Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Thank you for your interest in our Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, which is grounded in the belief that excellent clinical training and deep human connection go hand in hand. We are proud to offer a rich, supportive and intellectually stimulating environment where fellows are encouraged to bring their full selves to the practice of medicine — and to their own professional development.

Fellows learn alongside a diverse and deeply committed team in settings that span a major academic medical center, a thriving VA system, and exceptional community hospitals and hospice agencies. Our program emphasizes thoughtful mentorship, a culture of reflection, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of our patients, their families and each other.

We are proud to call Tucson home. Nestled in the Sonoran Desert and ringed by five mountain ranges, Tucson offers more than 300 days of sunshine each year, with endless opportunities for outdoor adventure — from hiking and biking to birding and stargazing. Named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Tucson is a city where vibrant culture meets natural beauty, where community feels close-knit and welcoming, and where our fellows find space to recharge, connect and thrive.

Because we train one fellow per year, we can tailor education to meet our fellow’s individual needs. We strive to create a learning culture that is deeply human, growth is truly supported.

We are excited for you to learn more about our program and encourage you to reach out to us directly for additional information or questions. 

Curriculum

Our curriculum is carefully crafted to offer both depth and breadth in hospice and palliative care, with immersive clinical experiences and protected educational time that support the growth of well-rounded, reflective physicians.

We offer

• 12-month ACGME accredited Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
• Exposure to inpatient and ambulatory academic, community and VA settings
• All graduates of our program who demonstrate competence in the six ACGME Core Competencies will be eligible to sit for board certification in hospice and palliative medicine

One of the most powerful aspects of our fellowship is the variety of the people we serve. Fellows care for patients across the lifespan and from all walks of life — reflecting a wide range of backgrounds, languages and life experiences. Our clinical settings offer exposure to complex and serious illness and working with the social and structural challenges that shape health. This breadth ensures our fellows gain exceptional clinical training in both symptom management and communication.

12-month Clinical Curriculum

• Banner – University Medical Center Tucson Inpatient Palliative Consult Service: 5 months
• Tucson Medical Center Hospice (Peppi’s House): 6 weeks
• VA Consult Service and Community Living Center (CLC): 2 months
• VA Home Based Primary Care: 1 month
• Psychospiritual Care: 2 weeks
• Procedural and Interventional Pain Services (PIPS): 3 weeks
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Pain Anesthesia
  • Interventional Radiology
• Electives: 4 weeks
• Pediatric Palliative Care Clinic: Half Day/Month
• University of Arizona Cancer Center Supportive & Palliative Care Clinic: Half Day/Week

Educational Curriculum

Fellows have carved-out and protected didactics weekly with the Tucson Palliative and Hospice Community with a home at Banner – University Medical Center. Didactic topics vary widely and include previous sessions such as:

• Art museum-based palliative medical education
• Anorexia and cachexia
• Intro to ventricular assist devices
• Mindfulness strategies
• Psycho-oncology
• Ethics of medical assistance in dying
• Radiation oncology for the palliative clinician
• Methadone for cancer-related pain
• Prognostication
• Burnout and wellness

Fellows will:

• Lead journal clubs
• Conduct their own QI or Scholarly Project over the year with a final presentation
• Engage in difficult case discussions
• Present a formal didactic on a topic of choice

Optional Opportunities

• Participate in communication curriculum using simulation and the sim lab
• Attend VitalTalk
• Attend national conference/meetings with available supportive funds
• Complete the integrative medicine curriculum through Andrew Weil Center
• Engage and network in Phoenix Consortium Communication Curriculum
• Attend monthly ethics meetings
• Lead resident and medical student informal bedside education and formal didactic sessions

Training Sites

• Banner – University Medical Center Tucson
• University of Arizona Cancer Center
• Southern Arizona Veteran Affairs
  • Hospice
  • CLC
• Tucson Medical Center
  • Peppi’s House (Hospice)
  • Tucson Medical Center Inpatient
• Children’s Clinics for Rehabilitative Services

How to Apply

We welcome one fellow per year from the following co-sponsoring board specialties:

• Internal Medicine
• Family Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Anesthesiology
• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Surgery
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Radiology

To be eligible for the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, you must have completed or be participating in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited residency program.

Applicants must be legally able to work in the U.S. or eligible to obtain work authorization. All accepted candidates must obtain an Arizona medical license.

Apply through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS)

• CV
• Personal Statement
• Medical School Transcript
• USMLE or COMLEX Scores
• We ask for three letters of recommendation
  • Please include a letter from your residency program director
  • If you graduated from residency more than five years ago, in lieu of a program director letter, please include a letter from your current supervisor
  • We encourage you to include a letter from a hospice or palliative care interdisciplinary team member if available
  • We encourage you to ask for your letter writers to speak to your professionalism, work ethic, communication skills, patient care and interprofessional skills
• Applications completed by July 31 are given priority
• Virtual interview invitations are sent out starting in August, and interviews are scheduled from the beginning of September through the end of October
• We participate in the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Match, included under the Medical Specialties Matching Program, which is sponsored by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)