We offer many elective courses during the senior year to best serve each student’s individual needs and goals. Students with well-defined career goals and those who are still in the process of choosing a specific area to focus on have a wide assortment of electives to choose from. Most courses are two or four weeks in duration.
Students are also encouraged to approach faculty members for the development of unique courses.
| Department: | Medical Education |
|---|---|
| Course Number: | MEDED-4017 |
| Course Name: | Spiritual Care Elective |
| Instructors: | Joseph Mali & Jacob Marvel |
| Course Description: | Prerequisite: Successful completion of 3rd year. Course Description: Students will spend 2 weeks during their final year of medical school providing compassionate spiritual and emotional support to diverse populations, people of all faiths or of no particular faith. |
| Educational Objectives: | 1. Gain a deeper appreciation for the function of spiritual care in the healing process. 2. Understand the role of interfaith chaplains within the hospital setting. 3. Experience all the spiritual services that Albany Medical Center has to offer patients, families, and staff. 4. Learn how to better nurture spiritual health within the patient-physician relationship and among family members. 5. Augment listening skills and improve effectiveness of emotional support. 6. Pay more attention to the religion and spirituality of patients and their families. |
| Types of Patients: | Students will see a diverse group of patients and their families in the hospital, for a variety of spiritual needs. |
| Teaching Sessions /Conferences: | Spiritual care participation with interfaith chaplains, reflections on spiritual care participation, Clinical Pastora l Education (CPE) sessions/webinars, debrief after visits with patients and families. |
| Resources /Readings: | Arranged according to the student's project |
| Evaluation Method(s): | Direct Observation, Written Assignment |
| Contact Information: | Course Coordinator: Andrew Tobias Nelson, [email protected]; Course Directors: Joseph Mali, [email protected], Jacob Marvel [email protected]; Pastoral Care (518) 262-3176 |
| Period(s) Available: | 4A, 9A |
| Available Length: | 2 weeks |
| Max Students: | 3 |
| Visiting Students: | Yes |