Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End of Life Care Fellowship
At some point in their life, most people will confront life-threatening illness or the need for end-of-life care as a patient, friend, family member, caregiver or decision maker. There is a growing need for social workers with the knowledge and skills to help patients and families negotiate those challenging experiences, particularly in under-served Black and Brown communities. The Zelda Foster Studies Program in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (PELC) MSW Fellowship provides advanced training and mentorship to prepare NYU Silver students for successful careers meeting the demand for high-quality, evidence-informed PELC services.
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative or life-extending treatment and it includes the care of people across all ages and disease trajectories. End-of-Life Care refers to programs that care for the dying, such as hospice.
Students may enter this specialization in their Specialized Practice year. Matriculated MSW students will receive application information from the MSW Program Office and Office of Practicum Education & Community Partnerships.
Learning Objectives and Opportunities
- Advanced Training and Mentorship: This is a three-year fellowship program which includes an enhanced practicum learning experience and two years of individual post-graduate mentorship. Students do not need to remain in the NYC environs post graduation and can receive mentorship nationally and internationally.
- Monthly Seminar Series: Fellows attend monthly seminars which include case consultation, support and didactic lectures from guest speakers on topics such as Pain and Symptom Management
- Practicum Placements: All Fellows are placed in PELC settings, which include hospitals, out-patient clinics, hospices, skilled nursing facilities, and ancillary support agencies such as Cancercare.
- Funding: There is some funding available for Fellows to attend conferences in their final year of the MSW Program, there are opportunities for Fellows to apply for scholarships funds based on financial need, and all Fellows receive professional development funds for two years post-graduation to attend conferences and workshops.
Required Coursework
- An Introduction to Palliative Care Social Work (1-credit)
- Grief, Loss and Bereavement (3-credits)
- Advanced Social Policy - Gerontology OR Advanced Social Policy - Health OR Advanced Social Policy - Children/Families (3-credits)
Eligibility Requirements
- Students must be in good academic standing
- Students must be preparing to enter their Specialized Practice year
- Students must complete the Specialized Practice form for the Practicum Education Office indicating interest in this specialization
- Students must attend the monthly Wednesday seminars, which will count toward practicum hours
- Students should be prepared to commit to the PELC field post-graduation