About the Program

Program Highlights

• A weekly palliative care seminar series with outstanding faculty across the region which include core clinical topics, family meeting skills workshops, career-development, leadership, journal club, QI, research, and wellness
• Strong relationships with other disciplines within the University, and long-standing leadership and collaboration with community partners and institutions
• A dedicated unit: The Sussman Palliative Care Unit. A 12-bed unit specifically for patients with symptom management challenges and end-of-life care
• Protected time to pursue a mentored research project, and provides one-on-one mentoring from nationally recognized leaders in the field
• Diverse, complex patient population
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee established to improve division policies, enhance recruitment and create a pipeline to increase diversity of fellows and faculty
• Career planning with fellowship director and faculty
• Social events including summer picnic, happy hours, and holiday party
• Fellows attend the Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) in Feb-March
• A monthly pediatric palliative care seminar series
• Focus on wellness includes monthly Balint group, multiple venues for debriefing and an off-site retreat in late winter
• We work closely with fellows to tailor the program to their needs and create a fellow-led learning experience
• Mentored teaching and scholarship in a unique environment featuring innovative palliative care interventions (ketamine infusion, proportionate palliative sedation, medical marijuana)
• Large number of cases across 6 sites (Strong Hospital, Highland Hospital, Lifetime Care, Monroe Community Hospital, Unity Hospital and Visiting Nurse Service of Rochester and Monroe County)
• Medical resident and student supervision and teaching
• Outstanding support from attending physicians. Constant performance feedback both at bedside and in debriefings
• Community based treatment of patient in a variety of settings

Class of 2021

Anna Kenney, DO

Residency / University of Rochester Internal Medicine Residency
Hometown / Rochester, NY

The interdisciplinary team provides a wealth of knowledge, but also is open to new ideas and perspectives. I also felt like I had increasing autonomy throughout the year, though many people remained available when I needed or wanted help.

Meet our Faculty

I loved the consistent interdisciplinary aspect of our fellowship.”