Professor Julia Downing awarded Honorary Fellowship from Cardiff University

On 14 July, Professor Julia Downing, Director of Education and Research for the International Children’s Palliative Care Network, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at the annual Graduation Ceremony at Cardiff University in Wales.

The University awards Honorary Fellowships to those who have achieved international distinction in their field.

In addition to being the Director of Education and Research for the International Children’s Palliative Care Network, Professor Downing is an Honorary/Visiting Professor at several universities including Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, the University of Belgrade and Edge Hill.

She is an experienced palliative care nurse, educationalist and researcher, with a PhD that evaluated palliative care training in rural Uganda. She has been working in palliative care for 26 years, with seventeen of these working internationally in Uganda, Africa, Eastern Europe and throughout the world, developing palliative care services for adults and children.

Julia moved to Uganda in January 2001 and worked initially as the Director of Education at Mildmay Uganda, before moving to the African Palliative Care Association and now Makerere University.

Julia is known and respected internationally as a leader in the field of palliative care and has contributed to numerous relevant textbooks, journals and conferences.

At the ceremony last night she gave an inspiring speech to the over two thousand strong audience, most of whom being recent graduates in the medical field. She encouraged those starting out in their careers to always be proud of their chosen career, to take risks and to consider opportunities which call on them to step outside their comfort zones.

Asked to comment on this prestigious award, Professor Downing told ehospice, “I am honoured, delighted and excited to receive the award and accepted it on behalf of everyone I work with across the world, improving access to palliative care.”