Course Overview
The Certified TCVM Palliative and End-of-Life Practitioner (CTPEP) Course introduces palliative and end-of-life care as a recognized field of veterinary medicine. The integration of palliative and end-of-life care with TCVM will give the veterinary professional more options to treat the clinical signs of disease and preserve a longer and better quality of life in pets struggling with aging, chronic and life limiting illnesses.
Course Goals
Upon completion of the class, students will be able to:
- Adopt the philosophy of palliative and end-of-life care and ensure no part of caring for pets with chronic or life-limiting illness is overlooked
- Define and describe how to assess emotional and spiritual Qi of animals
- Evaluate the benefits and criteria of TCVM including acupuncture, herbal medicine and Tui-na
- Utilize and the nursing care methods and life-saving techniques to relieve suffering and distress in palliative care patients and provide relief for dying patients
- Learn to spiritually and mentally improve the comfort of doctors, their patients and caregivers
Course Features
Five months online access for a "go at your own pace" experience
Experience a TCVM and integrative care approach to multiple common end of life conditions
Learn with real life case studies and improve the quality of life for your palliative patients
Lifetime free case consultation with TCVM experts
Learn how to support yourself as a veterinarian and caretakers involved with hospice and palliative care
TCVM Palliative and End-of-Life Practitioner Certification Course
Taught in English
For veterinarians & veterinary students only
47 RACE-approved CE hours
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
Students wishing to enroll in the TCVM Palliative and End-of-Life course must have basic knowledge of TCVM and must fulfill one of the following two requirements:
- Completion of at least one session of veterinary acupuncture at Chi or another accredited institution
- Completion of the TCVM Fundamental Theories lecture series online module
Curriculum
TCVM Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Introduction to Palliative and End-of-Life Care
1h
Personalized Care Planning based on Bian-Zheng and Constitutions
1h
TCVM End-of-life and Palliative Care Case Study Example
1h
Assessment of the Efficacy of TCVM Therapy
1h
Physical Medicine Specifically for Palliative and End-of-life Care
2h
TCVM View on Life and Death
1h
Case Studies
2h
TCVM and Integrative Care to Manage Cognitive Dysfunction/Dementia
1h
Preserving Jing: Support of the Veterinarians and Caretakers involved with End-of-life Care
1h
Introduction to Tai-ji as a Self-help Tool for Practitioners
2h
How Spiritual Views Affect Treatment Choices at End-of-Life
6h
Critical Care Techniques that Compliment TCVM
1h
TCVM and Integrative Care to Manage Respiratory Distress
1h
TCVM and Integrative Care to Manage Urinary Tract Changes
1h
TCVM and Integrative Care to Manage Wei Syndrome
1h
Nursing Care Tips for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Patients
1h
TCVM and Integrative Care to Manage Bleeding
1h
TCVM and Integrative Care for Digestive Changes
1h
TCVM and Integrative Care to Manage Pain
1h
Guidelines to Manage Cancer
1h
Euthanasia. Review of Adverse Events and Euthanasia Protocols
1h
What is Suffering
2h
Liz's Top Ten Palliative Care Tips
1h
Certification
CTPEP Certification
Become a Certified TCVM Palliative and End-of-Life Practitioner (CTPEP) by completing the following requirements:
Be a licensed veterinarian
Pass the course along with one online, open-book exam with a score above 75%
Submission of one case report to be approved by Chi faculty
Instructors
Tamara Shearer
DVM, MSTCVM, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, CHPV, CTPEP
Dr. Tamara Shearer graduated from the Ohio State University with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree in 1986. She is certified in veterinary acupuncture, Chinese veterinary herbal medicine, veterinary tui-na, and veterinary food therapy through Chi. Dr. Shearer is internationally renowned for her work in animal hospice and palliative care. She is one of the leading veterinarians in the world who helped develop and specializes in hospice, palliative care and pain management.
Huisheng Xie
DVM, PhD
Dr. Xie has 41 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience in veterinary acupuncture and TCVM. He has trained over 10,000 veterinarians to practice TCVM worldwide. Dr. Xie’s education includes advanced training in veterinary medicine, veterinary acupuncture, and human acupuncture. Dr. Xie has authored 20 books and over 100 peer-reviewed papers. His textbooks, including Xie’s Veterinary Herbology, Xie’s Veterinary Acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine-Fundamental Principles, have been used for TCVM training programs around the world. Dr. Xie continues to teach and develop educational courses and programs at Chi University, serves as a full clinical professor at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and is an honorary professor at China Agricultural University, South China Agricultural University, and China Southwest University.
Read moreBeth Marchitelli
DVM, CVA
Dr. Marchitelli received her degree from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. Shortly after graduating from veterinary school, she practiced small animal medicine in Huntington, New York for ten years. She currently practices small animal medicine with a focus in veterinary hospice and palliative care in Asheville, North Carolina as and has done so for the last six years. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Palliative Care in human medicine to advance her knowledge and training in the areas of veterinary hospice, palliative care and euthanasia. She is especially interested in providing high quality compassionate care for pets during the end of their lives as well as the families who care for them.
Karlene Stange
DVM, CVFT
Dr. Karlene Stange graduated from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado in 1981 and continued into veterinary school at Colorado State University, graduating in 1985 as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. In 1996, she attended the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society certification course, and from there, she continued the study of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine with Dr. Huisheng Xie. She traveled to China in 2000 with him for advanced study, and completed the Chi-Institute modules on Chinese herbal medicine, Tui-na, and Food Therapy. She also wrote a text book chapter for Dr. Xie’s book, Practical Guide to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine: Emergencies and Five Element Syndromes, (2014).
Jade Tenberg
DVM
Dr. Jade Tenberg completed her DVM at Louisiana State University and spent the first five years of her career in Las Vegas as a general practice veterinarian. She pursued additional training in veterinary acupuncture at the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and went on to be an international guest speaker on palliative and end-of-life care. In 2016, Dr. Tenberg relocated to the Tampa Bay area and started working as a house call hospice veterinarian. Within the first two years, she helped over 1500 families navigate the end-of-life journeys of their animals and has also helped train dozens of veterinarians for a nationwide veterinary hospice practice. In her free time, Dr. Tenberg trains partner acrobatics and hand balancing in St. Petersburg.
Elizabeth Fernandez
DVM, CVAM CVTP, CVCH, CVFT, CTCVHP, CTPEP
Dr. Liz Fernandez has been practicing Small Animal and Emergency Veterinary Medicine since 1982. She is a graduate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. In 2000, she experienced the power of Chinese Medicine first-hand. Emerging from a serious injury totally healed, she vowed to share this profound ancient wisdom with her clients and patients. She has completed over 600 hours of instruction in Chinese Veterinary Medicine through the Chi Institute. She believes that, as animal companion guardians, we are the primary healthcare providers. Her commitment is to share the Ancient Wisdom of Chinese Medicine to enable each of us to be as effective as possible in this role. She has given workshops locally over the past several years and has also had the opportunity to share these concepts internationally including China. She understands that every being is a sacred expression of love. This love is the essence of all healing. She is passionate about sharing how the power of Chinese Medicine can help us open our hearts to this truth and heal our pets, ourselves, and our planet.
Enrollment Options
Semester
2024
Schedule & Tuition
TCVM Fundamental Theories
Online
Open enrollment in 2024
$100.00
TCVM Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Online
Open enrollment in 2024
$1,725.00
Payment Information
A $100.00 non-refundable course deposit is charged upon enrollment to reserve your seat.
Payment is due 30 days before the start date of each session, course, or event.
Add-ons
CTPEP Certification
$150.00
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will I get access to this online course?
You will get 5 months of access to this online course. The course can be accessed through our learning portal.