Tufts Medical Center Program

Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center

The Tufts Medical Center Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) Fellowship is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary training program for individuals who have completed any accredited primary residency. Located in Boston's Chinatown, the program offers unique cultural insights into managing serious illnesses, particularly for populations from China and Southeast Asian countries. This fellowship provides fellows with innovative clinical models for delivering palliative care while focusing on the implications of cultural differences in medical decision-making involving seriously ill patients 1.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum encompasses extensive clinical rotations designed to provide a robust clinical and educational experience. The program includes:

• 4 months of inpatient consultation at Tufts Medical Center
• 2 months of inpatient consultation at VA Hospital Boston
• Half-day per week in a longitudinal clinic with two weeklong immersive clinic experiences
• 2 months of home hospice care, incorporating home visits and long-term care visits
• 1 month of inpatient hospice experience at an affiliated hospice house
• 1 month in long-term care
• 2 weeks of pediatric palliative care experience at New England Pediatric Care
• 6 weeks of elective time

This comprehensive structure allows fellows to engage deeply in both inpatient and outpatient settings, gaining the skills necessary to provide optimal palliative care 1.

Clinical Opportunities and Rotations

Inpatient Palliative Care

The fellowship offers diverse clinical opportunities, including participation in Tufts Medical Center’s palliative care service, which handles around 60 new consults each month. The fellow joins an interdisciplinary team comprising physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, and others, actively engaging in daily patient management, case reviews, and family meetings 1.

Home Hospice

The home hospice rotation involves working with Tufts Medicine Care at Home, where fellows participate in home visits alongside hospice staff. This experience is pivotal for understanding the emotional and physical support necessary for patients in their homes, enhancing skills in holistic patient care 1.

Longitudinal Clinic Experience

The program emphasizes outpatient palliative care, providing fellows with consistent involvement in an outpatient clinic embedded in various specialties. This ensures fellows encounter diverse cases while engaging in comprehensive patient care and follow-up 1.

Elective and Scholarly Opportunities

Fellows are encouraged to utilize 6 weeks of elective time for scholarly projects, clinical rotations in allied fields, or quality improvement initiatives, fostering a strong academic foundation 1.

Research and Scholarly Activities

Fellows are supported in engaging in research projects during their training. They can work on clinical innovations, quality improvement, and other educational endeavors, often presenting their findings at national conferences such as those organized by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine 1.

The program also offers opportunities for advanced fellowships in education and clinical research post-completion, ensuring that fellows can continue their academic pursuits beyond the initial fellowship years 1.

Application Process

Qualified applicants are required to submit a detailed application via the ERAS system, including a common application, personal statement, CV, at least three letters of recommendation, transcripts, USMLE or COMLEX scores, and a photograph. The program values diversity and is open to applicants from a variety of primary specialties, including neurology, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and surgery 1.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The Tufts Medical Center HPM Fellowship is considered a competitive program, welcoming applicants from diverse medical backgrounds, including DOs and international medical graduates (IMGs). There are specific eligibility criteria regarding the year of graduation from medical school and limitations on the number of failed STEP exams, emphasizing the program’s commitment to maintaining high standards for selected fellows 1.

Visa Sponsorship

The program provides visa support for international fellows, including the sponsorship of J-1 and H-1B visas, facilitating the entry of qualified applicants into the United States to undertake this intensive training experience 1.