Communication Skills Training for Oncology Clinicians

Join us for a unique learning experience hosted by Memorial Sloan Kettering's Comskil Training Program and Research Laboratory, the nation's pioneering communication initiative at a comprehensive cancer center. This two-day interactive training course provides a skills-based, practical approach to enhancing effective communication in clinical interactions. It emphasizes evidence-based communication skills and strategies to support clinicians in common challenging communication scenarios, particularly in the oncology setting.

This program features a blend of brief didactic lectures and small group experiential role plays to give learners the opportunity to try out the recommended skills. Lectures include exemplary videos that demonstrate the communication skills and strategies taught in the lecture and present an overview of a "blueprint" or roadmap for navigating challenging communication scenarios. During the small group role plays, you'll interact with standardized patients in a supportive environment under the guidance of trained facilitators. Role plays will be tailored to your specific clinical population and personal learning goals. In addition, you will receive valuable verbal feedback from both peers and facilitators to refine your approach and enhance your communication proficiency.

1. Outline the significance of communication skills training and the rationale for the use of role play in training
2. Recognize empathic opportunities in clinical encounters and describe the principles of an empathic response
3. Practice and implement foundational communication skills and process tasks that are necessary and relevant for discussions with patients and families, on the following topics: 1. Discussing prognosis, 2. Discussing Death, Dying, and End of Life Goals of Care and 3. Engaging patients and family members in shared decision making for treatment options
4. Communicate with non-English speaking patients via interpreters

To apply for this program, please click on the 'Register' tab above to complete and submit an application form. You will be notified of your application status approximately two weeks after submission. If your application is approved, you will receive an email with an acceptance letter, followed by a link to pay the registration fee (details below). Please note: those who are accepted to the program prior to October 15, 2024, will receive $150 off the registration fee.

Registration Fees (for accepted applicants):

• Physicians (MDs, PhDs and DOs): $750
• Advanced Practice Providers, Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals: $550
• Residents and Fellows: $450
• Industry Professionals*: $1,100

Discounted registration is available for specific groups. Please refer to our Policy on Registration Discounts for further information and eligibility details.

*An “industry professional” is defined as any individual, regardless of their profession type (such as MDs, PhDs, APPs, RNs, etc.) that is employed by an ineligible company. View our Registration Policy for Industry Professionals for more information.

For details on our cancellation terms, please review our Cancellation Policy.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Continuing Education for Licensed Psychologists in New York State*

This event offers 14.50 NYS Psychology Contact Hours.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is recognized by the New York State Education Department State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0166

Social Work Accreditation Statement*

This presentation is approved for a maximum of 14.5 Continuing Education Contact Hours of Live Virtual Training. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0228.

ANCC CNE Statement

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center–Nursing Professional Development / Continuing Education is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

14.5 contact hours will be awarded to participants who attend the program in its entirety and complete a program evaluation. Partial credit not awarded.

*Please check with the licensing board in your state for guidance on their acceptance of the credit types offered for this course as designated in the accreditation statements above prior to registering.

MSK Program Director 

Patricia A. Parker, PhD
Member and Attending Psychologist
Director, Communication Skills Training and Research Program (Comskil)
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

MSK Program Planners

Smita C. Banerjee, PhD
Associate Member and Associate Attending Behavioral Scientist

Ivelisse Belardo, LSW
Manager, Communication Skills Training and Research Program (Comskil)

William S. Breitbart, MD
Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Jimmie C. Holland Chair

Billy Rosa, PhD, MBE, APRN, FAANP, FPCN, FAAN
Assistant Attending Behavioral Scientist

Richard Weiner, ANP-BC
Critical Care Nurse Practitioner 

MSK Program Faculty 

Katie Benn, RN
Clinical Nurse

Alan Carver, MD
Attending Neurologist

Martin Chin, MD
Attending Psychiatrist

Nessa Coyle, PhD
Nurse Practitioner

Donna D'Alessio, MD
Attending Radiologist

Javier González, MFA
Program Manager, Language Initiatives

Monique James, MD
Assistant Attending Psychiatrist

Amanda Kastrinos, PhD
Research Scholar

Julia Kearney, MD
Associate Attending Pediatrics/Psychiatrist

Mark Kurzrok, MD
Assistant Attending Psychiatrist

Alice Luo, MD
Assistant Attending Psychiatrist

Meghan McDarby, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Shila Pandey, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN
Nurse Practitioner

Jae Lee Ross, PsyD
Psychologist

Talia Zaider, PsyD
Family Psychology

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. In accordance with the ACCME's Standards, identification, mitigation and/or disclosure of financial relationships is not needed for non-clinical accredited education. 

The content of this activity is not clinical.