title: A 4-year integrated curriculum in palliative care for medical undergraduates.
abstract: In order to graduate physicians prepared to effectively address clinical issues in palliative medicine and to comply with LCME requirements, the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM) integrated a coordinated four-year palliative care (PC) curriculum. This report describes the development of the longitudinal curriculum and provides helpful resources and strategies to guide clinicians and administrators undertaking similar efforts. This is a retrospective, descriptive report based on data collected throughout development of the new curriculum. A Palliative Care Advisory Committee initiated development of curricula in PC. An Office of Palliative Care was established to assess and coordinate offerings. Curriculum transformation was based on best practices. Two cornerstone pieces are highlighted: a mandatory hospice experience and a case based small group discussion prior to graduation.
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care and Hospice Services, Department of Medicine, Summa Health System and the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Akron, 44303, USA. radwanys@summahealth.org
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Radwany
authors.forename: Erica J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Stovsky
authors.forename: Dean M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Frate
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dieter
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friebert
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Palmisano
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanders
mesh_terms: D001601:Bereavement; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D003657:Decision Making; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009820:Ohio; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support