* The AMSA-VITAS End of Life Education Fellowship is a program of the AMSA Foundation and made possible through the generous support of VITAS Innovative Hospice Care.
Are you comfortable educating the patient and family about the dying process?
Are you ready to respond to patients who request assistance in dying?
Do you feel ready to break bad news to patients?
Would you benefit from more End of Life care training?
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) Foundation's End of Life Education Fellowship Program is a six-week summer experience designed to introduce medical students to end of life (EOL) care issues. Vitas Innovative Hospice Care will coordinate a series of weekly seminars on end of life care with field placements. Students will be part of an interdisciplinary hospice team consisting of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors, and volunteers. They will also be expected to research and develop end of life curricula to be implemented at their medical schools and to be shared on the web with medical schools across the nation. A stipend will be provided to assist with living expenses while in the program.
Consider applying for the 2011 End of Life Education Fellowship Program:
- Develop and practice basic interviewing and communication skills essential to EOL care
- Understand the psychological, sociological, cultural and spiritual aspects of death and dying
- Understand the pathophysiology and management of common symptoms at the end of life
- Recognize and respond to cultural, linguistic, and spiritual diversity
- Design and develop a plan for integrating EOL education into the curricula of the students' medical schools and residency programs.
Comments from students who have participated in the EOL Fellowship Program:
"I am more comfortable with my own death & being with those who are dying. I see myself as more compassionate & strong."
"This fellowship made me realize just how much I enjoy dealing with the psychosocial aspects of medicine. I realize that in order to have a fulfilling career, I need to specialize in a field that has a lot of psychosocial involvement."
"I fear my own death less than before this program. I have learned much about the dying process and management of associated symptoms that I expect to approach my own death anxiety free."
"By helping people die, we are also helping them live."
