Welcome to the Massachusetts Medical Schools Collaborative Scholar Program

Thank you for joining the Massachusetts Medical Schools Collaborative Scholar cohort.

The Massachusetts Medical Schools Collaborative brings together faculty from Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Tufts University School of Medicine, and UMass Chan Medical School to strengthen serious illness communication education across the Commonwealth.

In partnership with VitalTalk, this Faculty Development Program is designed to help clinician-educators enhance their own communication skills while developing practical strategies for coaching medical students during real-world clinical encounters. Together, we are building a community of educators committed to preparing the next generation of physicians to navigate serious illness conversations with skill, compassion, and confidence.

Program Components

Virtual Courses

Complete VitalTalk’s online Navigating Serious Conversations course series.

Estimated time: 1.5–3 hours

In-Person Training

Participate in a full-day, interactive faculty development workshop facilitated by VitalTalk.

Date: September 25, 2026

Time: 8am to 5pm

Location: Boston, MA (Prudential Center)

Ongoing Scholar Community

Following the training, scholars will participate in cohort activities focused on applying skills, sharing experiences, and advancing serious illness communication education across our institutions.

Estimated commitment: 2–5 hours per quarter

We are excited to learn with you and grateful for your commitment to developing the next generation of physician communicators.