Nation's Medical Students Seek Essential End Of Life Care Skills

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 24 Jun 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation's largest, independent medical student organization, announces the commencement of the AMSA Foundation-VITAS End of Life Education Fellowship Program in which six medical students will be introduced to end of life (EOL) care issues.

The End of Life Education Fellowship Program is a six-week summer experience, being held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that combines an orientation to EOL care with weekly seminars and field placements at local hospices, nursing homes and inpatient units. VITAS, the nation's leading provider of end-of-life care, has partnered with AMSA for the past four years.

Students will be part of an interdisciplinary hospice team consisting of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors and volunteers. They will develop and practice basic interviewing and communication skills essential to EOL care, while understanding the psychological, sociological, cultural and spiritual aspects of death and dying. While at their program sites, students will be expected to develop EOL curricula to be implemented at their medical schools and to be shared with medical schools across the nation.

"With an aging population, future physicians must be knowledgeable on EOL issues and be able to provide the best possible care for their patients and their families who are facing death," says Dr. Brian Hurley, AMSA national president. "AMSA urges all medical schools and residency programs to provide training to educate medical students and residents in issues of death and dying."

"The education and training of physicians has changed dramatically over the past generation. VITAS has been honored to work with AMSA in being a catalyst in ensuring future generations of physicians have the opportunity to work hands-on with and learn from both hospice patients themselves as well as the interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, nurses aides, social workers, chaplains and volunteers who deliver our hospice care. As the Baby Boomer generation continues its inexorable march toward retirement and their senior years, this background and knowledge will become increasingly important for their physicians," says Tim O'Toole, CEO of Vitas Innovative Hospice Care.

For more information, please visit http://www.amsa.org/eol/index.cfm.

About the American Medical Student Association

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), with more than a half-century history of medical student activism, is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. With more than 67,000 members, including medical and premedical students, residents and practicing physicians, AMSA is committed to improving medical training as well as advancing the profession of medicine. AMSA focuses on four strategic priorities, including advocating for quality, affordable health care for all, global health equity, enriching medicine through diversity and professional integrity, development and student well being. To learn more about AMSA, our strategic priorities, or joining the organization, please visit us online at http://www.amsa.org.

American Medical Student Association