session (à la carte) 

 

Join us for an engaging day of learning and connection as we work together to enhance care for individuals and families facing the challenges of advanced heart disease. To purchase your tickets please visit https://nsmhpcn.ca/conference

Tickets
Virtual Access
Plan Your Visit
Ferndale Banquet Hall & Catering
Local Accommodations
Visit Barrie
Meet Our Guest Speakers

Shannon Poyntz, NP-PHC, MN

Shannon Poyntz is a Nurse Practitioner working in the Supportive Care Clinic at North York General Hospital providing palliative and supportive care for patients living with advanced heart, lung and neurodegenerative diseases.

Shannon has been working in the nursing field for over 20yrs, 17 of which as a Nurse Practitioner. Shannon’s experience in palliative care includes provision in the community, hospital and long term care.

Morgan Krauter, MN-NP (Adult), DN(C), CCCN(C)

Morgan is an experienced nurse practitioner within hospital and community-based heart failure care. She is currently working as the lead Nurse Practitioner at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH). Morgan is nearing the completion of her Doctor of Nursing degree through the University of Toronto, with a thesis focusing on the home administration of intravenous furosemide for patients with heart failure. This interest was heavily influenced by her advanced clinical practice (ACP) fellowship in palliative care completed through the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario’s (RNAO). Morgan is passionate about innovative home-based and community care interventions for advanced heart failure management.

Dr. Anwar Parbtani

Anwar Parbtani was born and lived in Uganda, East Africa until the age of 17. On completing high school, he went to Poona University, India from where he obtained his BSc (Hons) degree. He came to England in 1972 as a refugee from Uganda. He completed post-graduate studies in Genetics at Edinburgh University in Scotland and PhD at the University of London, England. He came to Canada in 1981 as a Canadian Heart Foundation fellow at McMaster Univ. He was a career scientist at Western Univ from 1984 to 1998. He has published more than 150 articles including papers, book chapters and abstracts. At the age of 48, he changed his career from science to medicine. He is currently a contract family physician at BCFHT and a member of the Barrie community palliative care group. He is Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and FMTU-RVH. He is codirector of residents’ research and evidence-based medicine program at FMTU-RVH and co-chair of RVH Research Ethics Board. Anwar’s notable awards include “Shram Dam (“donation of labor”) from Poona District in India, 125th Canada Birthday Achievement Award (for work with youth), the Award of Excellence in Research Mentorship from the DFCM, University of Toronto and the Award of Excellence from the Canadian College of Family Physicians. His current practice focus is community palliative care service, and his passion is teaching and research; more recently studying, researching and promoting role of culture, faith and spirituality in palliative care.