Master in Palliative Care

We believe that palliative care culture should permeate the entire health system.

This requires interdisciplinary work, person-centered care, and recognition of the dignity of human life. This culture encourages healthcare professionals to practice their profession holistically and with a humanistic approach.

The Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, together with the Comprehensive Care team of the Austral University Hospital (HUA), proposes this Master's degree to train professionals capable of providing competent and compassionate care that meets the demands of an increasingly dynamic and challenging reality.

This proposal combines, as a learning framework, the interdisciplinary clinical approach with a focus on human relationships and a strong immersive experience, guaranteeing an unforgettable personal and professional process.

Director

  Mr. Matías Najún 

Physician — University of Buenos Aires. Specialist in Family Medicine and Palliative Care.
Master's student in Communication for Change Management, Faculty of Communication, Universidad Austral.
Head of the Palliative Care team at the Austral University Hospital.
Medical Director of the Palliative Care Unit at HUA.
Founder and director of the Good Samaritan Hospice, Pilar.
Adjunct Professor of Palliative Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad Austral.

Deputy Director

  Ms. Pilar Mendiguren 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing — Universidad Austral.
Master's Degree in Palliative Care — University of El Salvador.
Nursing Coordinator of the Austral Comprehensive Care Unit.
Lecturer for the subject of Palliative Care in the Nursing program, Universidad Austral.
Principal investigator in studies on desire to hasten death and quality of end-of-life care.

Academic secretary

Mg. Lic. Lorena Etcheverry

Bachelor of Psychology — University of Buenos Aires.
Master's degree in Psycho-oncology — Favaloro University.
Specialist in Clinical Psychology (Res. MS No. 2282).
Psychologist at the Austral Comprehensive Care Unit.
Lecturer at the Argentine Program of Palliative Medicine — FEMEBA Foundation and INC.

Academic Council

  Dr. Eduardo Mutto — Austral University Hospital, Universidad Austral.
Dr. Carlos Centeno Cortés — University Clinic of Navarra.
Ms. Dolores Pereira Vázquez Universidad Austral.
Dr. Mariano Asla Universidad Austral.

The Master's program has a team of teachers with recognized clinical and academic experience in Palliative Care:

• Mr. Matías Najún — Leadership and team management · Communication with the patient and their significant environment.
• Dr. Eduardo Mutto — Introduction to Palliative Care.
• Ms. Pilar Mendiguren — Symptom control · Teamwork.
• Mg. Lic. Lorena Etcheverry — Psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care · Self-care.
• Ms. Agustina Iturri — Multidimensional and interdisciplinary approach in Palliative Care · Final Workshop.
• Ms. Sara Consigli — Humanistic Education.
• Ms. Pilar De Antueno — Care planning.
• Ms. Romina Vera — Symptom control.
• Isabel Pincemin — Ethical reflection applied to palliative care.
• Ms. Natalia Vázquez — Research Methodology.
• Dr. Mariano Asla — Humanistic Education.
• Mr. Tomás Lagos — Symptom control · Palliative care in non-cancer patients.

The Master's program is intended for healthcare professionals with a university degree of at least 4 years' duration and a minimum of two years of experience in the healthcare field, including:

• Doctors,
• Graduates in Nursing,
• Graduates in Psychology,
• Graduates in Kinesiology,
• Nutrition graduates,
• Graduates in Music Therapy,
• Graduates in Occupational Therapy,
• Graduates in Social Work,
• Pharmacy graduates,
• Other related professions with authorization from the Career Directorate.

The program is geared towards professionals from Argentina and Latin America interested in deepening their clinical and palliative management knowledge from a humanistic, interdisciplinary and person-centered approach.

The Master's Degree in Palliative Care is a professional postgraduate program of an interdisciplinary nature, unique in Argentina due to the combination of three elements:

• Excellent theoretical content, taught by a team of teachers with extensive clinical and academic experience in the specialty.
• Practical rotation instances in real scenarios: Austral Comprehensive Care Unit (UCIA), outpatient consultation, hospital interconsultation and Hospice.
• An interdisciplinary, horizontal and dynamic work style, consistent with the philosophy of Palliative Care.

The Comprehensive Care team at Austral University Hospital (HUA) has over 13 years of experience providing care and has supported more than 2.600 patients and their families. In 2021, the Austral Comprehensive Care Unit (UCIA), with 13 beds, was established as a leading center for specialized palliative care in the country.

The Master's program is fully aligned with the mission of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and the Universidad AustralIt integrates scientific rigor, humanistic training, and commitment to the dignity of each person at the end of life.

Institutional dimension

• Contribute to the mission of the Universidad Austral to serve society through the development and transmission of knowledge and training in virtues.
• To stimulate research and the training of health professionals with a scientific, technical and humanistic approach.
• Promote an ethical vision of respect for human life and for people.

social dimension

• To train graduates committed to society, capable of responding to the problems of chronic, progressive, and life-threatening diseases.
• To develop professionals with critical judgment and scientific rigor focused on improving the quality of life of patients and families.

Specific dimension

• To assess and respond to the biopsychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient and their family.
• Develop clinical tools for symptom control, communication, and support throughout the disease process.
• Promote interdisciplinary teamwork.
• To provide skills to lead and manage palliative care teams.
• Applying bioethical principles in complex decision-making.
• Understanding and designing hospice-type care models.
• Develop skills in research and implementation of quality indicators in CP.

The race is entirely distance learning, allowing access to professionals from all over the country and Latin America.

Synchronous meetings

• Two monthly (consecutive) virtual meetings of 12 synchronous hours, distributed between Friday (9 a.m. to 17 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m. to 13 p.m.).

Asynchronous activities

• 6 hours per week of independent work: reading bibliography, recorded classes, forums, practical work and submission of activities through the virtual campus.

Mandatory practical rotation

• 60 in-person hours (two weeks) in the Palliative Care service of the HUA: inpatient unit (ICU), hospital consultation, and a visit to a hospice. This takes place between the 2nd and 4th semesters of the course.

Case management tutoring

• Each student has an assigned tutor for personalized support throughout the course, with synchronous meetings every two months.

Technology: The University has its own virtual campus and Zoom platform for synchronous sessions.

The Master's program has a semi-structured two-year plan, with a structured track of required courses and an unstructured track of elective courses.

Other requirements

• Case management tutoring: 10 hours.
• Activities and tutoring for the development of the Final Integrative Project: 160 hours.

Final Project: This could be an innovative application project, a proposal for institutional improvement, a care protocol, or the design of a research protocol in Palliative Care.

The course begins in April of each year. Synchronous meetings are held one Friday a month (9 a.m. to 17 p.m.) and the following Saturday (9 a.m. to 13 p.m.), via Zoom.

Registration opens in September/October of the year prior to the start of the course. The program operates in closed cohorts of up to 30 students.

The in-person practical rotation can be completed between the 2nd and 4th semesters, including holiday breaks, depending on service availability. The teaching staff provides a schedule of available times so that students can reserve their spot in advance.

Master's Degree 

Level: Postgraduate

Type: Institutional Professional Master's Degree

Academic unit: Faculty of Biomedical Sciences — Universidad Austral

If you are currently a student or have been a student of the program (regular or not), you can perform the following procedures at the following link:

• Academic consultations
• Paperwork
• Reintegrations
• Retaking subjects
• Loss of regularity
• Virtual campus
• Other inquiries

Dear Postgraduate Participant, we would like to inform you of the latest updates regarding the tuition policies for our undergraduate and postgraduate programs:

Due to the complex economic situation in Argentina, the tuition fees for our programs and degrees are adjusted periodically. This is to preserve the academic quality that underpins our value proposition and to meet the University's commitments and obligations. These increases will be based on indicators reported by the Central Bank of Argentina.

Once again, we appreciate the trust you have placed in our University and renew our commitment to providing you with the highest level of training and professional development.

• Payment Policies: The participant must pay or confirm their payment method and/or fee at least 72 hours prior to the start of the activity through the means mentioned in the FEES section.
  • Duty: Accepted payment methods: VISA, Mastercard and American Express debit and credit cards, Decidir and Mercado Pago.
  • Due to current regulations, the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences cannot receive cash. For this reason, only electronic payment methods will be accepted during activity accreditation.
• Cancellation policy prior to the start of the course: Cancellations must be made at least 96 hours in advance through a formal channel by sending an email to posgradofcb@austral.edu.ar placing in the subject WITHDRAWAL REQUEST – “Name of Course/Activity” (In the body of the message, you must include your personal information: name and surname, ID number).
• Cancellation policy during the course (not applicable to short courses): The participant must send an email to posgradofcb@austral.edu.ar with the subject line "Withdrawal Request" – "Course/Activity Name" (include your personal information in the body of the message: first and last name, ID). The withdrawal must be sent between the 1st and 10th of the current month. The corresponding fee will be billed and debited starting on the 11th.
• Refund Policy: If you do not participate in the program and/or activity, and do not process the corresponding withdrawal request in a timely manner, no refund requests will be accepted.
• Tuition refund policy: The registration fee serves as a deposit to reserve a place and is non-refundable once paid. If you request to withdraw, your enrollment status for that activity during the current academic period will be considered.
• Partial refund policy: In the event that the student/participant has made the full payment for the course in advance or has made advance payments through open plans:

1. If the activity has not started: You will be able to recover 100% of the advance payments at the current value at the time of payment, less 5% for administrative expenses.
2. If the activity started and progressed to 30% of the total course time: 50% of the advance payments will be refunded at the current value at the time of payment, less 5% for administrative expenses.
3. If the activity progressed more than 30% of the total course time: Advance payments will not be refunded.

• Replacement policy: If the registered person is unable to participate in the program and with prior notice of at least 96 hours before the date of the event, they may transfer their participation to a third party.
• Activities that grant a certificate of participation: The minimum required attendance of 70% of the academic program, its activities, and administrative debt must be met to request the corresponding certification.
• The discounts/promotions offered cannot be combined.
• The opening of the program or course is subject to the number of students enrolled at the time of its start.
• Procurement policies do not apply to non-tariff activities.

FREQUENT QUESTIONS:

How can I tell if my degree program has been accredited by CONEAU? For programs with ministerial accreditation, the resolution or file number and the corresponding accreditation year will be displayed at the top of the page. Programs without accreditation issue a certificate to participants, not a degree.