Professionals from the US, Canada, Mexico and Australia - physicians, pediatricians, hospice nurse, educators, psychologist, funeral home director, sociologist, school teacher, veterinarian, chaplains, gerontologist, hospice volunteers, bereavement counselors, rural palliative care co-ordinator, elder care managers, - joined this year’s Contemplative End-of-Life Care Certificate Program at the Naropa University, USA.

This program is a comprehensive professional training that brings together the compassionate and mindful approach of the Buddhist wisdom tradition as presented in Sogyal Rinpoche’s The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying with the knowledge and best practices of hospice and palliative care.

The course combines 15-weeks of on-line learning with an 8-day residential retreat in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

On-line learning | January 10 - May 1, 2011

Residential retreat | February 4-13, 2011 at Sunrise Ranch

CEUs available for nurses, social workers, counselors and psychotherapists.

Visit the program's website.

Death is the most crucial moment of our lives, and each and every one of us should be able to die in peace and fulfillment, knowing that we will be surrounded by the best in spiritual care.
 - Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

The program encourages personal transformation and growth by offering you the unique opportunity to explore your own understanding about death, and its spiritual dimension, helping you to:

• Develop knowledge and skills in end-of-life care to respond to patient and family needs.
• Encourage personal and spiritual growth, and more effective methods of communication.
• Learn meditation and contemplative practices that awaken deeper compassion and wisdom, and support you personally and professionally.

Professionals from different spiritual traditions working in the fields of medicine, human and social services, and students and trained volunteers who are currently engaged in a clinical setting are encouraged to apply.

This course has shifted my deep internal under- standing of what it means to be courageously and authentically present with people in crisis, whether it be in the ICU, ER, or in moments at the end of life.
 - Joannie Webster, MD, Contemplative End-of-Life Care Program Graduate

Visit the program's website.