University of Kansas School of Medicine Program

The University of Kansas Medical Center offers a one-year Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship designed to train physicians as specialists in the field. The program's goal is to equip compassionate and committed doctors with the skills necessary to become leaders and educators in hospice and palliative care. Graduates of this fellowship program will achieve board eligibility in Hospice and Palliative Medicine upon successful completion of the curriculum.

The fellowship encompasses a robust clinical training program focused on symptom management, effective communication, and patient-centered care. Learning is enhanced through exposure to a diverse array of serious illness populations, spanning settings from academic hospitals to community hospice facilities. This breadth of experience ensures that fellows appreciate the complexities and demands of caring for patients at various stages of serious illness, fostering essential skills in both quality of life improvement and end-of-life care. The fellowship is particularly beneficial for early and mid-career physicians from various specialties, enabling a transition into palliative medicine.

Program Structure

The fellowship operates on two primary tracks: an Adult Focused Track and a Pediatric Focused Track. These tracks offer fellows extensive experiences in both settings, ensuring comprehensive training in hospice and palliative medicine. Training occurs in multiple sites, including the KU Medical Center, Kansas City VA Medical Center, Children's Mercy Hospital, and Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care, exposing fellows to a range of clinical environments and patient demographics 1.

Didactic Training

Academic opportunities are a cornerstone of the training, with fellows participating in a core didactic series occurring weekly. The series covers essential topics in hospice and palliative medicine and incorporates various teaching methods, including small group discussions, simulations, and case presentations. Fellows also engage in specialized ethical discussions through the Geriatric-Palliative Care Ethics Conference, enhancing their critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills in complex clinical scenarios. The program promotes self-care through structured mindfulness and resilience training, ensuring that fellows maintain their well-being during intensive training 4.

Fellowship Application Process

The program accepts a total of four fellows each year: three on the Adult Focused Track and one on the Pediatric Focused Track. Eligibility for the fellowship includes completion of residency in one of several medical specialties, such as internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, and others. The application process follows the NRMP Fellowship MATCH and uses ERAS for submission. The timeline for applications suggests that prospective fellows submit their materials during the summer, followed by interviews in the late summer to fall period 6.

Benefits

The fellowship provides competitive benefits to ensure a supportive training environment. These include salary that aligns with a PGY level 4 designation, assistance with licensing fees, funding for attendance at national conferences, and access to additional resources to aid in board preparation. Additionally, fellows enjoy wellness benefits including gym membership and parking during their time at the fellowship 3.

Visa Support

The program supports international applicants through visa sponsorship. Typically, the program sponsors J-1 and H-1B visas, which allows international medical graduates to pursue further training in the United States. This is particularly beneficial for DOs and IMGs looking to enhance their credentials in a competitive field like hospice and palliative medicine.

Competitiveness

The application process is competitive, with a comprehensive review of applicants’ backgrounds from various residency programs being welcome. This inclusiveness has allowed the program to cultivate diverse cohorts, enriching the learning experience for all fellows. The program aims to enroll fellows who demonstrate a genuine commitment to palliative care, structured around a compassionate treatment approach for patients and their families during challenging times.

Research Opportunities

Fellows will also have the chance to engage in research and quality improvement projects relevant to palliative and hospice care. This includes participation in ongoing research initiatives and the potential for scholarly presentations, which contribute significantly to the professional growth of each fellow.