The professional Certificate in Palliative Care requires 17 s.h. of credit. Students must maintain a pharmacy and cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 in work for the certificate.
The certificate program prepares students to practice as palliative care generalists or champions upon graduation from the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. Students who complete the certificate will possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to serve patients living with serious illnesses across the trajectory of life in a variety of general pharmacy practice environments and non-palliative pharmacy specialties, including critical care, emergency medicine, geriatrics, and cardiology. The program addresses the educational needs of pharmacy students who may provide pharmaceutical care in a community pharmacy setting, a long-term care pharmacy, oncology, cardiology, infectious disease, critical care, transplant, and emergency medicine. The certificate also prepares graduates to pursue advanced postgraduate clinical training in palliative care and hospice, including palliative care residencies and fellowships.
The Certificate in Palliative Care requires the following coursework.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| PHAR:8795 | More than Medications: Healthcare for the Whole Patient | 2 |
| PHAR:8797 | Ethics and Spirituality in Health Care | 3 |
| PHAR:8798 | Continuing Professional Development in Palliative Care | 1 |
| PHAR:8502 | Advanced Pharmacopalliation of Pain | 2 |
| PHAR:8503 | Advanced Pharmacopalliation of Non-Pain Symptoms | 3 |
| One of these: | ||
| PHAR:9401 | Ambulatory Care Rotation (at UIHC Palliative Care Clinic) | 6 |
| PHAR:9405 | Elective Hospice and Palliative Care Rotation | 6 |
Students may apply in their fall P2 semester to begin the program and then take the longitudinal course, PHAR:8798 Continuing Professional Development in Palliative Care, in their spring P2 semester.
Applicants must be in good academic standing, as defined in the Student Handbook, and have a College of Pharmacy cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.70. The Certificate in Palliative Care Admission Committee reviews all applications holistically.
Admitted students demonstrate:
- preparedness to engage in a challenging certificate curriculum without compromising their success in the PharmD program, and
- an understanding of what palliative care is and of the program’s requirements.