CSU Institute Offers First Online Post MSW Certificate in Palliative Care

    SAN MARCOS, CA, July 09, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The California State University Institute for Palliative Care is proud to announce another advance in helping to foster the palliative care workforce needed to care for our aging population: the first, and only, fully online Post MSW Certificate in Palliative Care.

The online Post MSW Palliative Care Social Work Certificate Program will provide Master's prepared social workers with the additional knowledge and skills they need to work effectively on a palliative care team in a hospital, hospice or other setting. Three course levels totaling 180 classroom hours comprise the program, each building upon the last.

"Social workers are absolutely crucial in providing compassionate patient- and family-centered care that relieves suffering and improves quality of life for those with serious or chronic illness," explains Helen McNeal, Executive Director of the CSU Institute for Palliative Care. "We are excited to introduce this certificate program in palliative care for social workers as one of the many new programs the CSU Institute for Palliative Care is launching for professionals and for the community."

The Institute also announced the world-class faculty including palliative care leaders from across the country. The faculty is being led by well-known palliative care and hospice social worker and consultant Gary Gardia, M.Ed., MSW, LCSW, CT.

Some of the faculty include:

- Shirley Otis-Green, MSW, ACSW, LCSW, OSW-C
- Terry Altilio, PhD, MSSW, CSW, CCM, OSW-C
- Susan Hedland, MSW, LCSW
- Charles F. von Gunten, MD, PhD, FACP, FAAHPM,
- Constance Dahlin, ANP, BC, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN,
- Sandy Jones McClintic, LCSW, ACHP-SW,
-Tara Schapmire, PhD, MSSW, CSW, CCM, OSW-C

Detailed bios are available on the website.

The online Post MSW Certificate in Palliative Care program will begin in August 2013 and run through August 2014. To learn more about the program, call 760-750-4020 or visit the Institute website at http://www.csupalliativecare.org/programs.

About the CSU Institute for Palliative Care
The CSU Institute for Palliative Care is America's first statewide educational and workforce development initiative dedicated to palliative care. The Institute offers professional development and continuing education courses designed to enhance the skills of current and future healthcare professionals, as well as programs to build palliative care awareness in the community.

# # #