The Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine participates in a variety of national educational initiatives that extend beyond the Mount Sinai Health System. These efforts include our engagement with the Center to Advance Palliative Care, which is the nation’s leading resource for palliative care development and growth. The Center is supported by foundations, private philanthropy, memberships, and is affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. As a member-based organization, the Center provides organizations with the tools, training, technical assistance, and metrics needed to support the successful implementation and integration of palliative care. 

We also offer an annual Continuing Medical Education course entitled “Intensive Update With Board Review in Geriatric and Palliative Medicine.” This four-day, clinically-based intensive course in geriatrics and palliative medicine is taught by experts in both fields, and provides updates on geriatric syndromes, palliative medicine, and the latest research and treatments. This course is endorsed by the James J. Peters Bronx VA Geriatric Research, Educational, and Clinical Center, the American Geriatrics Society, and the Center to Advance Palliative Care.

We additionally regularly host nurse practitioner students from other New York schools, who work with patients in oncology, intensive care, geriatrics, general medicine, and surgery. Offered through The Lilian and Benjamin Hertzberg Palliative Care Institute, participants assess new consults, manage pain and symptoms, engage in family meetings, and talk with patients about advanced directives.

Along the same lines, we offer an advanced longitudinal course in leadership and life skills (completed in one year) to all national integrated Geriatrics and Palliative Fellows. This program engages fellows in a set of experiences that will encourage and guide them in understanding and practicing a set of evidenced based life and leadership skills that will assist them in finding and fulfilling their full potential as clinicians and leaders in advancing the care for older adults and those with serious and chronic illness.

Our small group, interactive courses teach geriatrics content, pedagogical skills, feedback coaching, and mentoring to develop team-based quality improvement projects, among other topics. For these courses, which can be offered at the participant’s home institution, we use a variety of techniques, including demonstrations, self-study, small- and large- group sessions, e-learning, role-playing, and post-course mentoring.   

Finally, our Geriatric Rural Scholars Program is targeted at providers who serve older rural veterans. Provided by our Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, participants engage in clinical and didactic education activities focusing on geriatric and palliative medicine. With active mentoring from Geriatric Research, Educational, and Clinical Center leadership, we provide a rural team training program, a rural health training and education program, and a web-based virtual learning community for rural scholars.