End-of-Life Training in U.S. Medical Schools: A Systematic Literature Review

Physicians are educated and trained to cure illness and save lives. The traditional educational model in U.S. medical schools allows for generalist training as well as specialization in specific areas of practice such as pediatrics, geriatrics, or oncology. As the population continues to age, and chronic illnesses challenge cancer diagnoses as the predominant precursor to palliative care, medical students must be educated and trained in the specialties of palliative medicine and end-of-life care. The purpose of this study was to review systematically the empirical evidence related to the ways in which end-of-life care is included in U.S. medical school training.