The landscape of healthcare increasingly recognizes the vital role of effective communication in pain and palliative care. For medical professionals dedicated to mastering these essential skills while becoming leaders in the field, the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) stands as a premier program. This comprehensive fellowship is designed for doctors seeking to specialize and excel in palliative medicine, particularly emphasizing the critical area of Who Pain And Palliative Care Communications Program development and implementation within patient care.
Mission: Shaping Future Leaders in Palliative Medicine
The core mission of the MSKCC Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship is to cultivate a cadre of highly qualified, compassionate, collaborative, committed, and scientifically inquisitive physicians. The program aims to transform these doctors into specialists and academic pioneers within the dynamic and crucial field of palliative care.
A Legacy of Excellence: MSKCC’s Pioneering History in Palliative Care
MSKCC’s dedication to comprehensive cancer care extends deeply into palliative medicine, with a history of leadership spanning decades. Recognized globally as a leading cancer center, MSKCC has been at the forefront of palliative care practice and education since the 1980s. Visionaries like Dr. Kathleen Foley, a neurologist at MSKCC, and nurse practitioner Nessa Coyle, were pivotal figures in establishing and shaping the field of palliative care. They were instrumental in training the initial generations of pain specialists and palliative care professionals, including nurses, physicians, social workers, and chaplains.
Building upon this rich heritage, MSKCC’s Supportive Care Service boasts over forty years of expertise and leadership. Their contributions are significant in complex pain management, psychosocial palliative care, and, importantly, innovative communication skills training programs. Today, a rapidly expanding interprofessional team of over 70 members integrates training, clinical service, and research across both inpatient and outpatient settings at MSKCC. This robust foundation guarantees an exceptional and deeply enriching training experience for each fellow in the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship.
Comprehensive Training: Mastering All Facets of Palliative Care
The fellowship program at MSKCC is meticulously structured to provide fellows with the comprehensive knowledge and practical skills necessary to become expert palliative care providers. The curriculum is designed to equip them to effectively treat a diverse patient population and their families across various healthcare environments.
Clinical Rotations: Real-World Experience in Diverse Settings
The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Inpatient Consult Service rotation. Here, fellows become integral members of an interdisciplinary team comprising physicians, advanced practice providers, social workers, chaplains, and a specialized palliative care pharmacist. This collaborative model exposes fellows to an unparalleled level of acuity and complexity in palliative care scenarios, encompassing both intricate symptom management and sensitive communication challenges.
To ensure a well-rounded perspective, the program includes rotations in various essential areas. Fellows gain experience in the ambulatory practice, incorporating telemedicine, pediatric palliative care, and hospice care through partnerships with leading organizations like the Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Calvary Hospital. Furthermore, a four-week rotation at the Palliative Care Service at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center broadens their experience to include caring for patients with a wide spectrum of illnesses beyond cancer.
Curriculum: Dedicated Academic Time for Professional Growth
The fellowship curriculum is delivered through engaging weekly Academic Mornings. This protected time is specifically allocated for fellows’ professional development, free from clinical duties and interruptions. Lunch is provided during these sessions, fostering a collaborative learning environment. A highlight of the Academic Morning curriculum is the Supportive Care Grand Rounds, offering fellows invaluable exposure to intricate clinical cases and a variety of expert perspectives within palliative care.
Interactive and Didactic Sessions: Honing Essential Skills
The program incorporates a range of interactive and didactic sessions focused on key areas:
- Symptom Management and Pharmacology: Fellows gain in-depth knowledge of evidence-based strategies for effectively managing a wide array of symptoms commonly encountered in palliative care practice.
- Communication Skills: A core component addressing who pain and palliative care communications program principles, fellows actively participate in the renowned ComSkil program. This intensive program hones their abilities to communicate effectively and empathetically with patients, families, and interdisciplinary colleagues in delicate and demanding situations.
- Care Coordination and Medical Ethics: These sessions delve into best practices for seamless care coordination across diverse healthcare settings. Fellows also explore and navigate the complex ethical dilemmas frequently encountered in palliative care.
- Psychosocial Support: Fellows develop a profound understanding of the psychosocial dimensions of palliative care. They learn to provide comprehensive support to patients and their families facing serious illnesses, addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Additional Learning Opportunities: Expanding Expertise and Well-being
Beyond the core curriculum, fellows benefit from diverse additional learning opportunities:
- Interactive Case-Based Learning Series: Fellows actively engage in detailed case discussions, further refining their clinical reasoning and decision-making capabilities in complex palliative care scenarios.
- Resiliency and Well-Being: Recognizing the demanding nature of palliative care, fellows participate in group supervision with a dedicated social worker. Workshops are also provided, focused on building practical tools and effective strategies to manage stress, cultivate self-compassion, and promote overall well-being throughout their rigorous training.
- Narrative Medicine Series: This unique series explores the powerful role of narrative medicine in deeply understanding the patient experience. It fosters enhanced empathy and strengthens the physician-patient connection in clinical practice.
- Existential Rounds: This weekly forum provides a supportive space for fellows to share professional challenges, celebrate successes, and build camaraderie through open discussions and reflective themed poems.
This comprehensive and multifaceted curriculum ensures that fellows develop into exceptional and deeply compassionate palliative care providers, skilled in all aspects of patient care, including crucial communication strategies highlighted in who pain and palliative care communications program initiatives.
Scholarly Opportunities: Contributing to the Field
Fellows are required to engage in a diverse portfolio of scholarly activities. These include submitting abstracts to the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), presenting case studies, participating in journal clubs, engaging in ethics forum discussions, developing a supportive care panel, and culminating in a comprehensive Supportive Care Grand Rounds presentation.
For those seeking deeper scholarly engagement, additional opportunities are available. Fellows can collaborate on quality improvement projects, participate in ongoing research initiatives, gain valuable teaching experience, or apply for the prestigious Frances Young Tang Research Fellowship to further develop their research skills.
Application Information: Join a Leading Program
The application cycle for the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship commences one year prior to the anticipated fellowship start date. Applications are accepted starting in July through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Interviews are conducted through October.
Program Timeline and Eligibility
The fellowship is a one-year program. There is an option to apply for a second year as the Frances Young Tang Research Fellow for those with a strong research interest.
Eligibility requires prior completion of an ACGME-accredited residency program in various specialties including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, psychiatry, radiation oncology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, or neurology.
Number of Positions Available
Each year, the program accepts six fellows, ensuring a personalized and high-quality training experience.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
The Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship application process is managed through the July cycle of the ERAS application system, and the National Resident Matching Program is utilized to fill all positions. Interviews are conducted from late August through October. All applications undergo thorough review and ranking by November, in preparation for the December match. Required application materials include three letters of recommendation (one from the residency or current program director), a personal statement, and test scores (USMLE or ECFMG).
Frances Young Tang Research Fellowship: Advancing Palliative Care Research
For physicians who have completed their hospice and palliative medicine fellowship and are passionate about research, the Frances Young Tang Research Fellowship offers a unique mentored research experience. This one-year program is specifically designed to equip fellows with the skills and experience to become academic researchers in palliative care, contributing to the evidence base that informs who pain and palliative care communications program development and other critical areas. Ideal candidates possess a strong research interest and a commitment to advancing knowledge in palliative medicine.
The program provides dedicated time for fellows to:
- Conduct in-depth research under the guidance of experienced mentors.
- Develop expertise in designing and executing palliative care research studies.
- Acquire the necessary skills to effectively publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
- Strengthen their research foundation by enrolling in a research methodology course offered by Weill Cornell Medical College.
Application Process for the Research Fellowship
The Frances Young Tang Research Fellowship has a separate application process from the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Training Program. Application materials, due by January 2, include:
- A statement of purpose outlining research interests and career goals.
- A writing sample of prior research work (publication or abstract).
- A letter of recommendation from a mentor familiar with the applicant’s research interest and experience.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Interested applicants are encouraged to inquire about the research fellowship and application process by contacting [email protected].
Acknowledgement: The Barbara Ziegler Palliative Care Educational Program and the Tang Family Foundation are acknowledged for their generous support of the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship and the Frances Young Tang Research Fellowship, respectively, furthering the advancement of pain and palliative care education and research.
Previous Fellows exemplify the program’s success in training future leaders.
Ameish Govindarajan, MD – Previous Fellow
Michael Lau, MD – Previous Fellow
Tristan Lee, MD – Previous Fellow
Carley Mitchell, MD – Previous Fellow
Amna Rana, MD – Previous Fellow
Lauren Ward, MD – Previous Fellow
Ameish Govindarajan, MD
UCLA Kern Medical Internal Medicine Residency
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Future Plans: Dr. Govindarajan received the Frances Young Tang Research Fellowship in Palliative Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and plans to pursue a Hematology Oncology fellowship.
Michael Lau, MD
Medical School Name: University of Central Florida, College of Medicine
Residency Program Name: Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, Residency, Pediatrics
Other Fellowships: FTHS Fellowship, GME, Pediatrics – Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Future Plans: Michael Lau will be joining Kaiser Permanente Southern California (Fontana) in September 2024.
Tristan Lee, MD
Medical School Name: Duke University School of Medicine
Residency Program Name: New York Presbyterian Hospital, Resident in Internal Medicine
Carley Mitchell, MD
Carley Mitchell completed medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine in 2020 and internal medicine residency at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals. After her HPM fellowship, she will pursue a hematology/oncology fellowship at University Hospitals – Seidman Cancer Center.
Amna Rana, MD
Medical School Name: Eastern Virginia Medical School – Norfolk, VA
Residency Program Name: Medstar Georgetown University Hospital; Internal Medicine Residency
Amna Rana has accepted a faculty position at Columbia as a full-time palliative care physician, starting in February 2025.
Lauren Ward, MD
Medical School Name: University of Minnesota Medical School
Residency Program Name: UT Southwestern Medical Center; Internal Medicine Residency
Lauren Ward has accepted a Critical Care Medicine Fellowship with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
