Electives - Humanities in Medicine

Death in America/Palliative Medicine

Elective Number: 3516 (arranged)

Course Supervisors: Drs. Jonathan Evans, Marcia Childress

Designated Signer: Dr. Marcia Childress, 5th floor Barringer

Evaluation should be given to: Course supervisors

A pager is required, but is not supplied by the department

Available: Periods 4 & 9

Time to Report: 8:30 am

Place to Report: Palliative CareUnit, University Hospital

Typical day: 8:00 am - 5:00 or 6:00 pm

Attendance: A student may not take time off during this rotation.

Number of students per rotation: Minimum of 2, Maximum of 4

Course Description: This elective offers integrated clinical and academic teaching about death and the care of the dying. The course engages how the American culture teaches us to think about and respond to death and also involves students in the everyday provision of end-of-life palliative and hospice care. Students divide their time between clinical work based in the Palliative Care Unit (PCU) in University Hospital and seminars that focus on socio-cultural norms, religious/spiritual practices, medical and ethical aspects of death in America, and emotional responses - of patients, of physicians - to mortality and approaching death. Students should gain insight into established and evolving cultural and clinical approaches to death and dying and understand better how they themselves as physicians deal with the end of life, in their practice and in their lives.

Students are involved in clinical work (inpatient and clinic care, hospice home visits, chaplain visits) on weekdays, in workshops/field trips once a week, and in humanities seminars two afternoons a week. They serve as acting interns for patients in the PCU and on the Palliative Care Consult Service and work as part of the palliative care team. They also make home visits and have some nursing home contact. There will be no night or weekend call. Students read widely and prepare individual narrative projects for in-class presentation. Visiting students should follow the directions in their acceptance email to schedule MIS and CARECAST training. Students also attend Medical Center Hour.

This description is a general overview. The instructor(s) will establish the schedule and particular requirements for the course at the time of the course.