On November 21, 2025, the HPBeter multidisciplinary symposium was held in Amsterdam, bringing together healthcare professionals involved in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) care and research. The overarching theme, “The Vulnerable Patient as a Compass in Healthcare,” emphasized the importance of patient-centered decision-making throughout the HPB care continuum.
Vulnerability in HPB care
The program consisted of four thematic sessions addressing vulnerability in HPB care, malignant biliary and pancreatic disease, liver disease, and pancreatic conditions. Presentations combined clinical research, translational science, and practical insights into care pathways, illustrating how innovation in HPB medicine can be aligned with the needs and resilience of individual patients.
Holistic and multidisciplinary approach
The opening session focused on the vulnerable patient, with attention to care for older patients, high-risk anesthesiology, and spiritual care, setting the tone for a holistic and multidisciplinary approach. Subsequent sessions highlighted advances in surgical outcomes, clinical trials, novel diagnostic strategies, prehabilitation, and multidisciplinary treatment approaches.
Keynote lecture
The symposium attracted a broad audience of medical specialists, residents and fellows, researchers, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals from both academic and peripheral hospitals, fostering active discussion and exchange.
The day concluded with an inspiring keynote lecture by Sander de Hosson on palliative care, encouraging reflection on vulnerability, quality of life, and the integration of palliative principles into HPB care.
Thank you!
HPBeter 2025 was a successful meeting! The organizing committee would like to thank Cancer Center Amsterdam (CCA) and Amsterdam Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism (AGEM) for their support.
