About Palliative Social Work

Palliative Social Work has been around for about 25 years. Medical Social Work has been around for over 100 years.

It is important to have a place where the history and  materials that came from the architects of this specialty would be available to other PSW and the public. PalliativeSocialWork.org is meant to be a repository for the history, accomplishments, challenges of this field. 

Learn more about us!

How are Palliative Social Workers Trained?

Education
Clinical training
Clinical Practice

Areas of expertise

Domains of Practice

CAPC Definitions

General and Advanced Competencies

Advanced Practice PC Competencies

Certifications: APHSW-C

Our Role in Teaching Palliative Care:

Fellowships
Schools of Medicine
Graduate Schools
Post Graduate Training

Some titles held by Palliative Social Workers at Schools of Medicine and Nursing:
  • Faculty member
  • Assistant Professor
  • Clinical Instructor
  • Professor
  • Instructor
  • Lecturer
  • Clinical Supervisor
  • Researcher
Sample of educational degrees held by Palliative Social Workers
  • MSW
  • DSW
  • PHD
  • MPH
  • MBA
  • BSW
  • JD
  • MD
  • NP
"Social Workers don't look away"

Diane Meier, 2022. Oxford Textbook of Palliative Social Work

About Us

Terry Altilio
Vickie Leff

While working on some projects that looked at the history of Palliative Social Work, we decided to develop a space for the important history of the profession, along with creating a repository of information, resources related to the field.

Terry Altilio is a founding architect of the field of Palliative Social Work, was a part of the original Project Death in American and national leader of the profession.