Chaplain Linda F. Piotrowski on a commitment to on-going education

Participating In the ACE Project

Does a free stay at the Sheraton Universal in Universal City, California, a $300 travel voucher, learning from well-known experts, endless opportunities to network with colleagues from around the country, Centering and other rituals, two delicious meals a day, and a resource binder for sharing everything you’ve learned sound too good to be true? Believe me, it isn’t!

In late October 2007, I traveled to Universal City, California, to participate in the Advocating for Clinical Excellence (ACE) Project, sponsored by the City of Hope and funded by the National Cancer Institute. The primary aim of ACE: Transdisciplinary Palliative Care Education is to improve the delivery of palliative care by psychologists, social workers, and spiritual care professionals through an intensive advocacy and leadership training program. This program includes more than 30 hours of didactic and experiential transdisciplinary education to improve end-of-life knowledge, team skills, and leadership abilities.

The three-day course began on a Tuesday evening with a welcome dinner. Our letter of acceptance directed us to leave space in our luggage for taking home course binders. Picking up the soft-sided briefcase from my chair I understood why. It weighed about twenty pounds! Inside the binder were paper copies and a CD-ROM of Powerpoint presentations for every learning module – all of the role plays and rituals, bibliographies, brief biographies of each presenter, and contact information for course participants.

The three days were packed with opportunities for learning and networking. Not a minute was wasted. Themed lunch tables gave us the opportunity to seek out others with similar interests and challenges. Many of us used our free evenings as mini-retreats in which to reflect on all that we experienced during the day.

Admission to the ACE Project is competitive. The application process requires thought, a commitment to on-going education, and plain hard work. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in end-of-life care, a letter of support and commitment from your work supervisor, and a project proposal – designed by you – are required.

My course included nearly 70 participants, chosen from 150 applicants. I learned leadership and advocacy skills. The times of Centering and group process provided me with a safe environment in which to explore my disappointments, hopes, and dreams, as well as hear those of others. I returned to my workplace committed to advocating for change from “business as usual” to providing exemplary palliative, end-of-life and bereavement care within my department and throughout the Medical Center. I’ve already made use of the CD-ROM to reproduce materials for several teaching presentations.

Two 30-hour courses remain out of the four originally planned. The remaining courses will take place in November 2008 and October 2009. A reunion conference is scheduled for 2010. Read all of the details at www.cityofhope.org/ACEproject. This is one learning opportunity you don’t want to miss!

Do you have thoughts about education & research you’d like to share with your colleagues? Send an e-mail to info@PlainViews.org.