Skip to main content
Explore URMC
menu

Robert K. Horowitz, M.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Appointment: (585) 273-1154

Administrative: (585) 273-1154

Office: (585) 273-1154

Office: (585) 654-5432

Fax: (585) 275-7403

URMFGA member of the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group

groupAn Accountable Health Partner

assignmentNot Accepting New Patients

Faculty Appointments

Patient Care Settings

Palliative Care, Pediatrics

Biography

Professional Background

Dr. Rob Horowitz is the Georgia and Thomas Gosnell Distinguished Professor in Palliative Care. Board certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Hospice & Palliative Care Medicine, Dr. Horowitz is a physician and educator. He was Chief of the Palliative Care Division at Strong Memorial Hospital from 2015 to 2023. Dr. Horowitz also founded and served as Medical Director of Rochester's Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program from 1999 until 2015, and he worked for 14 years as a rural emergency physician.

In addition to his clinical duties, Dr. Horowitz teaches palliative care and communication skills to medical and other health career students, residents, and fellows at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, where he serves as a Core Clinical Assessor. Along with Dr. Tom Carroll, he is co-developer of the Advanced Communication Training program at URMC, which teaches serious illness conversation skills to interdisciplinary clinicians at all levels of training and experience. In 2023 he introduced ketamine-assisted psychotherapy research and treatment to URMC.

Research

Dr. Horowitz's primary scholarly interests are palliative care education, the facilitation of serious illness conversations, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for people with serious illness.

Credentials

Specialties

    Education

    1993
    MD | University of Rochester School of Medicine/Dentistry

    Post-doctoral Training & Residency

    07/01/1994 - 09/30/1998
    Residency in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center

    07/01/1993 - 06/30/1994
    Internship in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center

    Awards

    2022
    U of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry Faculty Commencement Speaker

    2017
    UR School of Medicine Faculty Commencement Speaker

    2016
    UR School of Medicine Faculty Commencement Speaker

    2016
    Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award
    Sponsor: Arnold P Gold Foundation

    2015
    Herbert W. Mapstone Prize for Excellence in Second Year Teaching
    Sponsor: URSMD Class of 2017

    2014 - 2016
    Gilbert Forbes Dean's Teaching Fellowship

    2014
    Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award URSMD nominee

    2013
    Patient- and Family-Centered Care Top Performers Award
    Sponsor: University of Rochester Medical Center Leadership

    2009
    Mary Jane Taylor Award
    Sponsor: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Rochester, NY
    Location: for work

    1993 - Present
    Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

    1993
    Class of 1976 Prize
    Sponsor: URMC Students
    Location: for "promise to become an outstanding clinical teacher"

    1993
    Bryce Collier Prize
    Sponsor: URMC Faculty
    Location: for "compassionate and understanding care of the sick"

    VIEW ALL expand_more

    Publications

    Journal Articles

    2023
    Saeed F: Dahl S; Horowitz RK; Duberstein PR; Epstein RM; Fiscella KA; Allen RJ. "Development and Acceptability of a Kidney Therapy Decision Aid for Patients Aged 75 Years and older: A Design-Based Research Involving Patients, Caregivers, and a Multidisciplinary Team". Kidney medicine. 2023; 5(7).

    2022
    McHugh DC; George BP; Bender MT; Horowitz RK; Kaufman DC; Holloway RG; Roberts DE. "Reversal of Advance Directives in Neurologic Emergencies" . The Neurohospitalist. 2022; 0(0): 8-11.

    9/5/2020
    Carroll T, Mooney C, Horowitz R. "Re-ACT: Remote Advanced Communication Training in a Time of Crisis." Journal of pain and symptom management.. 2020 Sep 5; Epub 2020 Sep 05.

    Books & Chapters

    2021
    Chapter Title: Mrs. H: How best to time VSED
    Book Title: Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: A Compassionate, Widely Available Option for Hastening Death
    Author List: Horowitz, RK
    Edited By: Quill TE, Menzel PT, Pope TM, Schwarz JK
    Published By: Oxford Press 2021

    2021
    Chapter Title: Mrs. H: Speculation about the challenge of waiting
    Book Title: Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: A Compassionate, Widely Available Option for Hastening Death
    Author List: Horowitz, RK
    Edited By: Quill TE, Menzel PT, Pope TM, Schwarz JK
    Published By: Oxford Press 2021

    2014
    Chapter Title: Chapter: Supportive and palliative care in dentistry and oral medicine.
    Book Title: The Art and Science of Palliative Medicine
    Author List: Elad, S; Horowitz, R; Zadik, Y
    Published By: AME Publishing 2014

    VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS