Division of  General Internal Medicine

Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics

Palliative Medicine Communication Course

We are excited to announce two upcoming sessions for this year’s PalliTalk course: December 9-11, 2026, and January 20-22, 2027.

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 9-11, 2026 or January 20-22, 2027 // 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. 

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.

Registration Form

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, 2026

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

chavlickc@upmc.edu