Lahey Clinic Program

The Lahey Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship is an ACGME-accredited training program located at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, with supplemental training opportunities at affiliated sites including Care Dimensions, VA Bedford Medical Center, and Boston Children’s Hospital. This one-year fellowship is designed to prepare physician trainees for delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care to individuals with serious illnesses through an interdisciplinary approach.

Training and Rotations

The structure of the fellowship is oriented towards real-world patient care and encompasses various settings. Fellows will engage in rotations that include:

• Inpatient Palliative Care Consults (27 weeks): Fellows will work on the LHMC palliative care consult service, where they will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of palliative care experts. Responsibilities include conducting daily rounds, managing consults on symptom management, and participating in education sessions to hone clinical skills.
• Home and Inpatient Hospice (10 weeks): This rotation is conducted through Care Dimensions, allowing fellows to gain firsthand experience in hospice training and care delivery to patients at the end of life, integrating an interdisciplinary approach with hospice physicians.
• Long-term Care Palliative Care Consults (4 weeks): Fellows will engage with veteran patients at the VA Bedford Medical Center, entering the realm of geriatrics while enhancing their skills in palliative care for older adults.
• Pediatric Palliative Care (2 weeks): Conducted at Boston Children’s Hospital, this rotation exposes fellows to pediatric patients and their unique palliative needs.
• Outpatient Palliative Care (weekly half-day sessions): Fellows will be involved in an outpatient setting, focusing on patients with life-limiting conditions.
• Electives (5 weeks): Customization of training through elective rotations allows fellows to pursue specialized areas of interest relevant to palliative medicine.
• Vacation (3 weeks): Includes one week at the AAHPM conference.

Educational Opportunities

The fellowship provides a robust curriculum, ensuring continuous learning through:

• Didactic Education: Fellows participate in half-day educational sessions covering essential topics in palliative care, enhancing their competency in pain management, symptom relief, communication skills, and ethical considerations.
• Mentorship and Faculty Interaction: Direct interaction with experienced faculty members fosters a strong educational environment. The training encourages fellows to develop teaching capabilities by guiding medical residents and students during their rotations.
• Research Opportunities: Research is valued throughout the fellowship, and fellows are encouraged to engage in clinical research projects and contribute to advancements in the field of hospice and palliative medicine.

Competitive Aspects and Application Requirements

This fellowship is highly competitive, welcoming applications from residents who have completed a recognized residency program in internal medicine, family medicine, or geriatrics. Applications should include:

• A dean's letter or MSPE from their medical school.
• Medical school transcripts.
• Three letters of recommendation, including one from the residency program director.
• USMLE scores for Step I, II, and III.
• A personal statement and updated CV.

The program is supportive of international medical graduates and accepts J-1 visa sponsorship, ensuring that qualifying fellows can pursue training without immigration concerns.

Unique Aspects of the Program

One of the distinguishing features of the Lahey Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship is its commitment to team-based collaborative care, a philosophy stemming from Dr. Frank Lahey's vision. This model is emphasized throughout the training, reinforcing the importance of working alongside an interdisciplinary team to achieve holistic patient care.

Furthermore, fellows are integrated into a thriving teaching hospital that has demonstrated a long-standing history of delivering high-quality medical care since its inception. Located just outside Boston, LHMC combines resources akin to a tertiary medical center with the accessibility of a community hospital, making it an ideal training ground for future leaders in palliative medicine.