Clinical Observership Program in Supportive and Palliative Care

The Department of Supportive Care Medicine (DSCM) is one of very few fully integrated, multidisciplinary teams working together to identify, assess and treat the multiple complex challenges that patients and families face throughout the continuum of cancer care
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The Supportive Care Medicine includes: pain and palliative medicine physicians and nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, spiritual care chaplains, child life specialists, patient navigators, health education specialists, cancer information resources nurses, positive image cosmetologists, a resources coordinator, a hospice liaison and more. In addition, we have the physical hub of supportive care: our world class Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center that provides a wide range of educational and support programs and services to patients, families and the community.
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 The Department of Supportive Care Medicine has continued to lead the development of innovative, tailored patient- and family-centered programs that relate to:  geriatric oncology, gender strengths interventions (including a recognized couples program), advanced care planning, patient and family meetings, and both English- and Spanish-speaking Patient and Family Advisory councils. As a foundation for these innovative programs and for optimally triaging integrated biopsychosocial care, the department has created patient and family-friendly touchscreen technology in English, Spanish and Chinese that has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health as the model screening program and has been licensed to other cancer centers across the United States.
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Observership Program Overview
Who: Observerships are available to national and international visitors: physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, health educators, chaplains and other related specialties.
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What is covered: Observership sessions offer opportunities for multidisciplinary faculty shadowing, and the COH on-campus experience.
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Timeline: Length of observerships can vary up to thirty days. Dates of the observership will be based upon availability.
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How to apply:
  1. Submit a Supportive Care Medicine Clinical Observer Interest Form.
  2. Our team will review your request. If approved, we will request further information needed for clearance from the institution. Please note it will take multiple weeks for the application process. 
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Important Information:
  • You must be at least 18 years old to apply.
  • Any observerships over 30 days will not be accepted and cannot include weekends.
  • Observerships cannot be more than 40 hours a week.
  • Health documentation and vaccine records will be required for all observers.
  • If you are a physician, international, or COH employee observer, a $100 application fee will be required.
  •  Please note that our observerships are strictly a shadowing experience; they are not graded, evaluated, or eligible for academic credit.
  • The process may take 6-8 weeks depending on your level of engagement.
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For further information about supportive care clinical observerships at City of Hope, please contact the Supportive Care Training Program at supportivecareskills@coh.org.