What does it mean to be named an Emerging Leader in Hospice and Palliative Medicine?
To be named an Emerging Leader in Hospice and Palliative Medicine means to continue to work for the progressive development of the field. It is a recognition to the efforts already done and a motive to continue excelling the field.
Describe how you became interested in hospice and palliative medicine and who/what influenced your work.
I became interest in palliative medicine because of my friend Mayra. She suffered from advanced ovarian cancer, fighting it for six years without palliative care until the very end. Her need and the need of many other patients became and is the motive for me to initiate a palliative fellowship training program in MO and continue researching in the field.
What is your vision for the future of hospice and palliative medicine?
The future of hospice and palliative medicine relies on making the field be recognized and respected by our colleagues, especially the provision of primary palliative care throughout the healthcare system. It is important that community and outpatient palliative services as well as evidence-based research are further developed.