Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics
Palliative Medicine Communication Course
PalliTalk is an intensive, three-day course modeled after the acclaimed OncoTalk and GeriTalk programs and grounded in the evidence-based teaching methods of VitalTalk. The course is designed to strengthen advanced communication skills through immersive, real-time practice with simulated patients and personalized coaching from expert faculty in a supportive and safe learning environment.
Participants will learn to navigate challenging conversations with patients and families, including how to respond when:
- A patient insists, “I want everything done,” during a discussion about code status
- An anxious patient asks, “Why is this happening to me?”
- A family member expresses hope for a miracle
- A patient asks about the clinician’s religious beliefs or requests prayer
- A family member requests a feeding tube for a loved one who is dying of cancer
- Family members disagree about end-of-life decisions
Comments from previous participants:
“Excellent!”
“It was a great learning experience that gave me more confidence.”
“It was valuable. I appreciated having a safe space to work on trying new things.”
Specifics
Dates: December 10-12, 2025 or January 14-16, 2026 // 9:00 am-4:30 pm
Format: Hybrid. Mornings will be virtual and afternoons will be in person. Participants will need high speed internet connection in a quiet setting for the mornings of the course.
Participants: This course is open to Palliative Medicine fellows and advanced practice providers. Attendees who are NOT from the University of Pittsburgh and/or the UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute, must plan to bring a VitalTalk-trained faculty facilitator with them to the training. Please email the course director, Dr. Kendall Downer (downerkm3@upmc.edu) to coordinate this.
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Costs: $900. A discount for UPMC employees is provided. Please reach out to Chris Chavlick at chavlickc@upmc.edu for additional details.
Registration
To register, complete the registration form below.
Payment Information
Please make checks out to: UPMC COMMUNITY PROVIDER SERVICES
Christine Chavlick
UPMC Palliative and Supportive Institute
Iroquois Building, Ste. 405
3600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Credit Card payments: Please email chavlickc@upmc.edu to make arrangements for credit card payments.
Internal payments: Prepare Journal Entry to account #: HOS00- 612770- 40141
Registration Deadline: September 30, 2025
Contact
Chris Chavlick
University of Pittsburgh
Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics
Division of General Internal Medicine
3600 Forbes Avenue, Suite 405
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: 412-864-2856
Fax: 412-692-4315