James Gerhart, PhD

The Professional Development in Communication and Supportive Care is intended for interdisciplinary health care professionals who wish to optimize their skills in primary palliative care. The curriculum is designed for professionals who practice in various care settings such as hospitals, clinics, homes and skilled nursing facilities.

The APPI is a more intensive specialty level palliative care training program for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants who are current or aspiring palliative care specialists.

To register, first complete an online application form. All applications are reviewed by program directors. Spaces are limited. Acceptances are made on a rolling basis. Full payment is due upon acceptance to confirm your space.

The 2020 rates for Professional Development in Communication and Supportive Care are as follows.

Physicians – $1,000
Advanced Practice Nurses – $700
Physician Assistants – $700
Psychologists – $1,000
Nurses – $700
Social Workers – $500
Chaplains – $500
Other Disciplines – please inquire.

We accept payment by check or credit card.

Make checks payable to: Rush University Medical Center

Mail to:
Rush University Medical Center
ATTN: Section of Palliative Care
1725 W. Harrison Street
Chicago, IL. 60612

Credit card payments may be made by phone to Rush University Medical Center at:  888-352-7874

Hours of operations:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

There are limited scholarships.  If interested, please contact Aliza Baron, project coordinator, at abaron@uchicago.edu before submitting payment.

You may request a receipt at the time of the transaction with Rush University Medical Center or from the program coordinator, Aliza Baron, abaron@uchicago.edu.

There are no additional fees apart from travel expenses to attend in-person training events or conferences.

We understand that health care professionals occasionally have changes in plans or schedules that will result in their inability to attend the program as planned.

If you wish to cancel and receive a full refund, you must submit your request in writing at least 14 days prior to the program start date.   If you submit your request within 14 days of the program start date, you are not eligible to receive a refund. However, you may elect to receive a credit toward a future program for yourself or a colleague.

Yes, program participants will receive a pre-course skills survey, and invitation to join the course on the Canvas Learning Management System through the University of Chicago.  Further instructions on course pre-work will be available there along with a course syllabus.

Due to COVID-19, all training events will be held live on Zoom until further notice. If some sessions can be safely delivered live in small groups, this option will be offered to foster networking.  In-person sessions may be held at various sites across the Chicagoland area such as Rush University Medical Center, the University of Chicago  Medicine, Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago, Rush Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, and Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.

Out-of-town health care professionals are welcome to attend Professional Development in Communication and Supportive Care.

The training consists of 3 full-day conferences and 2-3 live webinars each month. Additionally, medical professionals and psychologists have 3 (1-hour) Mentored Learning Community sessions (MLC) for interdisciplinary case-based discussions. Social workers and chaplains have 3 half-day seminars for specialty didactics, discussion and networking.  All sessions will be held on Zoom and recorded.

We strongly recommend that applicants discuss the time commitment with their supervisor for approval of time off.

Professional Development in Communication and Supportive Care provides approximately 28 CE/CME credit hours for nurses, physicians, physician assistants, and psychologists, and 34 CE for social workers.  CE/CME credits earned is based on individual attendance and completion of evaluations.  Participants may claim CE/CME after the course has ended and post-course surveys have been received.

A certificate of course completion is provided to trainees who complete pre and post-course learning assessments, attend at least 80% of educational hours across all teaching formats, and submit a program evaluation survey.

The APPI is a more intensive, specialty level palliative care training program for advanced practice nurses and physician assistants who are current or aspiring palliative care specialists.

The Professional Development in Communication and Supportive Care is intended for interdisciplinary health care professionals who wish to optimize their skills in primary palliative care. The curriculum is designed for professionals who practice in hospitals, clinics, homes and skilled nursing facilities.

The first step is to complete an online application form. All applications are reviewed by program directors. Space is limited. Acceptance are made on a rolling basis. Full payment is due upon acceptance and within 14 days of the course start date to secure your space.

The APPI 2020 course fee is $1800.

We accept payment by check or credit card.

Make checks payable to: Rush University Medical Center

Mail to:
Rush University Medical Center
ATTN: Section of Palliative Care
1725 W. Harrison Street
Chicago, IL. 60612

Credit card payments may be made by phone to Rush University Medical Center at:  888-352-7874

Hours of operations:
Monday – Friday:  8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday:  8:00 am – 12:00 pm

We offer a group discount when 3 or more individuals from the same health care organization register for the same course or program.  To receive this discount, please contact Aliza Baron, project coordinator, before submitting payment at abaron@uchicago.edu.  We are unable to offer any scholarships at this time.

You may request a receipt at the time of the transaction with Rush University Medical Center or from the program coordinator, Aliza Baron, abaron@uchicago.edu.

There are no additional fees apart from travel expenses to attend in-person training events or conferences.

We understand that health care professionals occasionally have changes in plans or schedules that will result in their inability to attend the program as planned.

If you wish to cancel and receive a full refund, you must submit your request in writing at least 14 days prior to the program start date. If you submit your request within 14 days of the program start date, you are not eligible to receive a refund. However, you may elect to receive a credit toward a future program for yourself or a colleague.

Yes, you will be expected to complete a pre-course self-assessment survey, and to view webinars prior to the first conference.  Once admitted to the course, you will receive an email invitation to join the course on the Canvas Learning Management System through the University of Chicago.  There you will find instructions on how to view webinars, and access a complete course schedule.

All in-person training events such conferences, simulated patient training, and clinical shadowing are held at various sites across the Chicagoland area.  Former conferences have been held in Chicago at Rush University Medical Center and the University of Chicago; in Mount Prospect at Amita Health Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care; in Oak Park at Rush Oak Park Hospital; and in Maywood at Loyola University Medical Center.

Out-of-town health care professionals are welcome to attend the APPI.  Please contact the program coordinator, Aliza Baron, abaron@uchicago.edu to discuss special arrangements for shadowing in the Chicagoland area or elsewhere.  Out-of-town program participants would be responsible for their travel arrangements.

The APPI is a 3-month course designed for full-time employed APRNs and PAs.  There are 3 full days of in-person didactics and 16 hours of clinical shadowing, arranged by trainees in accordance with their schedules. Additional distance learning occurs through 6 weekly webinars and assigned readings. We encourage trainees to discuss the time commitment with their supervisor for approval of time off.

The APPI provides a maximum of 26 CE credit hours through Amita Health Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care. CE is earned through attendance and submission of session evaluations.  CE certificates are emailed to program participants.

A certificate of course completion is provided to trainees who complete pre and post-course learning assessments, attend at least 80% of educational hours (didactics and shadowing), and submit a program evaluation survey.