Program in Palliative Care
Education and Practice
The application process for the 2009 course is now closed.
Please join us for the 2010 course year
April 27 - May 4, 2010 and November 10-16, 2010
Program Goals Who should attend Program Components
Course Format Registration Information Further Questions?
Medicine and Nursing Need Leaders in Palliative Care Education
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 to gain expertise in leading and managing improvements in palliative care education and practice at their own institutions.
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 leadership in palliative care. We will also consider applications from other allied healthcare professionals with major educational and clinical leadership roles in palliative care.
Program Components
Includes a special pediatric track
The course is delivered in two sections: Part 1 consists of 7 days of intensive learning, followed by a 6-month interim where 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 through e-mail exchanges; and Part 2 is a second 7 day block that includes continued experiential learning and training focused on communication, teaching methods, teamwork and leadership.
The curriculum features:
• Teaching the fundamentals of palliative care - assessment of physical causes of distress, psychosocial and spiritual assessment, ethical and cultural issues, palliative care in geriatric and pediatric populations, depression, bereavement.
• Teaching about communication at the end of life - understanding the experience of life-threatening illness, breaking bad news, communicating across cultural barriers, family meetings, providing feedback to learners.
• Managing challenges in palliative care education - principles of adult learning, understanding, learning styles, new teaching methodologies.
• Developing and promoting 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; fund-raising strategies.
• The Pediatric Track will highlight the unique aspects of pediatric palliative care.
Course Format
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.
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.
Registration Information
Tuition Fee: $5,953.50 (USD) ** scholarship opportunities available.
Dates: April 24, 2010 - May 4, 2010 and November 10-16, 2010
** PLEASE NOTE: This is the tuition fee for the 2009 course year. While, we try to keep any changes to the tuition fee to a minimum, the tuition will depend on vendor expenses for 2010. This fee covers course materials, breakfast, lunches, and opening and closing banquets. You must attend both sessions in order to complete the course.
For consideration of acceptance into the course you must complete a application which consists of the following:
- A completed registration form
- A three-page narrative statement about:
- 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 your project that addresses the issues of institutional commitment and sustainability
- A letter from your Dean, Department Chair, Insitutional CEO, or similar institutional leader indicating their support for your project and your availability to participate in this course.
- Curriculum Vitae that describes your teaching and research responsibilities for the past five years.
Click here for more information about the application process
The application period will open in December of 2009. Once you have been accepted you will receive notification and payment instructions from Venus Watson, Program Manger.
Questions?
If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact Venus Watson, Program Director at (617) 582-7859 or email at PallCare@partners.org