End of Life Education Fellowship Program

American Medical Student Association Foundation
June 23-August 1, 2008
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Funded by 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?

Consider applying for the 2008 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.

The End of Life Education Fellowship Program is a six-week summer experience designed to introduce fourteen to sixteen medical students to end of life care issues. Offered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, the End of Life Education Fellowship Program combines an orientation to end of life care with weekly seminars and field placements at local hospices, nursing homes, and inpatient units.

At both program sites, fellows will spend one to two days per week in seminar sessions and three to four days a week rotating through placement sites where they will work with various preceptors to gain the broadest exposure to a variety of EOL care settings. Through their participation in the program, students gain exposure to an interdisciplinary hospice team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors, and volunteers while also learning about the ethical, psychological, sociological, cultural and spiritual aspects that surround EOL care. While at their program sites, Fellows will also be expected to 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 in covering most living expenses.

PARTICIPANT COMMENTS

"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."

The education and training of physicians has changed dramatically over the past generation. VITAS, as the nation's leading provider of end-of-life care, has been honored to work with AMSA in being a catalyst in ensuring future generations of physicians have the opportunity to work hands-on with and learn from both hospice patients themselves as well as the interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, nurses aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers who deliver our hospice care. One thing we hear repeatedly from our patients and their loved ones is that they wish they had learned about their hospice options sooner. Teaching physicians about hospice and palliative care early in their careers is one the most effective ways to address this concern. And, as the Baby Boomer generation continues its inexorable march toward retirement and their senior years, this background and knowledge will become increasingly important for their physicians. Tim O'Toole Chief Executive Officer Vitas Innovative Hospice Care