Professor Catherine Walshe from Lancaster University has been awarded the prestigious Cicely Saunders Award by the European Association for Palliative Care.

The EAPC Cicely Saunders Award is given every two years to an individual who has made “a broad contribution to palliative care, either in research, clinical practice or in organisation/policy that has made a difference to the practice of palliative care.”

Catherine Walshe is Professor of Palliative Care and Co-Director of the International Observatory on End of Life Care, part of the Division of Health Research.

She said she was delighted.

“I’m honoured to receive this award, but must acknowledge the amazing contributions of the wonderful teams I had, and still have, the privilege to work alongside, as a clinician, as an academic, and as an editor.”

The most recent award recipient in 2020 was also from Lancaster University - Professor Sheila Payne.

EAPC Scientific Committee Co-Chair Professor Camilla Zimmermann said: “This award recognizes a significant professional and personal contribution to the field of palliative care. The scientific committee decision was based on Professor Walshe’s distinguished curriculum, career, and personal dedication to the field of palliative care.”

Professor Walshe is also Editor in Chief of the journal ‘Palliative Medicine’ which is one of the premier journals in the field, and is an international multi-disciplinary journal. She was invited to give a plenary lecture at the event entitled “Promoting Quality in Palliative Care Research: Perspectives of an Editor”.