PCEP is designed for palliative care specialists, champions, and educators, as well as generalist and specialist physicians and nurses who wish to gain additional competencies in palliative care. PCEP enhances clinicians' skills in communication, teaching, and clinical practice.
Palliative care specialists charged with new program initiatives and who would benefit from mentoring are also encouraged to attend.
The pediatric track highlights the unique aspects of palliative care for children.
Please note that mastery of spoken and written English is essential for successful participation in PCEP. Candidates from countries for whom English is not the primary language may be interviewed to determine fluency.
Course Dates:
PCEP Part 1: November 3-8, 2024
PCEP Part 2: April 27-May 2, 2025
Course description
Strengthen your palliative care practice, build your communication and education skills, and deepen your ability to work collaboratively in inter-disciplinary teams.
Palliative Care Education and Practice (PCEP) is a comprehensive, livestream course delivered by expert palliative care clinicians and educators who create a warm, welcoming environment conducive to deep learning and growth. PCEP provides physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and spiritual care professionals the skills, knowledge, and habits of mind needed to provide high-quality, compassionate care.
Palliative care is a dynamic and rapidly growing and changing field and an essential element of serving patients with serious illness. As the needs of patients and their caregivers throughout the world evolve, palliative care providers face increasingly complex challenges that PCEP is designed to address. Palliative care professionals in different roles and working in a variety of settings – hospitals, hospice providers, healthcare systems, and other institutions – can drive future direction with their learning from PCEP.
At the conclusion of PCEP, participants will have acquired significant skills in the clinical practice and teaching of comprehensive, interdisciplinary palliative care, as well as having gained expertise in leading and managing improvements in palliative care education and practice at their own institutions.
Part 1 of PCEP consists of 6 days of intensive learning, followed by a 4-month interim during which participants work on an individual project. Part 2 consists of 6 days of continued experiential learning, training, and consolidation.
The teaching in PCEP is learner-centered and takes place in a variety of interactive formats including small groups, large group discussions, demonstration interviews, and panel discussions. Participants have the opportunity to develop action plans for change at their institutions and to practice and receive feedback about their teaching and change strategies. Many opportunities for informal interchange are available.
Prospective participants may apply for either the Adult Track or the Pediatric Track.
How will PCEP enhance my career?
At the conclusion of PCEP, participants will have acquired:
- Significant skills in the clinical practice and teaching of comprehensive, interdisciplinary palliative care
- Expertise in leading and managing improvements in palliative care education and practice at their own institutions
How is PCEP taught?
Part 1 consists of six days of intensive online learning, followed by a six-month interim during which participants work on an individual project and contribute to online discussions of problematic, clinical, educational, or program development cases. Part 2 consists of six days of continued experiential online learning, training, and consolidation.
Learning formats
Teaching is learner-centered and takes place in a variety of interactive, virtual formats including: small group work, large group discussions, demonstration interviews, and panel discussions.
Participants have the opportunity to develop action plans for change at their institutions and to practice and receive feedback about their teaching and change strategies. Many opportunities for informal interchange are available.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate increased knowledge in the key competencies of palliative care, including advanced pain and symptom management
- Apply new communication skills to the complex care of seriously ill patients
- Teach fundamental palliative care principles to learners from a variety of healthcare settings
- Develop palliative care curricula using principles of adult learning styles, new teaching methodologies, and goal-directed feedback
- Integrate palliative care clinical programs into a wide variety of healthcare settings by assessing institutional structure and culture, evaluating readiness to change, and developing palliative care programs with strategies for continuity
Who should attend?
PCEP is designed for palliative care specialists, champions, and educators, as well as generalist and specialist physicians, nurses and social workers who wish to gain additional competencies in palliative care. PCEP enhances clinicians’ skills in communication, teaching, and clinical practice.
Palliative care specialists charged with new program initiatives and who would benefit from mentoring are also encouraged to attend.
The pediatric track highlights the unique aspects of palliative care for children.
Please note that mastery of spoken and written English is essential for successful participation in PCEP. Candidates from countries for whom English is not the primary language may be interviewed to determine fluency.
Special thanks
We are grateful to the Open Society Foundations' Project on Death in America and Jane Weingarten and the late Dr. Charles Weingarten for their long-term commitment to scholarship funding. Special appreciation to the J. Andrew Billings, MD Memorial Fund. Additional scholarship assistance, and support for our "patients-as-teachers" program, is provided by Partners HealthCare, Inc., and JoJo's Education Fund.
In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The Harvard Medical School designates this Livestream activity for a maximum of 30.25 (Fall Session) & 32.5 (Spring Session) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses
For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
Physician Assistants
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
Canadian Accreditation
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.
European Accreditation
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
ABIM MOC
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 62.75 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
ABP MOC
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the activity, with individual assessments of the participant and feedback to the participant, enables the participant to earn 62.75 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.
Risk Management
Fall Session: This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for 16.50 credits of Risk Management Study. This includes:
• 1.00 credit of Opioid Education and Pain Management Training
• 15.50 credits of End-of-Life Care Education
Spring Session: This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for 21.00 credits of Risk Management Study. This includes:
• 1.25 credits of Opioid Education and Pain Management Training
• 19.75 credits of End-of-Life Care Education
Please check your individual state licensing board requirements before claiming these credits.
ABMS/ACGME Competencies
The course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:
• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Medical Knowledge
IOM Competencies
The course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine (IOM) Competencies:
• Provide Patient-Centered Care
• Employ Evidence-Based Practice
• Apply Quality Improvement
Disclosure Policy
In accordance with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.
Disclaimer
CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgement before making clinical decisions of any kind.
Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.
APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR 2024-2025
Please note that mastery of spoken and written English is essential for successful participation in PCEP. Candidates from countries for whom English is not the primary language may be interviewed to determine fluency.
All applicants will be informed of their status by email.
To apply to PCEP, please submit:
- Please complete the online application form. If you have any questions about, or difficulty with, completing the application, please contact us at: pallcare@partners.org.
- A letter from an institutional leader (your department chair, division chief, hospital CEO, or other similar leader) indicating a commitment to you and to your career goals; institutional and financial support for your project; and, support for your availability to participate fully in the course.
- Curriculum vitae
- A completed application form
Registration information
Once you have been accepted into the course, you will receive instructions on how to register.
All fees are shown in USD.
Registration by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express) or check can be made through Harvard Medical School's secure online registration system. Additional processing fees may be applied.
Registration with cash payment is not permitted.
Upon receipt of your paid registration, you will receive an email confirmation.
Please note: Your email address is used for critical information about the course including registration confirmation, evaluation distribution, and certificate delivery. Be sure to include an email address that you check daily or frequently.
Tuition
Tuition Fee: $7,995
Tuition is paid in full before the course begins and covers the entire course. Once you have been accepted into the program you will receive payment instructions.
You must attend both sessions to complete the course.
Tuition is due in full before the start of the course.
Scholarship opportunities
We are only able to offer a small number of competitive, partial scholarships for pediatric applicants, international applicants and clinicians from western Massachusetts. Scholarship recipients will be selected for their leadership abilities and their project’s potential impact. For applicants who are interested in applying for these competitive spots, please indicate your interest in the appropriate section of the application.
Scholarship acknowledgments
We are grateful to the scholarship assistance, and support for our "patients-as-teachers" program, provided by the Pflueger-Smith Fund for Palliative Care, Partners HealthCare, Inc., the Jacqueline S. Alaimo Palliative Care Fund, and JoJo's Education Fund.
Course location
PCEP 2024-25 Parts 1 and 2 will be virtual.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I hear back from you about my application?
When we receive your materials, you will receive a confirmation email from us letting you know that we have received everything or if we are still waiting for something to review your application. You will be notified via email of your status.
If my colleague and I are both applying to the course, can we send in one application?
While you and your colleague may be coming to the course with the same project and/or goals, we will be reviewing the applications separately. There are some instances when we can only accept one person from the team. With this, it is important for each individual to apply separately, but mention that your colleague (include name) is also applying.
Is the tuition due at one time?
Yes. Participants can pay via credit card or check prior to the start of the course. Cash is not accepted. Please note that if you pay by wire, you must include an additional $30 (U.S.) to cover the bank wire fees.
I am a Fellow; can I apply for this program?
Unfortunately, we do not accept Fellows to this program.
Can you tell me more about the project?
The project should be something that you are already working on or have been charged to do at your institution. Do not try to create something special for the course. The idea is to be able to bring this project with you and get feedback from faculty and your project group members, as well as apply what you are learning in the course to your everyday work. Projects have ranged from developing a palliative care program, to developing a curriculum for fellows/medical students, to research and quality improvement projects related to palliative medicine/service.
What is the schedule like for the course?
The schedule is very full. Due to the intense nature of the course, we request that you keep most evenings free for program preparation and activities. You must be able to participate for the full two weeks and participate in the online discussion in the six-month interim. You also must complete the course in order. The curriculum is continuous, so you cannot start with Part 2 and conclude with Part 1.
How many people are accepted and how many people apply?
The application process is competitive. We typically receive over 120 applicants each year for 72 spots; up to 35 spots are allocated to the Pediatric Track.