What does it mean to be named an Emerging Leader in Hospice and Palliative Medicine?
It is an honor to be recognized as an emerging leader from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and I am thankful for all of the mentorship that I have received and continue to receive from leaders in the field. I consider AAHPM my professional home and I hope to increasingly contribute to the Academy in our common goal of improving the care of seriously ill patients through research, policy, and advocacy.
Describe how you became interested in hospice and palliative medicine and who/what influenced your work?
Having dealt with the medical system from the perspective of a family member prior to my medical training, I have been particularly sensitive to the needs of patients and families when they are going through trying times and life-changing experiences. Early in my medical training, I decided that I wanted to improve the experience that patients with serious illness and their families have with the health care system. Ultimately, I became a Board-certified hospice and palliative medicine physician and a health services researcher. It has been an honor to care for patients and their caregivers and I continue to strive to improve the care provided to patients with serious illness locally and beyond.
What is your vision for the future of hospice and palliative medicine?
My vision for the future of hospice and palliative medicine is that we continue to expand specialty services through access to inpatient and community-based palliative care and that palliative clinicians will increasingly serve as leaders within their health systems to ensure all physicians are comfortable with providing high quality primary palliative care. The ultimate goal is that the principles of palliative medicine are integrated into standard care for all patients.