Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program
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Welcome to the University of Louisville School of Medicine Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Training Program!
As the first palliative medicine fellowship offered by a Kentucky university, we have been training palliative and hospice medicine physicians for almost 20 years.
Our fellows work in a variety of palliative and hospice care training sites including UofL Health - UofL Hospital, UofL Health - Jewish Hospital, Hosparus Health and Norton Healthcare, caring for a diverse patient population across the greater Louisville and Kentuckiana region.
Our interdisciplinary faculty and staff strive to provide our fellows with the highest quality education. We rely on a strong partnership with our fellows to continuously improve our program.
We value diversity and strive to create a welcoming and supportive learning environment where everyone is included. We look forward to working with you!
Training Overview
- 5 months - Inpatient palliative care consultation
- 2 months - Inpatient Hospice
- 3 months - Community-based Hospice
- 1 month - Elective
- 1 month - Vacation
- Continuity Clinic throughout the year
Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care Training
Inpatient consultative palliative care rotations are offered at UofL Health - UofL Hospital and UofL Health - Jewish Hospital, and Norton Hospital . This gives fellows a wide range of palliative care experience from an academic and community standpoint with a varied range of patients including the Veteran population. Inpatient hospice training is provided by the Hosparus Inpatient Care Center (HICC).
There is also exposure to inpatient pediatric palliative care patients through Norton Children’s Pediatric Support Team | Norton Children's Hospital.
Community-Based Care
Community-Based Hospice and Palliative care visits are accomplished through partnership with Hosparus Health, one of the largest non-profit hospices in the United States with an average daily census of around 1,200 patients. Fellows perform hospice and palliative care home visits with the adult and pediatric (Kourageous Kids) interdisciplinary teams and partner with them to develop goal concordant plans of care for patients and families. During hospice focused months fellows will participate in the regulatory Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) meetings required in hospice care. Fellows also rotate with board certified hospice and palliative care physicians who see palliative care consults and hospice patients at several local long-term care facilities.
Electives
Elective time allows fellows to pursue their specific interests in a variety of areas which include (but are not limited to): Grief and Bereavement, Chaplaincy, Geriatrics, Medical and Radiation Oncology, Pediatric Palliative Care, Wound Care, Research, Pain Management, PM&R and Interventional Radiology.
Educational Opportunites and Didactics
In addition to the vast network of hospice and palliative care training sites, one of our greatest strengths is our interdisciplinary learning approach.
Fellows have protected time for our weekly conferences taught by interdisciplinary staff, attended by professionals and professional students from many disciplines, including Medicine, Pharmacy, Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Nursing, Social Work, Chaplaincy, and Psychology.
These dynamic two-hour interactive sessions help to prepare fellows for practice and board examination. They include lectures by numerous experts within both the university and the community, addressing core hospice and palliative care concepts, self-care sessions, journal club, Symptom of the Month, and case presentations.
Our didactics schedule is available at MedHub - Conference Schedule.
Fellows are encouraged to engage in additional opportunities based on their interests including the KY MOST coalition, teaching medical students about palliative care and interdisciplinary teamwork through the Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Oncology Palliative Education (iCOPE).
Fellows are also required to participate in Quality Improvement and Scholarly Activity projects and have presented their projects at regional and national conferences in past years.
The program also provides funding for fellows attend the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Annual Assembly.
Program Details
Application and Interview Process
The University of Louisville Palliative Medicine Fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
We invite you to apply via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
Trainee Benefits
Life Insurance
Term life insurance is provided for all trainees, in the amount of $2000 of life insurance for each $1000 of annual stipend. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included.
Health Insurance
Single and family coverage is available at group rates. Several different plans at varying costs are available to choose from. Trainees may choose Premium Conversion, which permits payment of premiums with pre-tax dollars. Flexible Spending Accounts also available.
Workers Compensation
All trainees are covered by workers compensation for medical expenses and lost work time due to job-related illness or injury.
Disability Insurance
Long-term disability insurance is provided for trainees, free of charge. Trainees have the option of converting the coverage from group to individual at the end of their training and the option of purchasing additional coverage at very reduced rates.
Malpractice Insurance
Coverage is provided for all trainees by either the University of Louisville or by the hospitals to which trainees are assigned. This coverage applies to all assigned rotations that are part of fellowship training.
Dental Care and Coverage
The Faculty Practice Office in the Outpatient Care Center will provide annual examination, including cleaning and up to four bitewing x-rays, to trainees free of charge. Any additional services are the responsibility of the trainee. Trainees can call 852-5401 for information. Trainees may also purchase, at group rates, dental insurance in both single and family plans.
Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Trainees may establish accounts to convert tax-free benefit dollars within the limits established by the IRS. Flexible spending accounts provide pre-tax dollars to be used toward medical, dental, vision, pharmacy and daycare expenses. The monies are reimbursed to the trainee for expenses incurred.
Employee Assistance Program
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to residents and fellows at no charge and provides confidential counseling, assessment and referral services. The program deals with the broad range of issues such as emotional/behavioral, family and marital, alcohol and/or drug, financial, legal and other personal problems. These services are provided by the Human Development Company.
Counseling Services
Professional counseling is available to trainees through the Health Sciences Center Campus Health Services. Counseling services are also available through the University of Louisville Employee Assistance Program.
Kentucky state law requires that all PGY-2 and above trainees be licensed to practice medicine in the state of Kentucky. The fee for the initial training license is paid by the Graduate Medical Education Office for the PGY-1's who continue as PGY-2's in UofL programs.
Hepatitis B immunization and an annual TB skin test are required and furnished free of charge to all trainees. The Campus Health Services Office provides minor urgent medical care and immunizations, including boosters and TB testing. Personal counseling is also available.
The Campus Health Services Office also serves as an on-site treatment facility for workers compensation related injuries and exposures including needle sticks and as the repository of trainee immunization records and exposure data. The office is staffed by board certified faculty physicians and faculty nurse practitioners who have extensive primary care and occupational exposure experience.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
All postgraduate physicians are entitled to 28 calendar days of vacation for each twelve-month period.
Medical and Personal Leave
Paid medical leave up to 90 days is available in cases of extended personal illness. Residents are covered under the Graduate Medical Student Leave Policy, which provides up to 12 weeks unpaid leave for personal or family illness.
Personal leave is available at the discretion of the Program Director.
Maternity/Paternity Leave
Trainees are allowed up to 42 days of paid post-partum leave.
Lab coats are provided by departments for residents at the beginning of their training.
Trainees have library privileges at the medical school library (Kornhauser Health Sciences Library) and at all affiliated hospitals. Available services include electronic literature searches and interlibrary loan service. Audiovisual equipment, as well as computers and computer software, are made available to residents through the library.
Through the Kornhauser Library’s website, trainees have access to thousands of electronic journals via Medline and online e-journal collections. Trainees can search the library’s catalog or view a collection of electronic textbooks and reference materials online.
Free membership to the HSC Fitness Center is available to all HSC residents, students, staff and faculty. The Fitness Center is conveniently located in the Chestnut Street Parking Garage and includes weight machines, free weights and 20 pieces of aerobic equipment. Aerobics and yoga classes are also offered. In addition, a swimming pool and recreational facilities on Belknap Campus are also available to residents, through the Intramural and Recreational Sports Office.
Lactation rooms are at various locations on the Health Sciences Campus.
The University of Louisville House Staff are eligible to participate in the 403(b) retirement plan by electing to contribute to the voluntary Employee Supplemental and Roth Additional options. The contributions in the Employee Supplemental and Roth Additional options are not matched by the university.
The Graduate Medical Education office greatly encourages residents to contribute to their community and improve the future of their profession through leadership and advocacy. In that spirit, the Graduate Medical Education Office is providing membership to the Greater Louisville Medical Society (GLMS) and the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) at no cost to GME contracted residents and fellows.
Parking
Parking permits are provided to trainees by either their program or the GME office at no cost to the resident.
Uber Transportation Program
An Uber based transportation service is provided free of charge to UofL residents/fellows. The purpose of this program is to ensure that all residents & fellows have a safe transportation option if they are too fatigued to return home safely.