Electives
Who is eligible to participate?
This clinical experience is available to University of Toronto medical students in Phase I and Phase II of their clerkship.
Electives are also available to visiting students from Canadian and non-Canadian medical schools who are fluent in English. For more information about the University of Toronto's requirements and application process for visiting students, visit the University's website.
What can I expect to learn?
This experience will provide you with an opportunity to experience the provision of palliative care to patients diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
Under the supervision of a palliative care physician, you will join an interdisciplinary team and play an active role in the day-to-day care of patients. You will explore your knowledge and skills using a combination of:
- formal didactic sessions
- supervised participation in the provision of care
- case-based methods
- family and team conferences
- situations of breaking bad news
- discussions of advance care planning, ethical dilemmas and discussions of personal attitudes and beliefs in a safe environment, with a view to defining the impact of these attitudes and beliefs on decision-making.
What are the objectives?
At the end of the rotation, you will be able to effectively:
- complete comprehensive palliative care assessments, including a history and physical examination appropriate to the patient(s) seen
- participate in patient care effectively as one member of an interdisciplinary team
- synthesize available information into a list of issues/problems, and suggested medical and non-medical approaches to management
- apply intermediate-level knowledge about pain and symptom management in the care of individual patients
- assess psychosocial and spiritual issues in end-of-life care at an intermediate level of competency
- reflect on personal attitudes and beliefs in end-of-life care
- demonstrate respect for cultural and religious factors in end-of-life care
- discuss home care and other community resources employed in the care of the patient(s) seen
- accept supervision and ongoing feedback in a professional manner
- begin to address suffering in patients living with life-threatening illness.
Where does the teaching take place?
This experience takes place in our:
- In-Hospital Care Program at Mount Sinai Hospital, or
- Home-Care Program in our service area within Toronto.
A combination of both settings is possible for a 4-week experience only.
How long is it?
This experience can be 2, 3 or 4 weeks.
Will I find this worthwhile?
Check out the testimonials from clerks who have participated in an undergraduate elective or rotation to find out what they thought about their experience.
How do I get more information or enroll for this rotation/elective?
Email our Education Assistant.
