Palliative

Hospice and Palliative Medicine Track

Palliative medicine is an additional layer of support for patients with a serious illness and can assist with symptom management and ensuring the patient’s goals remain at the center of each decision.

While Family Medicine (FM) focuses on continuity of care and building relationships for patients in all settings, palliative medicine is currently underutilized, particularly when needed to make life-changing medical decisions.

The role of this specialty is to explore the patient’s desires and ensure that the current treatment plan is the best way to help them achieve their goals. The preexisting relationship between a primary care physician and their patient fosters a level of trust that enables the family physician to guide discussions about their care effectively.

Residents participating in the track are not required to apply for Fellowship, but can use this time to prepare if interested. The skills acquired on this track will benefit all patients by ensuring that medical care aligns with their goals, regardless of the setting.

Track opportunities

Electives focus on experiencing all aspects of the specialty – inpatient, outpatient, and hospice - and on shadowing hospice- and palliative-trained RNs/SWs/chaplains.
Flexibility: can easily individualize the track to focus on areas of interest within the specialty
Additional opportunities for more hospice, inpatient, and outpatient palliative experiences outside of electives and a required 2-week rotation during intern year.
Clinical mentoring by family physicians who are board-certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Geriatric Medicine.
Academic Faculty Development: assist in palliative presentations to residents.
Dedicated time monthly to work on items related to the track: didactics, clinical, presentations, scholarly activities.
Supplemental funding for track-related activities (e.g., CME, AAHPM conference, professional membership dues) at the discretion of the Track Director and program leadership.