SPPCP Virtual Conference Call for Educational Session Proposals
The SPPCP Virtual Conference Planning Committee is now accepting submissions for educational session proposals for the 2026 Virtual Conference. The conference will take place on May 18, 2027. The call for submissions is currently open and will remain open until November 20, 2026. All topics of interest to SPPCP members in the areas of pain management, palliative care, hospice, substance use disorder, and related areas are desired. Proposals will be accepted for 30- and 60-minute sessions, complex case discussions, and the Fudin Debates. Speakers should be available to present and be available in faculty breakout rooms between 11am and 5:30pm ET on the day of the conference. Presenters will receive complimentary conference registration, which includes continuing education credit.
Proposals should include a brief description of the practice-based problem/gap in knowledge, the reason for that gap, and the desired results of the educational problem. See this link for detailed information about submission requirements and this link for the rubric used to evaluate submissions. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Please note that owners or employees of ineligible companies cannot participate as speakers in the virtual conference. See here for more information about ineligible companies.
SPPCP Virtual Conference 2027 timeline summary:
Submission deadline: 11/20/26
Acceptance notification: 1/5/27
Draft slides due: 3/2/27
Conference: 5/18/27
Presenting at the SPPCP Virtual Conference is a great opportunity to get involved with SPPCP and your fellow colleagues. We hope you will consider submitting a proposal. New practitioners are welcome to submit and are encouraged to work with a mentor to increase the likelihood of acceptance.
Suggested Topics for Educational Sessions
Suggested topics are listed below; however, the Planning Committee encourages submissions on other timely and relevant issues in pain management, palliative care, and hospice.
- Opioid stewardship, opioid conversions, and complex opioid management
- Buprenorphine, methadone, ketamine, and other advanced analgesic therapies
- Symptom management in serious illness and hospice care
- Palliative sedation and medication use at end of life
- Emerging therapies, pharmacogenomics, and new evidence in pain management
- Cannabis, kratom, and other evolving or controversial therapies
- Pediatric, geriatric, and other special-population considerations
- Deprescribing and medication optimization in palliative care
- Development of pharmacist-led pain and palliative care services
- Technology, artificial intelligence, and innovations in clinical practice
Jeff Fudin Debates
The Jeff Fudin Debates carry on a long-standing tradition of clinical debates in pain and palliative care. There are many controversial topics in this area of practice and these debates will delve into the evidence on both sides of each topic. The issues debated will focus on pain management, palliative care, and hospice topics of interest to healthcare practitioners who care for these patients.
- Submit one debate topic (20 mins)
- 1 learning objective
- Two speakers max per debate
- Debaters will work with the session moderator as they create and compile slides and to prepare for their live debate
Debate Format
- Debate pair creates slides for presentation using provided template
- Total time for each debate: 20 minutes
- Side 1: approx 7 mins
- Side 2: approx 7 mins
- What we really thought: 5 min
- Incorporate active learning
- Audience poll: who won the debate?
Debate topics may include:
- Ketamine for chronic pain or hospice care
- Cannabis in palliative care
- Pharmacogenomic testing to guide analgesic therapy
- Antibiotic use at end of life
- Gabapentinoids in chronic pain
- Palliative sedation practices
Complex Case Series
The Complex Case Series will highlight an interactive patient case discussion focusing on the management of one specific topic/symptom. Three cases will be presented, one each in pain management, palliative care, and hospice. Each case presentation will be 30 minutes in length and follow the general format below:
- Present a complex patient case scenario
- Present possible treatment choices and evidence supporting them
- Facilitate active discussion regarding treatment choices
- This can be done by posing questions for discussion, poll questions, or another active learning modality
- Conclude presentation with the best choice of therapy based on the individual patient and available evidence
Submission Guidance:
- Submit one case discussion topic with one learning objective
- Some examples include: difficult-to-manage symptoms/disease states, refractory pain, what to do when “the usual” doesn’t work, caring for patients with SUD in PM, PC, hospice, going beyond first-line treatments
- One speaker per case presentation
- Exceptions may be made for post-graduate learners or new practitioners working with a mentor
Complex case sessions may address:
- Difficult opioid conversions or rotation
- Refractory pain or symptom management
- Patients with substance use disorder and serious illness
- Polypharmacy and deprescribing
- Challenging hospice or end-of-life medication decisions
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