Robert K. Horowitz, M.D.

As a Palliative Care specialist, I care for people of all ages with serious illness. The word "patient" literally means "one who suffers." When serious illness happens, my commitment is to address the wholeness of each patient and family, and to ease their many dimensions of suffering. My interdisciplinary team and I aim to achieve the best possible quality of life for patient and family by embracing two primary goals: to optimally manage patient-family pain and other bodily, emotional and spiritual symptoms of illness; and to help align the treatment plan with their unique preferences, values, goals, and character.

Professional Background

Dr. Rob Horowitz is the Georgia and Thomas Gosnell Distinguished Professor in Palliative Care, Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, and is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Hospice & Palliative Care Medicine. He worked as a rural Emergency Physician for 14 years until 2012, when he moved his professional home to the URMC division of Palliative Care, where he works with children and adults who have serious illness in hospital, office and home settings. He has been Chief of the Palliative Care Division since 2015. Dr. Horowitz also founded and served as Medical Director of URMC's Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program from 1999 until 2015.

In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Horowitz is Director of the University of Rochester School of Medical & Dentistry's Year 2 and Year 3 Comprehensive Assessments, which are longitudinal formative assessments of student communication skills, medical knowledge and professionalism utilizing patient-actor interviews, multi-source feedback, peer- and self-assessments, and other modalities. He also teaches medical students, residents, fellows and interdisciplinary clinicians in multiple small and large group settings, and facilitates several reflection, Balint and support groups for trainees, colleagues and staff.

Research