At the end of Term 1 2020, there are 122 students immersed in the Master of Cancer Sciences program developed by University of Melbourne and the VCCC.
Term 2 will get underway on 20 April showcasing a new subject in the Masters suite: Supportive Care and Palliative Care. The subject takes into account the importance of communication skills in this area and incorporates a Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Communications Program developed by course convenor Dr David Kok and clinical psychologist Justine Diggins.
The Supportive Care and Palliative Care subject has been developed and will be taught by Associate Professor Eleanor Flynn and Tennille Lewin, both clinicians in the area.
The online delivery incorporates a sliding door case study and students will be assisted by a range of media presenting patient stories, animated videos, interactives, personal reflections from clinicians and a fully immersive virtual-reality component for students to practice and apply communication skills with patients.
Associate Professor Eleanor Flynn says, “We developed this subject together so that students see the importance of all aspects of supportive care and palliative care and the need for good communication between the patients and family and their health professionals at all times.
“In particular, I am keen students understand that palliative care is more than end of life experience for people. Early referral to palliative care can help people hold onto hope and even live longer lives with better quality of care.”
Tennille Lewin agrees, “Supportive care is seen as a continuum of the medical aspects of care and having a person’s supportive care needs met along the entire cancer experience can improve the outcomes for the patients and their caregivers.”
Dr David Kok spoke to Dr Dan Grant, CEO of MTP Connect about education for clinicians and how education is improving workforce skills in an podcast this week.
Applications for graduate certificate, specialist certificate and Master Cancer Sciences are now open.
Image: L-R Associate Professor Eleanor Flynn, Tennille Lewin, Dr David Kok
