Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
Program Highlights
- Combines faculty from two academic palliative care programs: Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Palliative Care Service and the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.
- NewYork-Presbyterian is ranked #7 hospital in the nation and #1 in New York, according to U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospital" survey.
- Unique palliative care consultation models, including a dedicated ICU team and early intervention consult team.
- Inpatient Calvary hospice program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
- Individual fellow mentoring and research opportunities, e.g. with the Center for Research on End-of-Life Care and the Translational Research Institute on Pain in Later Life (TRIPLL) both at Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Center for Improving Care for Vulnerable Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions (CIPC) at Columbia School of Nursing.
- Outpatient palliative care clinic integrated within an NCI Cancer Center.
- Exposure to diverse patient populations and cultures in two different neighborhoods in Manhattan (Washington Heights and the Upper East Side).
- Geriatrics training and didactics built into the curriculum.
- GeriTalk Communication Training for HPM fellows provided by trained faculty.
- Monthly narrative medicine sessions through the Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics at Columbia University and the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine.
- Clinical ethics training with the Chair of the Ethics Committee at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
- Integration of contemplative care practices and meditation.
- AAHPM membership, conference fees, as well as travel and accommodation expenses to attend the annual AAHPM Assembly Meeting is covered.
About the Program
The NewYork-Presbyterian Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program began training leaders in palliative care at the Columbia campus in 2011. Since then the program has grown to a class size of four fellows, and in 2019 was joined by Cornell to form a bi-campus program that incorporates the strengths and opportunities of both medical centers.
NewYork-Presbyterian, with its diversity of clinical training programs, patient populations, faculty, and staff, provides an ideal setting for interdisciplinary interaction and collaboration, as our fellows work with the varied clinical providers who participate in the care of seriously ill adults and children. The year-long fellowship encompasses the medical, psychosocial, ethical, existential, and spiritual domains of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. We are committed to the excellence and preparation of future leaders in the clinical, educational, policy, and research areas of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Clinical Training
Rotation site
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical center (CUIMC): Inpatient Consultation, Clinical Ethics, Continuity Clinic
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (WCMC): Inpatient Consultation, Continuity Clinic
- NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital (MSCH): Pediatric palliative care
- Calvary Hospital (Bronx): Long-term care rotation/hospice
- VNS Hospice: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx
The fellows have an active clinical role at all sites during the fellowship while working with the respective Interdisciplinary Teams (IDTs). One month of elective time is offered to pursue research or additional clinical training. Examples include Clinical Ethics, Radiation Oncology, Integrative therapies, Interventional Pain Medicine, Consultation Psychiatry, Psychology, Neuro-Oncology, Geriatrics, and more. International Electives are also possible — for example, in the Dominican Republic, Uganda, and India.
Didactics & educational program
- HPM Fellowshop Core Lecture Series (weekly)
- Journal Club (monthly)
- Departmental Grand Rounds (weekly)
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine Grand Rounds (monthly)
- Bi-campus Case Conferences Columbia and Cornell (quarterly)
- Debriefing and Resiliency Training sessions for our fellows (monthly)
- Narrative Medicine Workshop (monthly) - We are committed to helping our fellows develop a reflective practice and develop and strengthen their narrative competence. That is, "to recognize, absorb, metabolize, interpret, and be moved by the stories of illness." (Rita Charon)
How to Apply
Our Bi-campus (Columbia and Cornell campuses) HPM fellowship program is listed in ERAS as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia and Cornell Campus) Program — (5403512118)
[Previously, our fellowship program was listed as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus) Program Number 5403504076]
The fellowship is an ACGME approved interdisciplinary fellowship (4 fellows per year) located in both the Department of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and in the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine.
Applicants who have completed (or will complete) an ACGME approved residency in one of the following disciplines are eligible to apply:
- Anesthesiology
- Emergency medicine
- Family medicine
- Internal medicine
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation
- Psychiatry and neurology
- Radiology
- Surgery
Applications are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The following are required for applicants to upload to ERAS: Curriculum vitae, Personal statement, 3 letters of support, Test scores (e.g., United States Medical Licensing Examination or Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates). Fellowship candidates can submit applications to our program in July. We begin reviewing applications in August and invite successful applicants to interview on a rolling basis.
The New York-Presbyterian Hospital Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, a joint program with the Department of Medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeon at Columbia University and the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, participates in the fellowship match through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). However, specialty matches conducted by the NRMP do not provide centralized services for the application process. Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship programs participate in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). ERAS, a service developed by the AAMC, transmits application materials via the Internet to programs in residency and selected fellowship specialties. Candidates must apply to the Hospice and Palliative Medicine programs of their choice using ERAS. Program directors review candidates' credentials and, if interested, invite them for interviews. Applicants also are responsible for ensuring that they meet all program prerequisites and institutional policies regarding eligibility for appointment to a fellowship position prior to ranking a program through the NRMP. Please submit a completed application using the ERAS system.
For more information on the Bi-campus (Columbia and Cornell) Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship visit the NewYork-Presbyterian site.
Mary Callahan, M.D., MS
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center
mec2287@cumc.columbia.edu