{"id":905,"count":7,"description":"

Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care\r\nCollaborative Discussions with Europe and the U.S.\r\nNovember 18 and 19, 2025<\/h2>\r\n

\"\"<\/a> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \"\"<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \"\" \u00a0 <\/a>\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a> \u00a0<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Innovating with Compassion: Transforming Health, Dental, Dementia & End-of-Life Care with Dignity<\/i><\/span><\/h4>\r\n

Topic: Holistic approaches in Health and Social Care and Dental<\/span> - Watch the Recording here<\/a><\/span><\/span>\r\n<\/span><\/h4>\r\n

Topic: Dying with Dignity<\/span><\/span> - Watch the Recording here<\/a><\/span><\/h4>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Meet our Moderator!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\"\"<\/a>Ms. Stephanie McGuinness<\/strong>\u00a0is a dedicated Learning and Teaching Champion at North West Regional College, where she has spent the past 10 years lecturing in Health and Social Care. With a professional background in Psychology and Social Work, Stephanie brings a wealth of practical and academic experience to her teaching. She continues to work in direct care, ensuring her practice remains current and relevant. Passionate about education, Stephanie is committed to delivering best practice and up-to-date knowledge to her students, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application.\r\n

Meet our Panelists!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\n

Topic: <\/span>Holistic approaches in Health and Social Care and Dental<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\"\"<\/a>Ms. Barbara Mulholland<\/strong> is the Program Director of the Dental Hygiene Program at St. Petersburg College in Pinellas Park, Florida. She brings more than 30 years of experience as a clinician, educator, and academic leader in dental hygiene.\r\n\r\nBarbara earned her Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education from the University of Bridgeport, a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Vermont Technical College, and an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene from Westbrook College. She has practiced dental hygiene in both Vermont and New York for over two decades before transitioning into full-time academia.\r\n\r\nHer teaching career includes appointments at Vermont Technical College, Thomas Nelson Community College, the University of Bridgeport, and Nova Southeastern University, where she also served as Director of Dental Hygiene Services. At St. Petersburg College, Barbara oversees program administration and teaches courses in clinical dental hygiene and oral pathology.\r\n\r\nAn active participant in professional development, Barbara has pursued extensive continuing education in oral pathology, periodontology, caries management, medical emergencies, and educational methodology, including curriculum innovation, and clinical assessment calibration.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>Ms. Ruth McGilligan<\/strong>\u00a0is a dedicated and intuitive Life Transformation Coach with a rich background in therapeutic work, particularly with children and young people in care and education. Her early career laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to healing and empowerment.\r\n\r\nRuth later founded her own business, offering transformative training courses rooted in a holistic model of health for both women and men. She is the creator and host of the Wombynhood Illuminated Podcast<\/em>, where she shares insights on embodiment, healing, and conscious living.\r\n\r\nHer professional toolkit is both diverse and deeply personal, shaped by extensive training and lived experience. Womb Massage Alchemist, energy healer, bodyworker, mentor, and embodiment facilitator. Her approach integrates ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic practices to support profound personal transformation.\r\n\r\nRuth facilitates sacred spaces including men\u2019s and women\u2019s circles, rites of passage, retreats, and workshops.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>Ms. Shannon O\u2019Connor<\/strong> is a dental hygiene instructor at St. Petersburg College with over 15 years of clinical experience and 5 years in academia. She is dedicated to preparing future hygienists for success in both clinical practice and community settings, with a strong focus on public health and patient advocacy.\r\n\r\nFor the past 9 years, Shannon has also worked as a mobile dental hygienist, providing essential oral health care to nursing home residents and homebound individuals. Serving this population requires patience, flexibility, and compassion, qualities she brings to every aspect of her work. She finds great fulfillment in helping vulnerable older adults preserve their oral health, often stepping in as their only advocate. For her, making a positive impact on their comfort, dignity, and quality of life is one of the most meaningful parts of her work.\r\n\r\nWhether she is teaching in the classroom or providing direct care in the community, Shannon is passionate about spreading oral health awareness and inspiring others to value its connection to overall health. She is proud to be part of a profession that empowers people to live healthier lives while mentoring the next generation of dental hygiene professionals.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>Dr. Frances Duffy <\/strong>is passionate about transforming dementia care so that people can live with dignity and meaningful connection at every stage, while maximizing independence. A Consultant Clinical Psychologist, she worked for over 15 years in older people\u2019s mental health, specializing in dementia diagnosis, post-diagnostic support, and rehabilitation for delirium. She is also an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of 6D Dementia Ltd.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span>6D equips staff and families with practical, evidence-based skills to respond with empathy, confidence, and consistency. Its blend of online modules, care planning tools, and leadership support reduces crises, hospital admissions, and use of antipsychotic medication, while helping maintain stable living arrangements. It also strengthens the workforce by lowering stress, absence, and turnover, and by improving confidence and retention. The result is measurable cost savings for organizations and improved quality of life for people with dementia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span>Frances works with NHS trusts, local authorities, voluntary organizations, and care providers to embed sustainable approaches to dementia care. She has authored best practice guidelines commissioned by the Public Health Agency and the British Psychological Society, contributed to the Northern Ireland Regional Dementia Care Pathway, and supported the Department of Health\u2019s Enhancing Clinical Care in Care Homes project. She also serves on national committees of the British Psychological Society and the Association of Clinical Psychologists, championing innovation and excellence in dementia care. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n

Topic: Dying with Dignity<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\"\"<\/a>Ms. Laura McClintock<\/strong> is a registered nurse and non medical prescriber and has been working in the specialty of palliative care for a decade, employed as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care for the past 8 years in an acute hospital setting.\r\n\r\nHer day to day work includes providing specialist advice and management for patients with life limiting conditions, assessing patients holistically, supporting families\/ careers, prescribing for and managing complex symptoms and providing education to teams she works alongside with. Laura believes that dignity in death should be awarded to all, regardless of condition.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>Ms. Emma Tener<\/strong>\u00a0is married with three children and two dogs, Rosie and Jim. She qualified as a Social Worker in 2009, with a keen interest in child protection. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge working with children, young people, and adults who face many challenges in their lives.\r\n\r\nIn 2014, she took on a new career opportunity with Cancer Focus Northern Ireland as a Family Social Worker. This role is a deeply rewarding part of her career, supporting parents and grandparents who are often at the end of life, as well as children who have been bereaved. Through this experience, she has come to truly understand the importance of empathy and respecting people\u2019s wishes and feelings. She often reflects on this time with emotion, recognising it as an invaluable learning experience.\r\n\r\nEmma joined South West College in 2017 as a part-time Social Work Lecturer and has recently progressed to the role of Course Director for Social Work. Teaching social work to students gives her a fantastic opportunity to share her knowledge and experience, while encouraging young adults and others who may be facing their own challenges.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n\"\"<\/a>Dr. Matthew Dor\u00e9.<\/strong> Who is he? This is a question long been asked by many, not least of all by himself. He is pretty much bald, he attributes it to stress due to his 12-year-old twins, and a 9-year-old. He has an ever-patient wife called Sharon, who took him to Northern Ireland, and I love it here. He is a past chair of the Palliative Care Congress for 3 years, Co-leads the national clinical ECHO, and is elected to the national APM ethics committee. He writes occasionally semi-useful stuff in the BMJ, UMJ, BMJSPC, and letters in the Telegraph and Times. He is the lead editor of the Oxford Handbook for Palliative Care and most importantly, he is the Honorary Secretary for the Association of Palliative Medicine, the largest representative body of palliative medicine in the UK and Ireland and is representing the clear, sensible statement that assisted suicide\/dying should not <\/u>be part of healthcare or palliative care. Ask him why, and he will give you a passionate, well-reasoned response from a simple doctor who daily looks after those who are dying, who wants to prevent suicide and who wants to affirm and imbue inherent value and worth in his patients.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>Dr. Michal Imrovi\u010d<\/strong>\u00a0graduated with a master's degree in political science from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra. He defended his doctorate as the first graduate in the study program Public Policy and Public Administration at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, where he currently works as an associate professor of univiversity and holds the position of director of Institute of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava. As part of his scientific work, he focuses on civil society, youth, the third sector in the context of social policy and social work. He is the author of several scientific papers published at home and abroad. He is the author university textbooks and monographs. He actively participates as a solver in national and foreign projects. He is a member of editorial board of the magazine Revue of social services, Internal Quality Assessment Board.\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>Dr. Peter Slov\u00e1k<\/strong> started teaching in 2002 at the Faculty of Health and Social Work of the University of Trnava. In 2003 he completed his doctoral studies at the University of Trnava. Since 2004 he has been teaching at the St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work in Bratislava, where he habilitated in the field of Social Work in 2017. At the same time, he cooperated methodically with the State Institute of Professional Education. He also worked as a volunteer for Diakonie in Bayern in Germany and on projects of the Slovak Catholic Charity. Currently, the Institute of Social Work and Social Policy the Faculty of Social Sciences University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava is the place of his pedagogical and scientific activities. Its main professional focus is selected methods of social work and issues of social-psychological phenomenon's in human life in relation to the practice of social work. He is the author of several university textbooks and monographs. He is particularly interested in the psychosocial balance of the social work client in the context of empowerment and spirituality.\r\n
\r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>Ms. Donna Ceasare<\/strong> is a Memory Care Advisor for Arden Courts of Seminole, Florida. Arden Courts is a memory care assisted living community in the state of Florida. She joined Arden Courts of Seminole in 2012, and received her MBA and certification in Gerontology, from the University of Phoenix in 2010.\r\n\r\nShe has been in the Senior living market since 1984. Her true compassion is for families and their loved ones struggling with memory loss and sometimes exhausting road of being a primary caregiver.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n

Watch previous discussions below!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\r\nThe Future of Artificial Intelligence in Health - Watch the Recording here<\/a>\r\n\r\nHousing Sustainability - Watch the Recording here<\/a>\r\n\r\nStudent Support to Thrive and Survive - Watch the Recording here<\/a>\r\n\r\nEthics in Health and Human Services<\/span> - Watch the Recording here<\/a><\/span>\r\n\r\nInequalities and Access to Care Discussion -\u00a0<\/span>Watch the Recording here<\/a><\/span>\r\n\r\nThe Future of Health & Social Care \u2013 Watch the Recording here<\/a>\r\n\r\nA Day in the Life of a Nurse \u2013 Watch the Recording here<\/a>\r\n\r\nDay in the Life of a Social Worker \u2013 Watch the Recording here<\/a>\r\n\r\nCurrent Mental and Health Strategies \u2013 Watch the Recording here<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","link":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/international-discussions\/","name":"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care","slug":"international-discussions","taxonomy":"category","parent":40,"meta":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nGlobal Perspectives on Health and Social Care Archives - Center for International Programs<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/international-discussions\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care Archives - Center for International Programs\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care Collaborative Discussions with Europe and the U.S. November 18 and 19, 2025 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Innovating with Compassion: Transforming Health, Dental, Dementia & End-of-Life Care with Dignity Topic: Holistic approaches in Health and Social Care and Dental – Watch the Recording here Topic: Dying with Dignity – Watch the Recording here \u00a0\u00a0Meet our Moderator! Ms. Stephanie McGuinness\u00a0is a dedicated Learning and Teaching Champion at North West Regional College, where she has spent the past 10 years lecturing in Health and Social Care. With a professional background in Psychology and Social Work, Stephanie brings a wealth of practical and academic experience to her teaching. She continues to work in direct care, ensuring her practice remains current and relevant. Passionate about education, Stephanie is committed to delivering best practice and up-to-date knowledge to her students, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application. Meet our Panelists! Topic: Holistic approaches in Health and Social Care and Dental\u00a0 Ms. Barbara Mulholland is the Program Director of the Dental Hygiene Program at St. Petersburg College in Pinellas Park, Florida. She brings more than 30 years of experience as a clinician, educator, and academic leader in dental hygiene. Barbara earned her Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education from the University of Bridgeport, a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Vermont Technical College, and an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene from Westbrook College. She has practiced dental hygiene in both Vermont and New York for over two decades before transitioning into full-time academia. Her teaching career includes appointments at Vermont Technical College, Thomas Nelson Community College, the University of Bridgeport, and Nova Southeastern University, where she also served as Director of Dental Hygiene Services. At St. Petersburg College, Barbara oversees program administration and teaches courses in clinical dental hygiene and oral pathology. An active participant in professional development, Barbara has pursued extensive continuing education in oral pathology, periodontology, caries management, medical emergencies, and educational methodology, including curriculum innovation, and clinical assessment calibration. Ms. Ruth McGilligan\u00a0is a dedicated and intuitive Life Transformation Coach with a rich background in therapeutic work, particularly with children and young people in care and education. Her early career laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to healing and empowerment. Ruth later founded her own business, offering transformative training courses rooted in a holistic model of health for both women and men. She is the creator and host of the Wombynhood Illuminated Podcast, where she shares insights on embodiment, healing, and conscious living. Her professional toolkit is both diverse and deeply personal, shaped by extensive training and lived experience. Womb Massage Alchemist, energy healer, bodyworker, mentor, and embodiment facilitator. Her approach integrates ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic practices to support profound personal transformation. Ruth facilitates sacred spaces including men\u2019s and women\u2019s circles, rites of passage, retreats, and workshops. Ms. Shannon O\u2019Connor is a dental hygiene instructor at St. Petersburg College with over 15 years of clinical experience and 5 years in academia. She is dedicated to preparing future hygienists for success in both clinical practice and community settings, with a strong focus on public health and patient advocacy. For the past 9 years, Shannon has also worked as a mobile dental hygienist, providing essential oral health care to nursing home residents and homebound individuals. Serving this population requires patience, flexibility, and compassion, qualities she brings to every aspect of her work. She finds great fulfillment in helping vulnerable older adults preserve their oral health, often stepping in as their only advocate. For her, making a positive impact on their comfort, dignity, and quality of life is one of the most meaningful parts of her work. Whether she is teaching in the classroom or providing direct care in the community, Shannon is passionate about spreading oral health awareness and inspiring others to value its connection to overall health. She is proud to be part of a profession that empowers people to live healthier lives while mentoring the next generation of dental hygiene professionals. Dr. Frances Duffy is passionate about transforming dementia care so that people can live with dignity and meaningful connection at every stage, while maximizing independence. A Consultant Clinical Psychologist, she worked for over 15 years in older people\u2019s mental health, specializing in dementia diagnosis, post-diagnostic support, and rehabilitation for delirium. She is also an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of 6D Dementia Ltd.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a06D equips staff and families with practical, evidence-based skills to respond with empathy, confidence, and consistency. Its blend of online modules, care planning tools, and leadership support reduces crises, hospital admissions, and use of antipsychotic medication, while helping maintain stable living arrangements. It also strengthens the workforce by lowering stress, absence, and turnover, and by improving confidence and retention. The result is measurable cost savings for organizations and improved quality of life for people with dementia.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Frances works with NHS trusts, local authorities, voluntary organizations, and care providers to embed sustainable approaches to dementia care. She has authored best practice guidelines commissioned by the Public Health Agency and the British Psychological Society, contributed to the Northern Ireland Regional Dementia Care Pathway, and supported the Department of Health\u2019s Enhancing Clinical Care in Care Homes project. She also serves on national committees of the British Psychological Society and the Association of Clinical Psychologists, championing innovation and excellence in dementia care. \u00a0 Topic: Dying with Dignity Ms. Laura McClintock is a registered nurse and non medical prescriber and has been working in the specialty of palliative care for a decade, employed as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care for the past 8 years in an acute hospital setting. Her day to day work includes providing specialist advice and management for patients with life limiting conditions, assessing patients holistically, supporting families\/ careers, prescribing for and managing complex symptoms and providing education to teams she works alongside with. Laura believes that dignity in death should be awarded to all, regardless of condition. Ms. Emma Tener\u00a0is married with three children and two dogs, Rosie and Jim. She qualified as a Social Worker in 2009, with a keen interest in child protection. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge working with children, young people, and adults who face many challenges in their lives. In 2014, she took on a new career opportunity with Cancer Focus Northern Ireland as a Family Social Worker. This role is a deeply rewarding part of her career, supporting parents and grandparents who are often at the end of life, as well as children who have been bereaved. Through this experience, she has come to truly understand the importance of empathy and respecting people\u2019s wishes and feelings. She often reflects on this time with emotion, recognising it as an invaluable learning experience. Emma joined South West College in 2017 as a part-time Social Work Lecturer and has recently progressed to the role of Course Director for Social Work. Teaching social work to students gives her a fantastic opportunity to share her knowledge and experience, while encouraging young adults and others who may be facing their own challenges. Dr. Matthew Dor\u00e9. Who is he? This is a question long been asked by many, not least of all by himself. He is pretty much bald, he attributes it to stress due to his 12-year-old twins, and a 9-year-old. He has an ever-patient wife called Sharon, who took him to Northern Ireland, and I love it here. He is a past chair of the Palliative Care Congress for 3 years, Co-leads the national clinical ECHO, and is elected to the national APM ethics committee. He writes occasionally semi-useful stuff in the BMJ, UMJ, BMJSPC, and letters in the Telegraph and Times. He is the lead editor of the Oxford Handbook for Palliative Care and most importantly, he is the Honorary Secretary for the Association of Palliative Medicine, the largest representative body of palliative medicine in the UK and Ireland and is representing the clear, sensible statement that assisted suicide\/dying should not be part of healthcare or palliative care. Ask him why, and he will give you a passionate, well-reasoned response from a simple doctor who daily looks after those who are dying, who wants to prevent suicide and who wants to affirm and imbue inherent value and worth in his patients. Dr. Michal Imrovi\u010d\u00a0graduated with a master’s degree in political science from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra. He defended his doctorate as the first graduate in the study program Public Policy and Public Administration at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, where he currently works as an associate professor of univiversity and holds the position of director of Institute of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava. As part of his scientific work, he focuses on civil society, youth, the third sector in the context of social policy and social work. He is the author of several scientific papers published at home and abroad. He is the author university textbooks and monographs. He actively participates as a solver in national and foreign projects. He is a member of editorial board of the magazine Revue of social services, Internal Quality Assessment Board. Dr. Peter Slov\u00e1k started teaching in 2002 at the Faculty of Health and Social Work of the University of Trnava. In 2003 he completed his doctoral studies at the University of Trnava. Since 2004 he has been teaching at the St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work in Bratislava, where he habilitated in the field of Social Work in 2017. At the same time, he cooperated methodically with the State Institute of Professional Education. He also worked as a volunteer for Diakonie in Bayern in Germany and on projects of the Slovak Catholic Charity. Currently, the Institute of Social Work and Social Policy the Faculty of Social Sciences University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava is the place of his pedagogical and scientific activities. Its main professional focus is selected methods of social work and issues of social-psychological phenomenon’s in human life in relation to the practice of social work. He is the author of several university textbooks and monographs. He is particularly interested in the psychosocial balance of the social work client in the context of empowerment and spirituality. Ms. Donna Ceasare is a Memory Care Advisor for Arden Courts of Seminole, Florida. Arden Courts is a memory care assisted living community in the state of Florida. She joined Arden Courts of Seminole in 2012, and received her MBA and certification in Gerontology, from the University of Phoenix in 2010. She has been in the Senior living market since 1984. Her true compassion is for families and their loved ones struggling with memory loss and sometimes exhausting road of being a primary caregiver. Watch previous discussions below! The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Health – Watch the Recording here Housing Sustainability – Watch the Recording here Student Support to Thrive and Survive – Watch the Recording here Ethics in Health and Human Services – Watch the Recording here Inequalities and Access to Care Discussion –\u00a0Watch the Recording here The Future of Health & Social Care \u2013 Watch the Recording here A Day in the Life of a Nurse \u2013 Watch the Recording here Day in the Life of a Social Worker \u2013 Watch the Recording here Current Mental and Health Strategies \u2013 Watch the Recording here\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/international-discussions\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Center for International Programs\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/09\/NWRC-Logo.png\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"655\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"200\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"CollectionPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/category\\\/news\\\/international-discussions\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/category\\\/news\\\/international-discussions\\\/\",\"name\":\"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care Archives - Center for International Programs\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/#website\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/category\\\/news\\\/international-discussions\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/category\\\/news\\\/international-discussions\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/category\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/\",\"name\":\"Center for International Programs\",\"description\":\"Providing students, faculty and staff opportunities on how to become globally engaged.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.spcollege.edu\\\/international\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care Archives - Center for International Programs","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/international-discussions\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care Archives - Center for International Programs","og_description":"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care Collaborative Discussions with Europe and the U.S. November 18 and 19, 2025 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Innovating with Compassion: Transforming Health, Dental, Dementia & End-of-Life Care with Dignity Topic: Holistic approaches in Health and Social Care and Dental – Watch the Recording here Topic: Dying with Dignity – Watch the Recording here \u00a0\u00a0Meet our Moderator! Ms. Stephanie McGuinness\u00a0is a dedicated Learning and Teaching Champion at North West Regional College, where she has spent the past 10 years lecturing in Health and Social Care. With a professional background in Psychology and Social Work, Stephanie brings a wealth of practical and academic experience to her teaching. She continues to work in direct care, ensuring her practice remains current and relevant. Passionate about education, Stephanie is committed to delivering best practice and up-to-date knowledge to her students, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application. Meet our Panelists! Topic: Holistic approaches in Health and Social Care and Dental\u00a0 Ms. Barbara Mulholland is the Program Director of the Dental Hygiene Program at St. Petersburg College in Pinellas Park, Florida. She brings more than 30 years of experience as a clinician, educator, and academic leader in dental hygiene. Barbara earned her Master of Science in Dental Hygiene Education from the University of Bridgeport, a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Vermont Technical College, and an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene from Westbrook College. She has practiced dental hygiene in both Vermont and New York for over two decades before transitioning into full-time academia. Her teaching career includes appointments at Vermont Technical College, Thomas Nelson Community College, the University of Bridgeport, and Nova Southeastern University, where she also served as Director of Dental Hygiene Services. At St. Petersburg College, Barbara oversees program administration and teaches courses in clinical dental hygiene and oral pathology. An active participant in professional development, Barbara has pursued extensive continuing education in oral pathology, periodontology, caries management, medical emergencies, and educational methodology, including curriculum innovation, and clinical assessment calibration. Ms. Ruth McGilligan\u00a0is a dedicated and intuitive Life Transformation Coach with a rich background in therapeutic work, particularly with children and young people in care and education. Her early career laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to healing and empowerment. Ruth later founded her own business, offering transformative training courses rooted in a holistic model of health for both women and men. She is the creator and host of the Wombynhood Illuminated Podcast, where she shares insights on embodiment, healing, and conscious living. Her professional toolkit is both diverse and deeply personal, shaped by extensive training and lived experience. Womb Massage Alchemist, energy healer, bodyworker, mentor, and embodiment facilitator. Her approach integrates ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic practices to support profound personal transformation. Ruth facilitates sacred spaces including men\u2019s and women\u2019s circles, rites of passage, retreats, and workshops. Ms. Shannon O\u2019Connor is a dental hygiene instructor at St. Petersburg College with over 15 years of clinical experience and 5 years in academia. She is dedicated to preparing future hygienists for success in both clinical practice and community settings, with a strong focus on public health and patient advocacy. For the past 9 years, Shannon has also worked as a mobile dental hygienist, providing essential oral health care to nursing home residents and homebound individuals. Serving this population requires patience, flexibility, and compassion, qualities she brings to every aspect of her work. She finds great fulfillment in helping vulnerable older adults preserve their oral health, often stepping in as their only advocate. For her, making a positive impact on their comfort, dignity, and quality of life is one of the most meaningful parts of her work. Whether she is teaching in the classroom or providing direct care in the community, Shannon is passionate about spreading oral health awareness and inspiring others to value its connection to overall health. She is proud to be part of a profession that empowers people to live healthier lives while mentoring the next generation of dental hygiene professionals. Dr. Frances Duffy is passionate about transforming dementia care so that people can live with dignity and meaningful connection at every stage, while maximizing independence. A Consultant Clinical Psychologist, she worked for over 15 years in older people\u2019s mental health, specializing in dementia diagnosis, post-diagnostic support, and rehabilitation for delirium. She is also an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of 6D Dementia Ltd.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a06D equips staff and families with practical, evidence-based skills to respond with empathy, confidence, and consistency. Its blend of online modules, care planning tools, and leadership support reduces crises, hospital admissions, and use of antipsychotic medication, while helping maintain stable living arrangements. It also strengthens the workforce by lowering stress, absence, and turnover, and by improving confidence and retention. The result is measurable cost savings for organizations and improved quality of life for people with dementia.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Frances works with NHS trusts, local authorities, voluntary organizations, and care providers to embed sustainable approaches to dementia care. She has authored best practice guidelines commissioned by the Public Health Agency and the British Psychological Society, contributed to the Northern Ireland Regional Dementia Care Pathway, and supported the Department of Health\u2019s Enhancing Clinical Care in Care Homes project. She also serves on national committees of the British Psychological Society and the Association of Clinical Psychologists, championing innovation and excellence in dementia care. \u00a0 Topic: Dying with Dignity Ms. Laura McClintock is a registered nurse and non medical prescriber and has been working in the specialty of palliative care for a decade, employed as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care for the past 8 years in an acute hospital setting. Her day to day work includes providing specialist advice and management for patients with life limiting conditions, assessing patients holistically, supporting families\/ careers, prescribing for and managing complex symptoms and providing education to teams she works alongside with. Laura believes that dignity in death should be awarded to all, regardless of condition. Ms. Emma Tener\u00a0is married with three children and two dogs, Rosie and Jim. She qualified as a Social Worker in 2009, with a keen interest in child protection. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge working with children, young people, and adults who face many challenges in their lives. In 2014, she took on a new career opportunity with Cancer Focus Northern Ireland as a Family Social Worker. This role is a deeply rewarding part of her career, supporting parents and grandparents who are often at the end of life, as well as children who have been bereaved. Through this experience, she has come to truly understand the importance of empathy and respecting people\u2019s wishes and feelings. She often reflects on this time with emotion, recognising it as an invaluable learning experience. Emma joined South West College in 2017 as a part-time Social Work Lecturer and has recently progressed to the role of Course Director for Social Work. Teaching social work to students gives her a fantastic opportunity to share her knowledge and experience, while encouraging young adults and others who may be facing their own challenges. Dr. Matthew Dor\u00e9. Who is he? This is a question long been asked by many, not least of all by himself. He is pretty much bald, he attributes it to stress due to his 12-year-old twins, and a 9-year-old. He has an ever-patient wife called Sharon, who took him to Northern Ireland, and I love it here. He is a past chair of the Palliative Care Congress for 3 years, Co-leads the national clinical ECHO, and is elected to the national APM ethics committee. He writes occasionally semi-useful stuff in the BMJ, UMJ, BMJSPC, and letters in the Telegraph and Times. He is the lead editor of the Oxford Handbook for Palliative Care and most importantly, he is the Honorary Secretary for the Association of Palliative Medicine, the largest representative body of palliative medicine in the UK and Ireland and is representing the clear, sensible statement that assisted suicide\/dying should not be part of healthcare or palliative care. Ask him why, and he will give you a passionate, well-reasoned response from a simple doctor who daily looks after those who are dying, who wants to prevent suicide and who wants to affirm and imbue inherent value and worth in his patients. Dr. Michal Imrovi\u010d\u00a0graduated with a master’s degree in political science from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra. He defended his doctorate as the first graduate in the study program Public Policy and Public Administration at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, where he currently works as an associate professor of univiversity and holds the position of director of Institute of Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava. As part of his scientific work, he focuses on civil society, youth, the third sector in the context of social policy and social work. He is the author of several scientific papers published at home and abroad. He is the author university textbooks and monographs. He actively participates as a solver in national and foreign projects. He is a member of editorial board of the magazine Revue of social services, Internal Quality Assessment Board. Dr. Peter Slov\u00e1k started teaching in 2002 at the Faculty of Health and Social Work of the University of Trnava. In 2003 he completed his doctoral studies at the University of Trnava. Since 2004 he has been teaching at the St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work in Bratislava, where he habilitated in the field of Social Work in 2017. At the same time, he cooperated methodically with the State Institute of Professional Education. He also worked as a volunteer for Diakonie in Bayern in Germany and on projects of the Slovak Catholic Charity. Currently, the Institute of Social Work and Social Policy the Faculty of Social Sciences University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava is the place of his pedagogical and scientific activities. Its main professional focus is selected methods of social work and issues of social-psychological phenomenon’s in human life in relation to the practice of social work. He is the author of several university textbooks and monographs. He is particularly interested in the psychosocial balance of the social work client in the context of empowerment and spirituality. Ms. Donna Ceasare is a Memory Care Advisor for Arden Courts of Seminole, Florida. Arden Courts is a memory care assisted living community in the state of Florida. She joined Arden Courts of Seminole in 2012, and received her MBA and certification in Gerontology, from the University of Phoenix in 2010. She has been in the Senior living market since 1984. Her true compassion is for families and their loved ones struggling with memory loss and sometimes exhausting road of being a primary caregiver. Watch previous discussions below! The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Health – Watch the Recording here Housing Sustainability – Watch the Recording here Student Support to Thrive and Survive – Watch the Recording here Ethics in Health and Human Services – Watch the Recording here Inequalities and Access to Care Discussion –\u00a0Watch the Recording here The Future of Health & Social Care \u2013 Watch the Recording here A Day in the Life of a Nurse \u2013 Watch the Recording here Day in the Life of a Social Worker \u2013 Watch the Recording here Current Mental and Health Strategies \u2013 Watch the Recording here","og_url":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/international-discussions\/","og_site_name":"Center for International Programs","og_image":[{"width":655,"height":200,"url":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/09\/NWRC-Logo.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"CollectionPage","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/international-discussions\/","url":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/international-discussions\/","name":"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care Archives - Center for International Programs","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/#website"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/international-discussions\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/international-discussions\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/category\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Global Perspectives on Health and Social Care"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/","name":"Center for International Programs","description":"Providing students, faculty and staff opportunities on how to become globally engaged.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories\/905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/taxonomies\/category"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories\/40"}],"wp:post_type":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/international\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts?categories=905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}