I chose this field because I learned that I was most able to help people when I had time to sit down with them, explore their hopes and fears, and walk them through one of the most difficult times in their lives. By taking the whole person, as well as their family members, into consideration, I tailor my approach to care to meet their wishes and needs.

My areas of expertise include palliative care, pain and symptom management, helping patients with complex decisions and, if needed, end-of-life and hospice care. I feel privileged to get to know each of my patients – and to help keep them informed and comfortable through a difficult journey.

Care I Provide

- Palliative care for all cancers
- End-of-life and hospice care for all cancers

Certified Specialties

Hospice and Palliative Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Medicine, Palliative Care (SMD)

Interim Division Chief - Department of Medicine, Palliative Care (SMD)

Associate Professor - Department of Pediatrics (SMD) - Joint

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, Palliative Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2008 - 2010

Residency, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2005 - 2008

Internship, Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2004 - 2005

Education

MD | University of Rochester School of Medicine/Dentistry (USA). 2004

Awards

Member, Society for Pediatric Research. 2022

Emerging Leaders in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Award, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). 2019

Hastings Center Cunniff-Dixon Physicians Award. 2018

Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice & Palliative Medicine. 2015

Patient- and Family-Centered Care Award. 2013

Lawrence H. Kohn Senior Teaching Fellowship Award. 2012

Patient- and Family-Centered Care Award.. 2012

Pathway in Medical Ethics & Humanities. 2004

Certificate of Commendation, Leah J. Dickstein Award. 2004

Rochester Academy of Medicine Library Award. 2004

Guest Speaker, Corner Society for Medical History. 2004

Signa Xi Scientific Honor Society. 1998 - 1999

Guerrigues Scholarship. 1996 - 1999

Publications

Journal Articles

A National Survey to Guide Pediatric Curricula for Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellows.

Moyer, K. M.; Verbeck, N.; Barnett, M. D.; Denney-Koelsch, E. M.; Ajayi, T., Humphrey, L. M.; Malhotra, S.; Ragsdale, L.; Waldman, E. D.; Gustin, J. L.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2022; 64(3): e165–e171.

'Creating a safe space': how perinatal palliative care coordinators navigate care and support for families.

Côté-Arsenault, D.; Denney-Koelsch, E.; Elliott, G.

International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 2021; 27(8): 386–400.

Life-limiting fetal conditions and pregnancy continuation: parental decision-making processes.

Denney-Koelsch, E.; Cote-Arsenault, D.

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 2021; 0: 1-7.

African American and Latino Bereaved Parent Health Outcomes after Receiving Perinatal Palliative Care.

Côté-Arsenault, D.; Denney-Koelsch, E. M.; McCoy, T. P.; Kavanaugh, K.

Applied Nursing Research. 2019; 50: 151200.

An Integrated, Developmental Four-Year Medical School Curriculum in Palliative Care: A Longitudinal Content Evaluation Based on National Norms.

Denney-Koelsch, E.M.; Horowitz, R.; Quill, T.; Baldwin, C.D.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2018; 21(9): 1221-1233.

'I Would Do It All Over Again': Cherishing Time and the Absence of Regret in Continuing a Pregnancy after a Life-Limiting Diagnosis.

Wool, C.; Limbo, R.; Denny-Koelsch, E.M.

Journal of Clinical Ethics. 2018; 29(3): 227-236.

Teaching the Art of Difficult Family Conversations. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

Dadiz, R.; Spear, M.L.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2017; 53(2): 157-161.

'Love is a Choice:' Couple Responses to Continuing Pregnancy with a Lethal Fetal Diagnosis.

Côté-Arsenault, D., Denney-Koelsch, E.

Illness, Crisis and Loss. 2017; 26(1): 5-22.

'Have No Regrets': Parents' Experiences and Developmental Tasks in Pregnancy with a Lethal Fetal Diagnosis

Côté-Arsenault, D.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Social Science & Medicine. 2016; 154: 100-109.

A Survey of Perinatal Palliative Care Programs in the United States: Structure, Processes, and Outcomes.

Denney-Koelsch, E.; Black, B.P.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Wool, C.; Kim, S.; Kavanaugh, K.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2016; 19(10): 1080-1086.

Feeling Cared For Versus Experiencing Added Burden: Parents' Needs from Health Care in Pregnancy with a Lethal Fetal Diagnosis.

Denney-Koelsch, E.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Jenkins Hall, W.

Illness, Crisis and Loss. 2016; 26(4): 293–315.

'We want what's best for our baby': Prenatal Parenting of Babies with Lethal Conditions

Côté-Arsenault D.; Krowchuk, H.; E Denney-Koelsch, E.; Jenkins Hall, W.

Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health. 2015; 29(3): 157.

Parents' Interactions with Sonographers During Pregnancy with Lethal Fetal Diagnosis.

Denney-Koelsch, E.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Lemcke-Berno, E.

Global Qualitative Nursing Research. 2015; : 1-8.

Provision of services in perinatal palliative care: A multicenter survey in the United States.

Wool, C.; Côté-Arsenault, D.; Black, B.; Denney-Koelsch, E.; Kim, S.; Kavanaugh, K.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2015; 19(3): 279-285.

'Air Hunger.' Essay in On Being a Doctor series.

Denney-Koelsch, E.

Annals of Internal Medicine. 2014; 161(7): 530.

'My Baby is a Person.' Family Experiences with Life-threatening Fetal Diagnosis.

Côté-Arsenault, D.; Denney-Koelsch, E.

Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2011; 14(12): 1302-1308.