Baylor University Medical Center Program

The Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas-Fort Worth, aims to train physicians in providing exemplary multidisciplinary clinical care to seriously ill patients. This program addresses the unique needs of patients by focusing on their medical, spiritual, and emotional quality of life wishes. The program prepares fellows to be board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine while fostering effective educational experiences and promoting the well-being of various stakeholders, including patients, families, and healthcare providers.1

Curriculum

The program features a well-structured curriculum designed to provide extensive clinical exposure across various healthcare settings. Fellows engage with a robust Supportive & Palliative Care (SPC) team, which serves both inpatient and outpatient environments. The inpatient SPC team typically handles around 185 consults monthly, with diverse medical specialties participating in the care of hospitalized patients.1

Fellows will rotate alongside experienced palliative medicine faculty members and will learn in a collaborative environment that includes medical students, residents, and other fellows. During the fellowship, they will also participate in outpatient clinics, observing a wide variety of patients for ongoing complex symptom management and longitudinal goals of care discussions. Early in the fellowship, fellows have two clinic sessions each week during their inpatient rotation to cement continuity in patient care.1

Training Sites

Training takes place within the extensive Baylor Scott & White Healthcare System, which includes several specialized facilities for advanced heart failure, oncology, and a robust transplant program covering multiple organ types. The program also emphasizes continuity of care by pairing fellows with attending physicians for longitudinal exposure to patients.1

Pediatric and Geriatric Experience

A significant component of the fellowship is the pediatric experience gained through collaboration with Cook’s Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, involving a total of four weeks of clinical support for children with life-limiting illnesses. Additionally, fellows gain exposure to managing geriatric patients through house calls and nursing home rotations, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of palliative care across different age groups.1

Unique Aspects

The fellowship includes a three-week immersion experience with the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) Hospice and 7 weeks of outpatient hospice care, which provides essential, hands-on management of hospice patients through home visits and interdisciplinary team meetings under the guidance of hospice medical directors.1

Application Requirements

Applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency program in a relevant specialty such as family medicine or internal medicine, among others. The program welcomes international medical graduates and requires verified ACGME, ACME-I, or CanMEDS Milestone evaluations from the core residency program.1

Visa Support

The program is friendly to international medical graduates and provides visa sponsorship. Typically, fellows can be supported for J-1 or H-1B visa types based on their individual circumstances and qualifications.1

Competitiveness

The fellowship is considered competitive, particularly for positions given the caliber of training and support available. However, it is recognized for being friendly towards both DO and IMG applicants, supporting a diverse range of candidates for their fellowship positions.1