Palliative Care Fellows

Why Hospice & Palliative Medicine?
My very first clinical rotation in medical school was in palliative care. Whenever I mentioned this to others, the typical response was, “Well, that’s backwards,” reflecting the common perception that medicine is primarily about saving lives. But starting with palliative care taught me that good medicine isn’t just about prolonging life—it’s about aligning care with what matters most to each individual.

Throughout my time in Emergency Medicine residency, I have still found conversations about what a patient’s ultimate goals are in their care and figuring out how I can be there to support that, while being a means of comfort in the process to be the most rewarding part of my job.

Why Rochester?
I chose Rochester as the destination for my fellowship because of all of how much I have fallen in love with it during my residency. I love what this small city has to offer and I am so thankful for the relationships I have developed here.

Professional interests?
I am really passionate about integrating more palliative care practices in emergency medicine from education of residents through having palliative care expertise available in the emergency department for difficult goals of care conversations, complex symptom management, getting home on hospice or death disclosures.

Where do you see yourself practicing?
Looking ahead, I hope to split my time between emergency medicine and palliative care. I hope having the hands-on, real-life experience in both fields will allow me the opportunity to practice in a way that may encourage others to shift their practice and shift culture between the two specialties. As for exact location, that is TBD.

What do you hope to learn or accomplish during fellowship?
I hope to learn a ton including the following: advanced symptom management for common presentations, a more sophisticated way to dose opioids, how one can more effectively facilitate initiation of hospice, I hope to develop more expertise in navigating challenging conversations, I hope to further develop my own resiliency/ ability to process our very broken health system and my limitations within it, I want to further develop my knowledge of spirituality and faith and its intersection in healthcare.

Other Interests?
I love being outside—hiking, camping, kayaking. I have a dog and 2 cats that bring me a ton of joy. I love doing things with my hands- building things, crafting, gardening, cooking. Also a big fan of food and wine.

Why Hospice & Palliative Medicine?
My experiences with the Peds Palliative team. During my Peds residency, I found myself building relationships with patients with terminal diagnoses and chronic medical concerns. Due to this, I had a lot of exposure to the Peds Palliative team. I eventually decided to add on some elective time with this team. I absolutely loved my time with the team and decided that this fellowship made the most sense for me.

Why Rochester?
Fell in love with Rochester once we moved here for residency. WNY definitely fits us well and we would love to stay here long term.

Professional interests?
Peds Palliative is definitely what I am most passionate about. However, I am looking forward to learning more of the medical management side of things during my time on the adult services.

Where do you see yourself practicing?
I hope to stay here at URMC with the Peds Palliative team (and perhaps Adult as well).

What do you hope to learn or accomplish during fellowship?
Learning medical management of the various symptoms that our team is consulted to help with. Gaining the confidence and skills to lead goals of care meetings. Continuing to develop myself as a reliable source of support for our patients and their families.

Other Interests?
We have 8 pets and love spending our time with them! We love our outdoor time with hiking and have been getting into kayaking as well lately. A new hobby of ours is rock climbing (indoors) which has been a ton of fun! I also love my video games when time allows (helps connect with the peds patients as well).

Why Hospice & Palliative Medicine?

• Aspect of my job in emergency medicine where I performed well and enjoyed time meeting and talking with patients and their families – taking time to listen.
• Brother in law passed under the care of hospice at Strong July 2023.
• An area of medicine that can be instrumental to families for decision-making and healing and needs more providers.

Why Rochester?
My family lives in the area. I was fortunate to match in a program that allows me to complete my training near them.

Professional interests?

• Hospice, hospital work preferred over clinic (I think)
• Ethic consult service
• Crucial conversations
• Procedures

Where do you see yourself practicing?
Finger Lakes Region

What do you hope to learn or accomplish during fellowship?

• Spend time with hospice directors – hospital affiliated, private, comfort home, home hospice
• Procedures – thoracentesis, paracentesis, simple block – credentialing
• Ethics consults and education
• Better understanding of drug selection for symptom management

Outside interests?

• Running
• Anything with my dogs – fetch, walking
• My husband and I maintain a sizable property – mowing, gardening, chickens
• Honor Flight Rochester
• Entertaining: Frequent family and friend gatherings – pool, euchre
• NY Yankees

Why Hospice & Palliative Medicine?
I found that throughout residency, having goals of care conversations with my patients and their families was what "filled my cup" the most and reminded me why I wanted to become a doctor. Now after completing neurology training, I see that so much of what we do is palliative yet we often struggle to have the right words and confidence to talk about what we do and don't know related to prognosis, complications, and end of life. I want to be a resource and partner for my patients in all stages of disease.

Why Rochester?
I chose Rochester for the unique opportunity of training in a neuropalliative care division which fortunately is also at a place where there is excellent movement disorders and general palliative care training and expertise as well.

Professional interests?
I'm most passionate about goals of care conversations and helping patients and loved ones make informed, yet sometimes difficult, decisions. I hope to feel more knowledgeable and confident in having goals of care discussions, particularly around neurodegenerative diseases, supporting care partners of patients with cognitive and behavioral changes, and managing pain and mood symptoms. I don't have any experience with it yet, but I'm also really looking forward to seeing what hospice care is like in facilities and at home.

I feel strongly that it's imperative to have culturally sensitive conversations about life, meaning, and spirituality with patients and families. I want to learn more about approaching these conversations with patients/families of different cultures, faiths, and languages. I'd like to work with the interpreters to learn how they experience GOC conversations and improve our communication with interpreters. Lastly, I'd like to learn more about the business of palliative care, particularly with the goal of one day building a neuropalliative program.

Where do you see yourself practicing?
Likely at an academic medical center in the northeast, location TBD!

What do you hope to learn or accomplish during fellowship?
I love being outside, the beach, learning new hobbies, trivia, tennis, curling, embroidery, and exploring new bars and restaurants. My faith is also important to me as well for maintaining a healthy balance.