Educational program in palliative and hospice care at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Background: The objective of this enterprise was and is to develop a validatable educational program on palliative and hospice care with a multidisciplinary perspective for the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Methods: An interdisciplinary education committee consisting of experts in palliative and hospice care and an expert in educational design and evaluation was established to develop the program. Program development, which is ongoing, includes a comprehensive instructional design phase, vertical integration of the program into the medical school curriculum, and outcome evaluation.