Palliative Medicine/Geriatric Medicine

Department
Medicine
Course Number
MED 342
Course Title Palliative Medicine/Geriatric Medicine
Course Director
Elizabeth Cobbs, MD
Length (Weeks)

2, 4

When Offered

All year; 1 month minimum advance notice required for registration

Prerequisites

None

Availability Notes

Students rotating at the DC Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), please see Additional Notes below for important information regarding VAMC onboarding.

Contact Name
Christiana Asante
Contact Phone
Contact Fax
Contact Email
casante@mfa.gwu.edu
Other Contacts

Dr. Cobbs (ecobbs@mfa.gwu.edu)

Location
Limit
Report

At least one week prior to rotation, please contact Dr. Cobbs.

Evaluation

Uniform Clinical Evaluation, oral presentation on topic of interest

Description

Clinical and/or research tailored experience in the practice of palliative and geriatric medicine in a range of settings, including GWUH and VAMC hospitals, skilled and intermediate long term care facilities, congregate housing arrangements, clinic, hospice and home visits. Flexible experience depending on the interest and background of the learner. Also opportunities to visit senior centers and day care facilities and work with case management team. 

Additional faculty may include but are not limited to the following: Dr. Tania Alchalabi, Dr. Anca Dinescu, Dr. Nadine Dubowitz, Dr. Robert Jayes, Dr. Robert Kaiser, Dr. Tahira Lodhi, Dr. Sonika Pandey, Dr. Rita Manfredi, Dr. Christina Prather, Dr. Christina Puchalski, Dr. Katalin Roth, and Dr. Erica Schockett.

Course Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Apply essential components of comprehensive assessment of older adults and persons with serious illness including principles of age-friendly care.  
  2. Practice core principles of effective communication with patients, families and the interdisciplinary team.
  3. Demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context of health care affecting persons living with serious illness or of advanced age.
  4. Discuss ethical concerns related to care of persons with serious illness.
Additional Notes

Students rotating at the VA Medical Center must be on-boarded for security purposes. This process can take 6 weeks for new students. Please see the VA Medical Center Clerkship/AI website and carefully review the "General Information" and "VA Onboarding Information" documents.