Medical Qualifications

• MBBS [Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery] / 2011 / University of Sri Jayewardenepura / Sri Lanka
• MD [Anaesthesia 1A] / 2015 / Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo / Sri Lanka
• PgD-FM (SL) [Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine] / 2018 / Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo / Sri Lanka
• DipPallMed (UK) [Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine] / 2018 / School of Medicine, Cardiff University / United Kingdom

Other Qualifications

• Adv.Dip. (Classical Music) [Advance Diploma in Hindustani Classical Music, Bhatkande Sangit Vidyapith, Lucknow, India]
• Adv.Cert. (Business Management) [Advance Certificate in Business Management, National Institute of Business Management, Sri Lanka].
• Ad.Cert. (Bioethics) [Advance Certificare of Bioethics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands]
• Cert.T. (HEd) [Certificate of Teaching in Higher Education, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka]
• Cert. (Hindi) [Certificate in Hindi Language, Indian Cultural Centre, High Commission of India in Colombo, Sri Lanka]
• Cert. (OWD) [Certificate in Open Water Diving, Professional Association of Diving Instructors, Australia].

Postgraduate Degrees Currently Registered

• PhD (Palliative Care)/ Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University / United Kingdom

Professional Qualifications

• MRCGP [INT] [Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners] / 2018 / Royal College of General Practitioners of the United Kingdom
• MCGP (Sri Lanka) [ Membership of the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka] / 2020 / College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka

Memberships in Professional Organizations

• Sri Lanka Medical Council
• Sri Lanka Medical Association
• College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka
• Royal College of General Practitioners, London, UK
• Palliative Care Association of Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka Association in Geriatric Medicine
• National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka
• Faculty of Medicine Teachers’ Association, USJ.
• Government Medical Officers’ Association of Sri Lanka (previously)
• Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN)
• International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC)
• Spice Route Movement (Young Family Physicians Association of South Asia)
• World Organisation for Family Physicians (WONCA World)

Awards

• Secured a competitive PhD. Scholarship under Accelerating Higher Education Development and Expansion(AHEAD): a World Bank Programme worth LKR 9,000,000.00. – 2019
• Selected among the 21 Global Members of the WHO Primary Health Care Young Leaders Network by theWorld Health Organization – 2018
• Delivered the Mallika Rani Khoja Oration commemorating the World Palliative Care Day, Sri Lanka. – 2018
• Dr T. Nagendra Gold Medal for Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine. -Postgraduate Institute of Medicine,University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. – 2018

Field/s of Expertise

• Palliative Care
• Primary Care
• Primary Health Care
• Primary Palliative Care
• Medical Education
• Bioethics

Positions Held

Academic Editor (Generalist Palliative Care) at PLoS One (Public Library of Science Journals)

Chair, Primary Care Special Interest Group of the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN_ – since July 2022 to date

International Advisor to the Primary Care Reference Group of the European Palliative Care Association – since 2022 to date

Board Member of the Palliative Care Association of Sri Lanka – since 2021 to date

Acting Director for the National Centre for Primary Care and Allergy Research, USJ, Sri Lanka – 2020 (in the Director’s absence)

Coordinator for the CoVID-19 Diagnostics Laboratory, Centre for Dengue Research, USJ – 2020

Chairperson of the Primary Care Stall at the Vedasa Medical Exhibition organised in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ held at BMICH, Sri Lanka. – 2019

Chairperson of the Allergy Stall at the Vedasa Medical Exhibition organised in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ held at BMICH, Sri Lanka.- 2019

Committee member/ Resource Person of the Health informatics stall at the Vedasa Medical Exhibition organised in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ held at BMICH, Sri Lanka – 2019

Member of the Students Welfare Committee, Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ, Sri Lanka – 2019 – 2021 Member of the Staff Advisory Committee, Medical Faculty “Talents” Programme, USJ, Sri Lanka – 2018 – 2021 Global Member, Young Leaders’ Network of the World Health Organisation since 2018 to date

Member of the Technical Evaluation Committee, Procurements for National Centre for Primary Care and Allergy Research, USJ, Sri Lanka -2017 -2021

Coordinator I Palliative Care Lead I Board Member, National Centre for Primary Care and Allergy Research, USJ, Sri Lanka – 2017 to 2021

Member of the Library Committee, Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ, Sri Lanka – 2016 – 2020

Convenor for the Community-based Medical Learning Programme (CBML) for 4th Year medical undergraduates at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ held in Bandaragama/ Kataragama (Rural), Sri Lanka. – 2016 – 2019

Member- Management Committee of Family Practice Centre, USJ, Sri Lanka – 2015 to 2021 Professional Activities

Joined upon invitation to the Board of Studies of the proposed Palliative Care Diploma for General Practitioners conducted by the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka – initial meeting held on 3rd October 2020.

Collaboration with the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka, international experts in Primary Palliative Care led by Emeritus Professor Scott Murray, University of Edinburgh, UK, and Professor Geoff Mitchell, University of Queensland, Australia, and the International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care in the development of a Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care for Sri Lankan General Practitioners since 2020 to date.

Attended the 72nd World Health Assembly at the World Health Organization and United Nations Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the Primary Health Care Young Leaders Network delegation of the WHO. – May 2019

Production of three (03) Public Awareness Videos – as part of Vedasa Medical Exhibition 2019

Attended the Global Conference on Primary Health Care, held in Astana, Kazakhstan as part of the Primary Health Care Young Leaders Network delegation of the WHO – October 2018

Obtaining approvals through writing an evidence-based proposal to get the support of professional actors at a nominal fee to role-play as patients in Undergraduate Clinical Examinations in Family Medicine at USJ – 2018

Organizing and hosting a bi-monthly lunch-time webinar series aimed at continuous medical education in palliative care for Sri Lankan healthcare professionals organized by the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network from 2018 to 2020.

Incorporated palliative care into the undergraduate Family Medicine curriculum at the USJ – since 2017.

Involved as a volunteer physician at the Palliative Care clinic conducted weekly at the National Cancer Institute of Sri Lanka (Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama) on an honorary basis- 2016- 2019

Judging singing competitions including Medical Faculty Talents’, Competitions – 2016 to date. Convening free medical/health campaigns conducted in rural Sri Lanka. – 2016

Organizing and hosting international medical conferences. (Wanca SAR 2016)

Operationalizing the Bone Densitometry Scanning (DXA) Unit at the Family Practice Centre, Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ and training human resources since 2015.

Student mentoring and examining under Personal and Professional Development Stream, Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ – 2015 – 2021.

Home-based palliative care provision for patients living near the Medical Faculty, on an honorary basis – 2015 to date.

Organizing and active participation in University events: annual talents programmes, religious programmes, medical exhibitions etc., since 2015.

Organizing Committee, Vedasa Medical Exhibition 2009.

Professional Services/ Activities

• Joined upon invitation to the Board of Studies of the proposed Palliative Care Diploma for General Practitioners conducted by the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka – initial meeting held on 3rd October 2020.
• Collaboration with the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka, international experts in Primary Palliative Care led by Emeritus Professor Scott Murray, University of Edinburgh, UK, and Professor Geoff Mitchell, University of Queensland, Australia, and the International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care in the development of a Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care for Sri Lankan General Practitioners since 2020 to date.
• Attended the 72nd World Health Assembly at the World Health Organization and United Nations Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the Primary Health Care Young Leaders Network delegation of the WHO. – May 2019
• Production of three (03) Public Awareness Videos – as part of Vedasa Medical Exhibition 2019
• Attended the Global Conference on Primary Health Care, held in Astana, Kazakhstan as part of the Primary Health Care Young Leaders Network delegation of the WHO – October 2018
• Obtaining approvals through writing an evidence-based proposal to get the support of professional actors at a nominal fee to role-play as patients in Undergraduate Clinical Examinations in Family Medicine at USJ – 2018
• Organizing and hosting a bi-monthly lunch-time webinar series aimed at continuous medical education in palliative care for Sri Lankan healthcare professionals organized by the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network from 2018 to 2020.
• Incorporated palliative care into the undergraduate Family Medicine curriculum at the USJ – since 2017.
• Involved as a volunteer physician at the Palliative Care clinic conducted weekly at the National Cancer Institute of Sri Lanka (Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama) on an honorary basis – 2016 – 2019
• Judging singing competitions including Medical Faculty ‘Talents’, Competitions – 2016 to date.
• Convening free medical/health campaigns conducted in rural Sri Lanka. – 2016
• Organizing and hosting international medical conferences. (Wonca SAR 2016)
• Operationalizing the Bone Densitometry Scanning (DXA) Unit at the Family Practice Centre, Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ and training human resources since 2015.
• Student mentoring and examining under Personal and Professional Development Stream, Faculty of Medical Sciences, USJ – 2015 – 2021.
• Home-based palliative care provision for patients living near the Medical Faculty, on an honorary basis – 2015 to date.
• Organizing and active participation in University events: annual talents programmes, religious programmes, medical exhibitions etc., since 2015.
• Organizing Committee, Vedasa Medical Exhibition 2009.

Research Interests

• Primary Care
• Primary Health Care
• Palliative Care
• Medical Education

ORCID ID and Link

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2689-7306

Google Scholar Link

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=5Ywo3LQAAAAJ&hl=en

Research Gate Link

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chamath-Fernando

Publications and Scientific Communications

• Primary Health Care Systems (PRIMASYS) – A case study from Sri Lanka in Collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) and Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. (Perera A. et al., 2017) – (Available from: http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/projects/alliancehpsr_srilankaprimasys.pdf)
• Fernando, G., & Hughes, S. (2019). Team approaches in palliative care: A review of the literature. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 25(9), 444–451. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2019.25.9.444
• Fernando, G. V. M. C., & Prathapan, S. (2019). What do young doctors know of palliative care; how do they expect the concept to work? BMC Research Notes, 12(1), 419. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4462-2
• Fernando, Gunasekara Vidana Mestrige Chamath, & Rawlinson, F. (2019). A Reflection on the Experience with Conducting a Clinical Audit Aimed at Optimizing Pain Assessment in Cancer Patients in Sri Lanka. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 25(1), 127–134. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_110_18
• Fernando, Gunasekara Vidana Mestrige Chamath, Wanigabadu, L. U., Vidanagama, B., Samaranayaka, T. S. P., & Jeewandara, J. M. K. C. (2019). “Adjunctive effects of a short session of music on pain, low mood and anxiety modulation among cancer patients” – A randomized crossover clinical trial. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 25(3), 367. https://doi.org/10.4103/IJPC.IJPC_22_19
• Fernando GVMC, Nancy Preston (2020). ” Refractory pruritus from malignant cholestasis: management”. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care (O), 1-3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-002051
• Prathapan, S., Fernando, G. V. M. C., Matthias, A. T., Charuni, Y. B. M. A., Abeygunawardhana, H. M. G., & Somathilake, B. G. G. K. (2020). The rising complexity and burden of multimorbidity in a middle-income country. PLOS ONE, 15(12), e0243614. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243614
• Fernando, G. V. M. C., & Nair, S. N. (2021). A Typical Perplexing Life-sustaining Therapy Decision at the End of life: A Case Report from Sri Lanka with Attributes Potentially Worth Adopting from the UK Legislature. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 27(2), 345–348. https://doi.org/10.25259/IJPC_354_20
• Fernando, G. V.M. C., & Kondasinghe, J. S. (2021). Mechanistic approach to the management of cancer-related nausea and vomiting in a palliative care resource-limited setting. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 27(7), 362–366. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2021.27.7.362
• Matthias, A. T., Fernando, G. V. M. C., Somathilake, B. G. G. K., & Prathapan, S. (2021). Predictors and patterns of polypharmacy in chronic diseases in a middle-income country. International Journal of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, 13(6), 158–165.
• Calma, K. R. B., Brown, L. J., Fernando, G. V. M. C., & Omam, L.-A. (2022). Strengthening primary health care: Contributions of young professional-led communities of practice. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 23. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1463423621000815.

Editor

• PLOS One Journal (Impact Factor: 3.752)

Peer Review of Indexed Journals

• Palliative Medicine Reports – Mary Ann Liebert Inc. (Impact Factor: 2.49)
• Integrative Cancer Therapies – SAGE Journals (Impact Factor: 2.657)
• Journal of Clinical Rheumatology – Wolters Kluwer (Impact Factor: 1.897)
• Primary Health Care Research and Development – Cambridge Journals (Impact Factor: 1.5)
• PLOS One (Impact Factor: 2.75)
• Systematic Reviews Journal – BMC Part of Springer Nature (Impact Factor: 5.038)
• BMC Primary Care – BMC Part of Springer Nature (Impact Factor: (Impact Factor: 3.275)
• BMC Research Notes – BMC Part of Springer Nature (Impact Factor: 1.66)
• BMC Palliative Care – BMC Part of Springer Nature (Impact Factor: 3.234)

Research Collaborations

• World Health Organization
• World Organization of Family Physicians
• International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care
• Lien Centre for Palliative Care
• Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network
• Lancaster University, United Kingdom
• Cardiff University, United Kingdom
• Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, School of Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, India.
• Department of Palliative Medicine, Bethesda Health Care, Perth, WA, Australia.
• Ministry of Health Sri Lanka.
• DUKE NUS Medical School, Singapore.

Awards

• Won Research Awards at the Research Award Ceremony of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, for the research abstracts published in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Other Universities

• Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.
• Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa
• College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka.
• Palliative Care Unit, Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Galle

Serving as a Resource Person

• Contributed as an invited speaker to a workshop on Towards Primary Care, Providing Universal Access to Palliative Care Worldwide held on 15th June 2023 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, at the 18th World Congress of the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) through sharing perspectives from the Asia Region as the Chairperson of the Primary Palliative Care Special Interest Group of the Asia Pacific Hospice and Palliative Care Network (APHN).
• Conducted a symposium on the topic of Management of Diabetic Wounds at the End of Life on the 6th of December 2022 at the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference held in Bali, Indonesia.
• Conducted a workshop on Communication with Seriously Ill Patients, Their Families and Breaking Bad News on the 5th of December 2022. at the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference held in Bali, Indonesia.
• Co-chaired a webinar on Helping countries across Europe promote, develop and evaluate Palliative Care in Primary Health Care with Professor Scott Murray, organized by the Primary Care Reference Group of the European Palliative Care Association in March 2022.
• Facilitated a session on “The Role of Registered Community Nurse in Ghana in the Provision of Community-based Palliative Care” in October 2021 upon invitation by the Chairman of the Registered Community Nurses’ Group of Ghana.
• Conducted a lecture on “Advance Care Planning” to the staff members at the Palliative Care Centre, Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, in September 2020.
• Conducted a lecture on “The concept of Good Death, Palliative Sedation, and Life-sustaining treatment” to the staff members at the Palliative Care Centre, Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, in September 2020.
• Participation in the expert review panel by Modified Delphi Technique upon request (PhD Project of a Nursing Student) – 2019.
• Conducted a workshop on ‘Communication with seriously ill patients and Breaking Bad News’ – ‘Demystifying Palliative Care’ at the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, on 5th December 2022, upon invitation by the organizing committee.
• Delivered a lecture on ‘Management of patients with diabetic foot ulcers at the end-of-life’ at the symposium on Diabetes Mellitus at the WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference held in Bali, Indonesia, on 6th December 2022, upon invitation by the organizing committee.