I’ve always believed that medicine is about helping people live well, not just helping them live longer. Throughout my career in palliative medicine, I have been driven by a desire to ensure that people with advanced illness receive care that reflects their goals, values and priorities, particularly when facing complex treatment decisions.
As a Staff Specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, I lead the Renal Supportive Care (RSC) Service, working alongside nephrology teams to support people living with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Every day, I see the difference that honest conversations, effective symptom management and coordinated multidisciplinary care can make- not only for patients, but also for their families. These experiences have reinforced my belief that the principles of palliative care should be integrated much earlier in the course of serious illness.
I am passionate about improving care through research, education and leadership. As a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney, I supervise medical students, contribute to national collaborative research and serve in leadership roles with the Australia and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine and IMPACCT Australia. My research has focused on understanding the experiences of people living with advanced kidney disease, developing integrated models of care that improve quality of life. In 2021, I received the Rosalind Franklin Society Award for first-author research in palliative medicine and in 2024 our team received the Renal Society of Australasia's Best Patient Care Award.
Through the Churchill Fellowship, I aim to see firsthand how international RSC services have transformed care for people with advanced CKD and bring those insights home to Australia. My goal is to develop a national framework that strengthens collaboration between nephrology and palliative care, supports earlier integration of palliative care and ensures more Australians receive compassionate, equitable care that reflects their values and priorities.
Project
The Dr Dorothea Sandars and Irene Lee Churchill Fellowship to develop a national framework for palliative care in kidney disease using international models
Riona Pais
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