International Neuropalliative Care Certificate Courses

Neuropalliative care (NPC) is a field of medicine focused on improving quality of life for persons living with serious life-limiting neurological conditions and their care partners through an interdisciplinary approach. Though the field of palliative care is traditionally associated with the oncologic realm, there has been increasing recognition of the unique palliative care needs conferred by non-cancer diagnoses, including neurological conditions. The provision of NPC can start at the time of diagnosis and continue through the end of life and beyond. Physicians and health care professionals from many specialties care for persons living with serious neurological illnesses, including, but not limited to, neurology, neurosurgery, palliative care, geriatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, internal medicine, intensive care, and pediatrics. Basic NPC is provided by ALL clinicians and healthcare professionals who care for people living with these conditions, while palliative care specialists provide important expertise as needs become more complex. In this way, all providers can benefit from specific NPC training to enhance their ability to face the challenges they are already confronting in their day-to-day practice.

These courses will provide a comprehensive neuropalliative skill set that will enhance participants’ approach to people living with serious neurological conditions.  These courses are unique because they recognize that we learn best when we learn together and bring together physicians from multiple specialties into a shared environment in order to foster collaboration and networking across disciplines.  Participants will have the opportunity to learn from leaders in the emerging field of NPC, in both didactic and interactive formats.  In addition, upon completion of each course, participants will receive a certificate jointly conferred from the International Neuropalliative Care Society, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and Karunashraya, Bangalore Hospice Trust.

These courses are offered to all physicians who provide care to paediatric and adult persons living with serious life-limiting neurological illness. Physician specialists may include neurologists, neurosurgeons, palliative care providers, geriatricians, physiatrists, internists, intensivists, and paediatricians. In addition we invite healthcare professionals from other disciplines: nurses, advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners, physician assistants), pharmacists, psychologists, rehab specialists (physio/occupational/SLT), chaplains and social workers to apply if you feel you can assimilate and utilise this learning.  

1. There are two courses, Part I and Part II, with each lasting 6 months and organized into 6 modules of 4 weeks each.   Part 1 launches on September 1, 2023. Part 2 begins March 1, 2024. These are meant to run consecutively and it is mandatory to complete Part 1 to join Part 2.  
2. Each course  consists of 6 modules with 28 working days. The exact schedule (see below) varies to account for holidays. Module materials: case, webinars, reading material list, MCQs and assignments (if any) will be made available on day 1 of the module.  
3. Each module is built around an exemplary case and the NPC needs that arise as we work through each story. Each module will have a curriculum for self-study including pre-recorded webinars, relevant readings, as well as group and individual assignments (formative assessments). Individual summative assessments will be conducted through multiple choice questions and reflective exercises. Depending on their training background and specialty they practice in, each participant will receive didactic content in the basics of either palliative care or neurology, to fill in foundational gaps. Participants are welcome to complete content in both areas if they desire. All participants will receive the same targeted NPC content. 
4. These are blended courses including pre-recorded webinars, live virtual sessions (flipped classroom), and an in-person meeting. The live virtual session for each module, and the single live in-person meeting for each course, will allow participants to practice key skills, reinforce course content, and network amongst participants, instructors, and course directors. 
5. The live virtual, interactive session (flipped classroom) will be held for 90 minutes, on Zoom or equivalent, on a Saturday approximately mid-way through each module at 15.30-17.00 hours IST. 
6. The in-person meeting will focus on ethical decision making, prognostication and Communications Skills with role play, and will be held over a weekend (Sat-Sun) at Karunashraya Institute of Palliative Care Education & Research (KIPCER), Bengaluru, India, in December 2023 or January 2024 (to be decided by September 2023). Registration for this is included in the course fees, however arrangements for travel and lodging are the responsibility of the individual participant.  

We anticipate participants will spend an average of 2-3 hours per week on course work, including self-study, interactive sessions, and group assignments. Additionally, attendance at the weekend in-person meeting (see above) is mandatory for the certificate from MAHE (see above).  

• 80% attendance of the flipped classroom sessions for each 6- module course (5 of 6 classrooms sessions).
• 80% webinars completion. Participants may select which webinars they would like to view.
• 80% passing rate for multiple choice questions (based on webinar and essential reading material).  
• Completion of written assignments for each course. 

Upon passing each course (four attempts permitted), you will receive a certificate jointly conferred from the International Neuropalliative Care Society, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal and Karunashraya, Bangalore Hospice Trust.  The greatest reward for your efforts, however, will be the improvement you will see in your approach to the care of persons living with serious life-limiting neurological conditions and their care partners.

1. Application: Registration for Part 1 course is now open. Please complete this Google form and we will send you the payment link once we confirm your eligibility. The International Neuropalliative Care Certificate Course 2023-24 is targeted at health care professionals from South Asia, however colleagues from around the world are welcome to apply, keeping in mind the timezone differences for the live virtual (flipped classroom) sessions.
2. Payments: Thanks to generous funding and the volunteerism of our course instructors, the cost for the whole course (Parts 1 and 2) was set at $600 USD / INR 40000. If financial assistance is needed, please contact maria@karunashraya.org, as we are committed to making this course affordable to all. Payment will be accepted for each course separately (ie $300 USD/INR 20000) although registration is done once only at the beginning.