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About AMSA

Death and Dying Interest Group

This Interest Group arose in response to medical students' concern that medical school leaves us inadequately prepared to communicate with terminally ill patients, as well as being poorly equipped emotionally to deal with matters of death and dying. This is important to us on a personal level as we face dying patients almost daily on the wards. On a professional level, we address important issues such as aid in dying and palliative care. In response to these needs, we as an interest group provide guidance, support and resources for students who wish to supplement their medical education in the area of death and dying. As co-coordinators, we act as facilitators for this learning, but the Interest Group needs your active participation to be successful!

Resources

End of Life Education

AMSA-VITAS End of Life Education Fellowship Program
Introduces students to end-of-life care issues and develop curricula for their medical schools. With program sites in Ft. Lauderdale, the program combines an orientation to end of life care with weekly seminars and field placements at local hospices, nursing homes and inpatient hospice units.

Death & Dying Reading List 

Physician-Assisted Suicide: For and Against 

End-of-Life Care Curriculum Guide
Addresses many important issues in dealing with terminally ill patients, with topics ranging from delivering a terminal diagnosis to addressing spiritual perspectives on end-of-life.

Project Guides

Articles by Dr. Ira Byock:

Author and president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Note, AMSA has been permitted to offer these articles but Dr. Byock retains all copyrights of his material. Please cite these references if you use this material.

Leadership

Michelle Cormier 
Facilitator		 Nilofer Habibullah
Facilitator
Eric Woods
Premed Representative		  

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