CPD accreditation: 4.5.

This year's iPASTAR conference title is ‘Stoke for the Future. The vision for comprehensive stroke care pathways in Ireland’. It will be led by the iPASTAR (Improving pathways for acute stroke and rehabilitation) research team and include keynote speeches from leaders in the stroke community, including Prof. Michael Hill, University of Calgary, Canada. Prof. Bo Norrving, Lund University, Sweden. Prof. Peter Langhorne, Emeritus Professor, University of Glasgow. Prof. Peter Kelly (President of the European Stroke Organization), Prof. Peter McMeekin, North Cumbria University, and Prof. James Faulkner, University of Winchester.

iPASTAR (Improving pathways for acute stroke and rehabilitation) is a collaborative doctoral training award funded by the Health Research Board of Ireland, Collaborative Doctoral Awards Programme 2019, and hosted by RCSI and UCD. It is led by Prof. David Williams (RCSI) and Prof. Frances Horgan (RCSI). 

The iPASTAR PhD research scholars will present an update on their projects, which are focusing on the delivery of stroke care for patients, from the hospital to rehabilitation in the community, and living well after stroke. The symposium participants will hear from our PPI partners and hear perspectives from stroke survivors on their experience of life after stroke and being involved in iPASTAR.

Morning Session

• 10.00-10.20: Opening Welcome – Professor Deborah McNamara, President, RCSI
• 10.20-10.30: Professor David Williams – Welcome and introduction

10:30-11:30: Keynote Session One – Maximising Accessibility and Equity in Stroke Pathways 

Chair: Professor John Thornton

• 10.30-10.50: Professor Michael Hill, University of Calgary, Canada – Improving pathways for acute stroke care
• 10.50-11.10: Professor Bo Norrving, Lund University, Sweden – How to influence policy for improving stroke care
• 11.10-11.30: Professor Peter McMeekin – Inequality and inequity in stroke care: defining the concepts and challenging normative assumptions.
• Q&A
• 11.30-12.00: Coffee Break

12:00-12:40: Session 2 – Presentation of iPASTAR Research Findings

Co-Chairs: Dr Anne-Marie Liddy and Prof. Karl Boyle 

• PhD Scholar Project 1: Dr Deirdre McCartan – Maximising accessibility and equity of acute stroke care pathways in Ireland
• PhD Scholar Project 2: Geraldine O Callaghan –  Beyond early supported discharge (ESD): Improving and supporting transitions of care for stroke
• PhD Scholar Project 3: Patricia Hall – Staying well and reducing risk after stroke
• Researcher Project 4: Professor Jan Sorensen – Challenges for stroke economics in Ireland
• Q&A

12.40-1:00: Session 3 – Reflections of PPI in iPASTAR

Chair: TBA

• PPI champions

1.00: Lunch

Afternoon session

Session four: Staying well and reducing risk after stroke

Chairs: Professor Olive Lennon and Dr Patricia Fearon

• 2.00-2.20: Professor Peter Langhorne, Emeritus Professor, University of Calgary – Early-supported discharge and managing transitions of rehabilitation
• 2.20-2.40: Professor Peter Kelly, Former ESO President – Clinical trials in stroke care 
• 2.40-3.00: Professor James Faulkner, University of Winchester –The HELP Hampshire Stroke Clinic: Implementing community-based exercise for TIA and stroke patients
• Q&A

3.10-3.55: Round Table Discussion –  A Vision for Stroke – Equity of Access and Equality for Stroke Care

Chair: Professor Áine Carroll. Panel: Dr Paul Carroll (NRH), Helen Gaynor (IHF), Annie Costello (CROI), Professor Ronán Collins (National Stroke Programme)

4.00: Closing Remarks – Professor Frances Horgan