2025 Oxford advanced pain and symptom management course in Oxford - face to face

We’re pleased to announce the 2025 OXCERP Advanced Course, one of the UK’s leading courses for healthcare professionals working in palliative care. Whether you’re a nurse, pharmacist, or doctor, this course provides cutting-edge, clinically relevant learning to support your professional development—and ultimately improve patient care.

In 2024 alone, almost 350 professionals joined us. Now entering its fifth decade, the course continues to offer a trusted, evidence-based learning experience that reflects the realities of frontline healthcare. Under the expert leadership of Dr Mary Miller since 2008, each year’s course is uniquely developed to reflect emerging research, current practice challenges, and practical solutions.

Locations & Dates:

Oxford: 3^rd-4^th July in Blavatnik school of government, OX2 6GG.
Virtual: Available from 31^st July

Why join?

Proven Impact: High-quality, clinically relevant content, updated annually

Educationally Sound: Structured to allow discussion, reflection, and goal setting

Great Value for Organisations: Supports continuing professional development and revalidation

Led by Experts: Built and delivered by experienced clinicians, educators, and researchers

Charitable Mission: Surplus income is reinvested into education and resources

Our speakers and topics:

This year’s course features national and international experts presenting on core issues in symptom control, communication, ethics, and service development:

Dr Kathryn Mannix – Robert Twycross Lecture: A cognitive behavioural approach to existential dread and meaningful conversation
Dr Sarah Bishop Browne – Oral health in the palliative care population, with a focus on oral candidiasis and antimicrobial stewardship
Dr Victoria Bradley – Managing metastatic bone pain: evidence-based care and local service evaluation from Oxford University Hospitals
Dr Ariel Dempsey – Palliating Uncertainty: introducing a practical framework rooted in William James’ pragmatism and the values of palliative care
Dr Victoria Hedges – Opioid-induced neurotoxicity: clinical data, risk factors, and practical strategies for mitigation
Dr Paul Howard – Palliative Care Formulary: a look at recent updates and what they mean for daily prescribing
Dr Jessica Lee – Problematic opioid use: insights from an international study exploring clinician awareness of risk predictors
Dr Mary Miller – Top publications of 2024/25: an expert summary and reading list to shape your learning and journal clubs
Dr Kirsten Smith – Prolonged grief disorder: results from recent research and an upcoming intervention study
Prof Jason Boland – Managing nausea and gastrointestinal obstruction in advanced illness
Prof Matthew Maddocks – Non-pharmacological approaches to breathlessness: practical, evidence-based interventions