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Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Program overview

This program provides an integrated sequence of courses to promote the interaction of theory and practice. The program will also enhance clinical practice knowledge; expand assessment and clinical intervention skills; examine assessment and treatment needs of patients and their families; use a biopsychosocial-spiritual framework; provide opportunities to develop leadership skills; and explore the dilemmas in "caring" rather than "curing."

From the Director

"The Post-Master’s Certificate Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care is based on the belief that the people with whom we are privileged to work are the experts. Our approach to teaching echoes that collaborative belief, with faculty moving fluidly between the positions of ‘expert’ and ‘co-learner.’ We are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment that acknowledges the role of practice wisdom and validates emotion and spirituality in the learning process."

-Susan Gerbino, PhD, LCSW

Program Requirements

This certificate is comprised of four individual modules, two of which are offered each semester. All four modules are required to complete the certificate. Each module meets for 20 total hours. The Program Calendar below describes the timetable for each module in detail. Note that 4-hour double class sessions are run in the Fall, and that the Leadership module is divided between two semesters.

Assignments include weekly readings and a final learning assessment in the form of a project or test.

Note: at least 2 years of post-Master's experience in or related to PELC is required to apply to this Program.

Continuing Education Units

NASW-approved CEUs: 80

Program Highlights

Interaction of theory and practice; clinical practice knowledge
Assessment and clinical intervention skills
Biopsychosocial-spiritual framework
Dilemmas in “caring” rather than “curing”

Modules

Module 1: Ethical Issues in Palliative Care/Pain and SymptomManagement: Multidimensional Perspectives
Module 2: Theories of Attachment, Loss, and Bereavement
Module 3: Practice Seminar
Module 4: Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Leadership Development

2014-15 Program Calendar

Module 1 (Ethics/Pain) and Module 2 (Theories)

Meet in back-to-back session on same night in the Fall
Fall Semester (Meeting time: 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm)
September 17, 24 October 1, 8, 15, 29 November 5, 12, 19 December 3

Module 4 (Practice Seminar)

Spring Semester (Meeting time 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm):

January 21, 28
February 11, 25
March 4, 11, 25
April 15, 22, 29

Module 3 (Leadership)

Meets on dates scheduled across both semesters
Fall Semester (Meeting time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
October 23 October 24 October 26
Spring Semester (Meeting time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
March 31 April 1 April 7

Fees 2014-15

Application Process

2014-15 Certificate Programs

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In this program, the faculty treated students as peers, and the collegial atmosphere allowed students—at all levels of experience—to feel comfortable participating in our own learning. The faculty’s enthusiasm and commitment to teaching, as well as their own work in this field, was a highlight of the program.
- Nicki Weiss, MSW Pathways to Care program at Westchester Jewish Community Services, Hartsdale, NY