Elective time is tailored to the interests and background of each fellow.

Opportunities include:

Scholarly/Academic Time

For fellows interested in and/or already engaged in scholarly work, they will be paired with an appropriate faculty mentor to help facilitate the project and connected with resources required, such as assistance in completing an IRB application, access to information systems for data collection, or support for data analysis. Fellows who opt for this elective are expected to present a progress report on their project by the end of the year and are strongly encouraged to submit work to appropriate places for presentation, such as the Annual Assembly for Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) or the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) national seminar.

Spiritual Care Immersion

This rotation is an opportunity for fellows interested in a more in-depth exploration of the role of spiritual in the context of serious illness the experience. Fellows will spend time with chaplains practicing in the hospital, home hospice, inpatient hospice and with and the Connecticut Area Health Education Center (AHEC), which includes innovative inter-disciplinary educational models for health care professionals. Readings will include information about the role of various religions in their approach to death and dying and how this can affect health care decisions.

Psychiatry/Geriatric Psychiatry

Cognitive disorders are common in the population of patients seen by palliative care. Recognizing cognitive dysfunction and its impact on other symptoms as well as decision-making is critical for palliative care clinicians. This 4-week elective includes time on the inpatient geriatric psychiatric unit at UConn as well as working in clinic with psychiatrists who have extensive training and experience managing mental health and behavioral disturbances in older adults. After completing this elective, fellows will have enhanced understanding of interdisciplinary approaches to diagnosing cognitive disorders, learn more approaches to managing cognitive disorders, and be better prepare to implement pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Leadership, Administration, and Program Development Elective

Fellows gain exposure to health system leadership, program operations, strategic planning, quality improvement, accreditation standards, workforce development, and interdisciplinary team leadership. Through mentorship with clinical and administrative leaders, fellows develop the skills necessary to lead innovative palliative care programs and drive improvements in patient outcomes, care delivery, and organizational performance.

Additional electives:

• Ethics
• Oncology immersion (including medical, hematologic, and radiation oncology specialists)
• Pain management and interventional pain management techniques
• Away electives