Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice
April 17-24, 2012 and November 7-13, 2012
APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED
Deadline extended to February 13, 2012
Practice Gaps Who Should Attend Program Components
Learning Objectives Application Information Accommodations/Travel Questions?
Practice Gap: Medicine and Nursing Need Leaders in Palliative Care Education
Only 60% of hospitals have palliative care programs in the United States. Palliative care has a workforce shortage of approximately 5,000-11,000 physicians to meet existing palliative care needs; this deficit is likely to increase. The literature shows major gaps in physician competence and confidence in providing palliative care—in pain management, psychosocial assessment and management, communication, awareness of community resources, etc.
The Harvard Medical School Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice (PCEP) offers intensive learning experiences for physician and nurse educators who wish to become expert in the clinical practice and teaching of comprehensive, interdisciplinary palliative care, as well as gain expertise in leading and managing improvements in palliative care education and practice at their own institutions. Our goal is to contribute to the training of leaders and educators who can train the next generation of clinicians, and lead new programs to improve access to palliative care services.
Who Should Attend?
The Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice is designed for physician and nurse educators who wish to enhance their skills in clinical practice, teaching and program development in palliative care and who have or wish to develop a leadership role at their institution.
Program Components
Now includes a special pediatric track
The course is delivered in two sections: Part I consists of 7 days of intensive learning, followed by a 6-month interim during which participants work on an individual project and contribute to weekly e-mail discussions of problematic, clinical, educational, and program development cases presented by other participants; and, Part II is a 7-day block that includes continued experiential learning and training focused on communication, teaching methods, teamwork and leadership.
This course is designed to meet the following competencies: patient care; medical knowledge; practice-based learning and improvement; interpersonal and communication skills; professionalism; and system-based practice.
The pediatric track will highlight the unique aspects of pediatric palliative care.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- teach the fundamentals of palliative care (evaluation of physical causes of distress, psychosocial and spiritual assessment, ethical and cultural issues, palliative care in geriatric and pediatric populations, depression, and bereavement);
- teach about communication at the end of life (understanding the experience of life-threatening illness, breaking bad news, communicating across cultural barriers, family meetings, and providing feedback to learners);
- manage challenges in palliative care education (principles of adult learning, understanding, learning styles, and new teaching methodologies); and
- develop and promote clinical and educational programs in palliative care (assessing institutional structure and culture, evaluating readiness to change, dealing with resistance, developing and financing palliative care programs, and fund-raising strategies).
Individual Projects and Faculty Mentoring
Teaching is learner-centered and takes place in a variety of interactive formats including: small groups, large group discussions, demonstration interviews, and panel discussions. Participants have the opportunity to develop action plans for change at their institutions and to practice and receive feedback about their teaching and change strategies. Many opportunities for informal interchange will be available, including a 6-month structured e-mail exchange for distance learning and consultation on difficult problems in palliative care education and practice.
The course faculty includes physicians, nurses, social workers, and educators from within the Harvard teaching hospitals, as well as outside experts.
Click here for a detailed sample schedule.
The course faculty includes physicians, nurses, social workers, and educators from within the Harvard teaching hospitals, as well as outside experts.
Application Information
Tuition Fee: $ 6,600 (USD)** scholarship opportunities available.
Dates: April 17-24, 2012 AND November 7-13, 2012
** PLEASE NOTE: The fee of $6,600 includes April and November sessions and covers the course materials, breakfasts, lunches, and opening and closing banquets. The tuition does not include the cost of housing or travel expenses. Once you have been accepted you will receive notification and payment instructions. You must attend both sessions in order to complete the course.
The fee is due in full by March 30, 2012.
For consideration of acceptance into the course you must complete an application which consists of the following:
- A completed registration form
- A three-page narrative statement containing:
- Your current or planned activities in palliative care, including a description of your current role as an educator and/or leader
- Your goals for taking this course and how you expect to use this course in your work.
- A description of a new or current project that addresses the issues of institutional commitment and sustainability. Participants will work on these projects during the course.
- A letter from your Dean, Department Chair or similar institutional leader indicating a commitment to you and your career goals, institutional support for your project and release time (minimum 5%) for work on this project, and support for your availability to participate fully in the course.
- Curriculum Vitae that describes your teaching and research responsibilities for the past five years.
Click here for more information about the application process
Accommodations/Travel
A limited number of rooms have been reserved at the Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston, in Cambridge, MA (Telephone: 800-SONESTA, US and Canada; else, 617-806-4200) until March 26, 2012. Please specify that you are enrolled in this activity to receive a reduced room rate of $249 single/double for April; $279 single/double for November. Reservations should be made directly with the hotel only after acceptance to the course has been confirmed. Please do not purchase non-refundable airline ticket(s) until you have received an email from our office confirming your paid registration. For airline reservations contact the HMS Travel Desk toll free 1- 877-4-HARVMD (1-877-442-7863) Monday - Friday 9 AM - 8 PM (EST). From outside the U.S., Canada and Virgin Islands, please call 617-559-3764.
Questions?
If you have any further questions please call (617) 582-7859 or email PallCare[at]Partners[dot]org
FAQs
When will I hear back from you about my application?
When we receive your materials you will receive a confirmation email from us letting you know that we have everything or if we are still waiting for something in order to review your application. You will be notified via email of your status by March 6, 2012.
If my colleague and are both applying to the course, can we send in one application?
While you and your colleague may be coming to the course with the same project and/or goals, we will be reviewing the applications separately. There are some instances when we can only accept one person from the team. With this, it is important for each individual to apply separately, but mention that your colleague (include name) is also applying.
Is the tuition due at one time?
Yes. Participants can pay via credit card or check. Cash is not accepted.
I am a Fellow and interested in applying for this program.
Sorry, we do not accept Fellows to this program.
Can you tell me more about the project?
The project should be something you are already working on or have been charged to do at your institution. Do not try to create something special for the course. The idea is to be able to bring this project with you and get feedback from faculty and your project group members as well as apply what you learning in the course to your every day work. Projects have ranged from those developing a palliative care program to developing curriculum for fellows/medical students to research and quality improvement projects related to palliative medicine/service.
What is the schedule like for the course?
The schedule is intense. Click here for a detailed sample schedule.
You must be able to come for the full two weeks and participate in the online discussion in the 6 month interim. You also must start with the Spring session. The curriculum is continuous so you cannot start in the Fall and pick it up in the next Spring session.
How many people are accepted and how many people apply?
The application process is competitive. We receive over 100 applicants a year for 64 spots; 21-24 of them are allocated to the Pediatric Track.
How do I apply for scholarship and what does it cover?
You can apply for scholarship by including an additional brief statement (less than half-page) with rationale for consideration for scholarship funding. Please see the brochure for eligibility criteria under “Scholarship Opportunities.” Scholarships are available through donor money so we are able to offer a small amount to cover a portion of the tuition ($1,000-1,500).
What does the tuition cover?
Tuition covers the course materials, breakfasts, lunches, and opening/closing banquets for both sessions. You pay the tuition once to cover the entire course.
The tuition does not include the cost of housing or travel expenses.