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Elective Rotations for Residents and Clinical Fellows: Pain and Palliative Care

Select 'Apply to REP' under Program-Specific Elements to apply to this rotation.

Elective Description

This is an advanced clinical elective for residents who have a particular interest in Pain and Palliative Care.

The NIH Clinical Center (CC) is comprised of over 27 Institutes and Centers whose purpose is the conduct of clinical research with medically and surgically ill patient subjects. The CC Pain and Palliative Care Service provides consults to NIH CC inpatients and outpatients who have a wide array of medical illnesses including cancer, rare genetic diseases, infectious diseases, and endocrine and autoimmune disorders.

Palliative care is medical care that provides relief from suffering and support for the best possible quality of life for patients and their families facing advanced chronic illness. Palliative care improves quality of life, by focusing on the physical, psychosocial, spiritual aspects of care. Both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic modalities are used including mind-body modalities, energy medicine, acupuncture, pet therapy, music therapy, art therapy and massage.

Residents will observe clinical consults of patients referred to the Pain and Palliative Care Service, prepare case or journal club presentations, and learn about symptom management and integrative modality through pain and palliative care. This consult service provides a holistic approach to patient assessment and care planning for CC patients. The resident will round with the team on the inpatient unit, go to outpatient clinic, and attend weekly interdisciplinary rounds all Resident will participate in educational opportunities provided by the service and Clinical Center. Individualized programs will vary widely in accordance with the needs and interests of each resident.

Eligibility Requirements

Residents must currently be enrolled, and in good standing, in an Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited program in the United States at the time of application for an elective rotation. Foreign medical school graduates, in addition to the above must have ECFMG certification.