Fellows as Teachers, Scientists and Leaders

The UMass Palliative Care team hosted Diane Meier, MD, pioneer and director emeritus of the Center to Advance Palliative Care for a “fireside chat” on how palliative care can help transform health care in the United States and at UMass Memorial Health / UMass Chan Medical School in January 2024.

In addition to our robust clinical training in palliative medicine, our curriculum includes unique opportunities to gain experience skills and skills as an educator, researcher and leader. 


Fellow as Educator:

 •  All fellows participate in Teaching of Tomorrow, a nationally recognized faculty development course designed by UMass Chan senior faculty on the fundamentals of teaching and learning, curriculum design and evaluation, grounded in adult learning theory.  Fellows have a chance to apply concepts to role-play practice in micro-teaching sessions with peers and faculty.  Learn more here.

• Fellows are important role models and educators of clinical bedside teaching for our medical students, residents from multiple specialties, and the oncology, geriatrics, addiction medicine and critical care fellows who rotate on our service. Fellows are expected to plan, design and deliver presentations at weekly team meetings with mentoring and feedback from the program director. Fellows also have an opportunity to present at Grand Rounds by the end of their year in one of the major academic departments at UMass Chan.

• For fellows seeking a career as an educator in academic medicine, UMass Chan offers a new Medical Education Track with a longitudinal curriculum focused on building skills in medical education, leadership and scholarship. Upon completion of this track, participants will be awarded a certificate of distinction in Medical Education.

Fellow as Researcher:

•  All fellows receive training in Lean principles and design and complete a quality improvement project with a mentor and an interdisciplinary team.  UMass Chan sponsors the Interprofessional Trainee Quality Council, which connects fellows with other trainees and mentors to build team-based projects.  Our fellows present their work at poster sessions at UMass Chan and/or regional or national conferences.

•            Fellows seeking a career in research can find expert mentors and collaborators, including Jennifer Tjia, MD and Suzanne Mitchell, MD, who are nationally recognized palliative care researchers, as well as colleagues in neurology and digital medicine.
  
                   

  Learn more about Dr. Tija's work:	Learn more about Dr. Mitchell's work.
  Biography	Biography
  Read more here.	Read more here.

           ·        UMass Chan offers a Masters of Science in Clinical Investigation with applications accepted during fellowship.                     
  
  
  Fellow as Leader: 
  
  Fellows attend the annual American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) assembly, and receive a CME budget to offset the costs of conference attendance and other academic activities. 

  Fellows are trained in leadership skills and program development strategies based best practices and resources from the Center to Advance Palliative Care. 

  Our Program Director, who also leads a respected professional development program for junior faculty at UMass Chan, tailors her mentorship to support each fellow’s career goals throughout the year.

          Fellows can obtain additional training in inclusive leadership and communication, among other
          workshops in diversity, equity and inclusion. Learn more here.