Many studies have suggested that medical education has not yet learned to prepare students to provide effective and appropriate care to dying patients and their families. Dramatic gains in the effectiveness of modern scientific medicine have somehow obscured our recognition that all of our patients (and all of us) will eventually die, and that caring for the dying remains one of the most important functions of physicians.

This course is designed to highlight for you some of the issues involved in the care of the dying, and to help you to begin to learn how to provide appropriate care for these patients. We will use a variety of formats including demonstrations, large and small group discussions, and others. The faculty will draw from a variety of professions involved in the care of the dying including physicians, nurses, chaplains, social workers, psychologists and other counselors. The course will include medical, legal, ethical, and other considerations as appropriate.

Each session is a full day. Clerkship directors have agreed to release students from their regular clerkship responsibilities for these sessions.

Students are expected to be present and to participate in all class sessions; a grade of "pass" will be awarded for such participation. Students wishing to pursue grades of "high pass" or "honors" should contact the course director.

Thomas R. Pellegrino, M.D.

For questions, please contact Janet L. Winner, Ph.D.
(757) 446-8488