Compassionate Care in Medicine (Minor)
The Minor in Compassionate Care in Medicine (MCCM) provides interdisciplinary training in the science and sustainable practice of compassionate care for future health professionals. The minor is rooted in the biology, neuroscience, and psychology of compassion as it is practically applied to the effective and sustainable care of the sick. The practice of compassionate care not only improves patient outcomes, but also sustains the well-being of the healthcare provider, reducing clinician burnout.
To enroll or discuss an interest in the program, please schedule a consultation with Dominic Vachon M.Div., Ph.D., the John G. Sheedy, MD Director of the Hillebrand Center, at dvachon@nd.edu.
Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine
As part of the Department of Preprofessional Studies, the Ruth M. Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine has the mission of advancing the scientific theory and evidence-based practice of compassionate care in healthcare and of promoting effective communication skills in physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. The Center offers courses, programs, and research opportunities to help students gain a scientific and humanistic understanding of the importance of compassionate caring in all patient care as well as an introduction to preventing burnout and promoting personal well-being in the health professions. Students can also be involved in research on the integration of compassionate care in clinical practice.
The following elective courses are regularly offered:
- SCPP 30401 Medical Counseling Skills and Patient-Centered Medicine
- SCPP 30405 Compassionate Care and the Medical Professions
- SCPP 30300 Introduction to Clinical Ethics
- SCPP 43531 Psychology and Medicine
- SCPP 30320 Film and the Physician - Portrayals of Medicine in Film and the Arts
- SCPP 30311 Introduction to the American Health Care System
- SCPP 30406 Spiritualities of Caring in the Helping Professions
- SC 43350 Introduction to Hospice and Palliative Care
Program includes a required gateway course, approved didactic electives, experiential learning or practical skills training courses (e.g., service learning, community-based research; medical counseling skills), and a capstone project.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Course | 3 | |
| Compassionate Care and the Medical Professions | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
Two courses are required from the list of approved electives in the areas of biology, neuroscience, psychology, ethics, and policy/social justice in medicine | ||
| Experiential/Skills-Based Courses | 3 | |
Students may satisfy the experiential learning requirements by taking a total of three credit hours of learning through a combination of approved 1-credit seminars, or an active-learning based 3-credit Medical Counseling Skills course. | ||
| Capstone Project | 3 | |
| Capstone in MCCM | ||
| Directed Readings | ||
Pre-approved course | ||
For all options, students will be required to complete a 20-page paper integrating the courses and experiences of the CCIM minor. The Capstone Project must be pre-approved by the Director. | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |