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Erin M. Denney-Koelsch, M.D.

Erin M. Denney-Koelsch, M.D.

Medicine , Palliative Care , Pediatrics , General Pediatrics , Pediatric Palliative Care

UR Medicine Faculty The University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group (URMFG) consists of over 900 specialist and primary care providers spanning 19 departments. URMFG is certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
Accountable Health Partner Accountable Health Partners (AHP) is a network of over 2,000 community and UR medical faculty and a dozen leading hospitals throughout the region. AHP offers a full range of care.
Accepting New Patients

Contact

Appointment (585) 273-1154
Fax (585) 784-7993

Locations

Palliative Care

601 Elmwood Avenue, 1st Floor, Suite C
Rochester, NY 14642

(585) 273-1154 Get Directions

About Me

I chose this field because I learned that I was most able to help people when I had time to sit down with them, explore their hopes and fears, and walk them through one of the most difficult times in their lives. By taking the whole person, as well as their family members, into consideration, I tail...
I chose this field because I learned that I was most able to help people when I had time to sit down with them, explore their hopes and fears, and walk them through one of the most difficult times in their lives. By taking the whole person, as well as their family members, into consideration, I tailor my approach to care to meet their wishes and needs.

My areas of expertise include palliative care, pain and symptom management, helping patients with complex decisions and, if needed, end-of-life and hospice care. I feel privileged to get to know each of my patients – and to help keep them informed and comfortable through a difficult journey.


Care I Provide

- Palliative care for all cancers
- End-of-life and hospice care for all cancers

Professional Background

Dr. Denney-Koelsch received all of her medical training at the University of Rochester: Her MD, residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and then her fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She has been faculty since 2008.

She has recently been chosen as the Interim Division Ch...
Dr. Denney-Koelsch received all of her medical training at the University of Rochester: Her MD, residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and then her fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She has been faculty since 2008.

She has recently been chosen as the Interim Division Chief of Palliative Care, to begin July 1, 2023. She currently works as a palliative care consultant in the Prenatal, Pediatric and Adult Palliative Care Programs. She has been the Director of the Perinatal Supportive Care Program (which cares for families whose babies are facing serious illness) since 2010 and the Program Director of the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship from 2013-2023.

She is an active researcher in perinatal palliative care with 16 peer-reviewed publications and and the editor (and author of many chapters) of 2 books:

Denney-Koelsch, Erin & Denise Côté-Arsenault Eds. Perinatal Palliative Care: A Clinical Guide, Springer Nature. Cham, Switzerland. Feb 2020.

Denney-Koelsch, Erin, Ed. Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures. Springer Nature. Cham, Switzerland. Feb 2020. In press, estimated publication date Sept 2023.

When not seeing patients, she enjoys playing piano and oboe, organic gardening, raising chickens, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Certified Specialties

Hospice and Palliative Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Medicine, Palliative Care (SMD)

Interim Division Chief - Department of Medicine, Palliative Care (SMD)

Associate Professor - Department of Pediatrics (SMD) - Joint

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, Palliative Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2008 - 2010

Residency, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2005 - 2008

Internship, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2004 - 2005

Education

MD | University of Rochester School of Medicine/Dentistry. 2004

Awards

Member, Society for Pediatric Research. 2022

Emerging Leaders in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Award, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). 2019

Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physicians Award. 2018

Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice & Palliative Medicine. 2015

Patient- and Family-Centered Care Award. 2013

Lawrence H. Kohn Senior Teaching Fellowship Award. 2012

Patient- and Family-Centered Care Award.. 2012

Pathway in Medical Ethics & Humanities. 2004

Certificate of Commendation, Leah J. Dickstein Award. 2004

Rochester Academy of Medicine Library Award. 2004

Guest Speaker, Corner Society for Medical History. 2004

Signa Xi Scientific Honor Society. 1998 - 1999

Guerrigues Scholarship. 1996 - 1999

Publications

Journal Articles

A National Survey to Guide Pediatric Curricula for Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellows.

Moyer, K. M.; Verbeck, N.; Barnett, M. D.; Denney-Koelsch, E. M.; Ajayi, T., Humphrey, L. M.; Malhotra, S.; Ragsdale, L.; Waldman, E. D.; Gustin, J. L.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2022; 64(3): e165–e171.

'Creating a safe space': how perinatal palliative care coordinators navigate care and support for families.

Côté-Arsenault, D.; Denney-Koelsch, E.; Elliott, G.

International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 2021; 27(8): 386–400.

Life-limiting fetal conditions and pregnancy continuation: parental decision-making processes.

Denney-Koelsch, E.; Cote-Arsenault, D.

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 2021; 0: 1-7.

African American and Latino Bereaved Parent Health Outcomes after Receiving Perinatal Palliative Care.

Côté-Arsenault, D.; Denney-Koelsch, E. M.; McCoy, T. P.; Kavanaugh, K.

Applied Nursing Research. 2019; 50: 151200.

An Integrated, Developmental Four-Year Medical School Curriculum in Palliative Care: A Longitudinal Content Evaluation Based on National Norms.

Denney-Koelsch, E.M.; Horowitz, R.; Quill, T.; Baldwin, C.D.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2018; 21(9): 1221-1233.

'I Would Do It All Over Again': Cherishing Time and the Absence of Regret in Continuing a Pregnancy after a Life-Limiting Diagnosis.

Wool, C.; Limbo, R.; Denny-Koelsch, E.M.

Journal of Clinical Ethics. 2018; 29(3): 227-236.

Teaching the Art of Difficult Family Conversations. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

Dadiz, R.; Spear, M.L.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2017; 53(2): 157-161.

'Love is a Choice:' Couple Responses to Continuing Pregnancy with a Lethal Fetal Diagnosis.

Côté-Arsenault, D., Denney-Koelsch, E.

Illness, Crisis and Loss. 2017; 26(1): 5-22.

'Have No Regrets': Parents' Experiences and Developmental Tasks in Pregnancy with a Lethal Fetal Diagnosis

Côté-Arsenault, D.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Social Science & Medicine. 2016; 154: 100-109.

A Survey of Perinatal Palliative Care Programs in the United States: Structure, Processes, and Outcomes.

Denney-Koelsch, E.; Black, B.P.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Wool, C.; Kim, S.; Kavanaugh, K.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2016; 19(10): 1080-1086.

Feeling Cared For Versus Experiencing Added Burden: Parents' Needs from Health Care in Pregnancy with a Lethal Fetal Diagnosis.

Denney-Koelsch, E.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Jenkins Hall, W.

Illness, Crisis and Loss. 2016; 26(4): 293–315.

'We want what's best for our baby': Prenatal Parenting of Babies with Lethal Conditions

Côté-Arsenault D.; Krowchuk, H.; E Denney-Koelsch, E.; Jenkins Hall, W.

Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health. 2015; 29(3): 157.

Parents' Interactions with Sonographers During Pregnancy with Lethal Fetal Diagnosis.

Denney-Koelsch, E.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Lemcke-Berno, E.

Global Qualitative Nursing Research. 2015; : 1-8.

Provision of services in perinatal palliative care: A multicenter survey in the United States.

Wool, C.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Black, B.; Denney-Koelsch, E.; Kim, S.; Kavanaugh, K.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2015; 19(3): 279-285.

'Air Hunger.' Essay in On Being a Doctor series.

Denney-Koelsch, E.

Annals of Internal Medicine. 2014; 161(7): 530.

'My Baby is a Person.' Family Experiences with Life-threatening Fetal Diagnosis.

Côté-Arsenault, D.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2011; 14(12): 1302-1308.

Books

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: A Spectrum of Loss: Introduction to Perinatal Loss and Bereavement

Authors: Denney-Koelsch, E.; Marinescu, P.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: Foundations and Meaning of Death Rituals.

Authors: Denney-Koelsch E.; Kobler, K.; Côté-Arsenault, D.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: European Americans and Perinatal Death Rituals

Authors: Denney-Koelsch, E.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Beiler, K.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: African American Culture and Perinatal Loss

Authors: Darryl, O.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: Rituals and Beliefs about Perinatal Loss in Latinos Living in the US

Authors: Calix, A.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: Native American Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Beliefs

Authors: Denney-Koelsch, E.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: Muslim American Perinatal Bereavement Rituals

Authors: Denney-Koelsch, E.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: Unique Experiences of Family Building and Perinatal Loss using Assisted Reproductive Technologies with Heteronormative and LGBTQ+ People

Authors: Sycz, L.; Evans, E.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: The Interdisciplinary Health Care Team in the Setting of Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death

Authors: Denney-Koelsch E.; Tryon, C.; Owens, D.; Marcello, E.; Kong, E.; Hyde-Hensley, K.; Conrow, L.; Kobler, L.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: Community Supports for Parents with Perinatal Loss & Bereavement

Authors: Denney-Koelsch E.; Gupton, A.; Degro, A.; Doebrich, N.; Hyde-Hensley, K.; Chichester, M.; Sternal-Johnson, J.; Kuebelbeck, A.; Cochran, D.; Côté-Arsenault, D.;

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Bereavement Rituals and Practices Across U.S. Cultures (2023)

Chapter: How to Plan and Support Families through Rituals and Memory-Making

Authors: Denney-Koelsch E.; Kobler, K.; Chichester, M.; Hyde-Hensley, K.; Tryon, C.; Sternal-Johnson, J.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Cochran, D.; Diamond, R.; Murante, B.; Marcello, E.

Publisher: Springer Nature 2023

Perinatal Palliative Care A Clinical Guide (2020)

Chapter: ntroduction to Perinatal Palliative Care

Authors: Denney-Koelsch, E.; Côté-Arsenault, D.

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland 2020

Perinatal Palliative Care A Clinical Guide (2020)

Chapter: Parental Experiences and Needs After Life-Limiting Fetal Diagnosis

Authors: Kuebelbeck, A.; Denney-Koelsch,E.

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland 2020

Perinatal Palliative Care A Clinical Guide (2020)

Chapter: Structure and Development of Hospital-Based Perinatal Palliative Care Programs

Authors: Dean, B.A.; Chichester, M.; Hewlett-Miller, L.; Jain, V.D.; Denney-Koelsch, E.; Spear, M.L.

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland 2020

Perinatal Palliative Care A Clinical Guide (2020)

Chapter: Considerations in Unique Populations in Perinatal Palliative Care: From Culture, Race, Infertility, and Beyond

Authors: Henner, N.; Wojnar, D.M.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland 2020

Perinatal Palliative Care A Clinical Guid (2020)

Chapter: Advancing the Field of Perinatal Palliative Care: Needs and Strategies

Authors: Denney-Koelsch, E,; Kobler, K.; Kirsch, R.A.; Leuthner, S.R.; Kavaugh, K.; Côté-Arsenault, D.

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland 2020

Primer of Palliative Care (2019)

Chapter: Dyspnea

Authors: Denny-Koelsch, E.

Publisher: American Academy of Hospice & Palliative Medicine 2019

Primer of Palliative Care (2019)

Chapter: Special Considerations for Infants and Children

Authors: Denney-Koelsch, E.

Publisher: American Academy of Hospice & Palliative Medicine 2019

The Behavioral Sciences and Health Care (2018)

Chapter: Palliative Care

Authors: Quill, T.E.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Publisher: Hogrefe, Gottingen, DK 2018