Why did you decide to work in palliative care? As a kid, I always liked to ask big questions. “What ifs?” I lost several people in my life and realized those big questions were really about uncertainty and one day dying. I started volunteering in hospice during college and medical school, but, honestly, I thought … Read more
Why did you decide to work in palliative care? It is a dream come true to be joining UNC’s Palliative Care team this summer as a clinical social worker. My background in providing counseling to adults, couples and families working through difficult transitions and losses, combined with having supported patients and families in UNC’s Outpatient … Read more
Why did you decide to work in palliative care? Palliative care allows me to care for patients the way I have always wanted to – by advocating for the patient and ensuring their values remain at the focal point of all care decisions. I count it an immense privilege to enter into some of the … Read more
Why did you decide to work in palliative care? I chose to work in palliative are because this area of practice felt like a natural extension of my background in nursing and allows me to stay true to my value of providing care that focuses on the person first and the disease second. I have worked … Read more
Why did you decide to work in palliative care? In 2002 I opted mid-stream to shift from general IM/critical care to geriatrics and my new practice partner was coincidentally assisting with the development of an in-patient PC program. I found myself cross-covering for her and the anchor for the PC service, a nurse practitioner named … Read more
Q & A with Elisabeth Dellon, MD, MPH – Medical Director Children’s Supportive Care Team Why did you decide to work in palliative care? I went to medical school because I loved science and hoped to help advance science in ways to improve health care. I quickly learned that I was drawn to the stories … Read more
Q & A with Laura C. Hanson – UNC Palliative Care Program Medical Director Why did you decide to work in palliative care? After training in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, it was clear to me that I was drawn to “whole person” medicine for people facing serious illness. Caring for older patients, I found … Read more
Q & A with Lily Gillmor – Transitions LifeCare Associate VP of Palliative Care & Kids Why did you decide to work in palliative care? My first job out of nursing school was in inpatient pediatrics, prior to hospitals having pediatric palliative care teams. I was assigned as primary nurse for a young child who … Read more
Q&A with Joshua Dowd, MD Why did you decide to work in palliative care? When I was in my last year of med school, I thought that I wanted to be an oncologist. I opted to do an elective in palliative care because I thought that knowing about that side of things would definitely be … Read more
Q&A with Jared Lowe, MD Why did you decide to work in palliative care? I was initially drawn to palliative care during my intern year working with palliative care physicians rounding on an inpatient oncology unit. They were excellent role models, who used their specialized training in symptom management and communication while navigating the medical … Read more