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Our Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office has preliminary eligibility requirements that all prospective trainees must meet before applying for a training program at our institution. In addition to these criteria, our program also has the following requirements: 

Trainees must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency-training program in Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Neurology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Anesthesiology, or other qualifying specialties. Physicians who have completed Oncology or Geriatric Fellowships are also eligible. Applicants must successfully complete each step/part/level of the USMLE within three attempts.

Suitable candidates should be highly motivated for a career in palliative medicine.

Applications are only accepted through?the ?for the July cycle and utilizes the??to fill all positions.

Interviews will begin in mid-September and continue through October.

All applications will be reviewed and ranked by November in preparation for the December match.

Required documents for all applicants:

• Curriculum vitae
• Personal statement
• USMLE or COMLEX transcript
• (3) Letters of recommendation
• (1) Letter of recommendation from your program director
• Medical school transcript
• Photograph (optional)

Fellowship Program Goals

• Train individuals to provide state-of-the-art multi-disciplinary care for patients with advanced cancer and other chronic illnesses.
• Develop leaders in the field of palliative medicine.
• Provide a rigorous academic experience in which fellows can participate in clinical research under the guidance of experienced mentors.

Clinical Goals

The primary objective or outcome of the clinical fellowship program is that fellows should be competent to serve as a consultant to other specialties for symptom control and palliative care, to care for inpatients on the palliative care primary service and to provide a learning experience, which promotes fellows to develop the attitude, knowledge and skill base required to participate in effective and compassionate palliative care. This fellowship requires seven and a half months¡¯ attendance in MD Anderson Palliative Care Services and four and a half months at outside participating palliative sites, and two weeks of electives.

• Fellows will be familiar with the clinical course in major symptomatic complications of cancer. Fellows will understand the pathophysiology, assessment, and management of pain, cachexia/anorexia, dyspnea, delirium, depression, anxiety, asthenia, fatigue, nausea, constipation, insomnia, and other clinical symptoms.
• Fellows will have expertise in clinical decision-making in palliative cancer care, including artificial nutrition and hydration, medical and surgical management of bowel obstruction, metabolic complications, and sepsis.
• Fellows gain experience in assessing and treating other chronic illnesses, including respiratory, cardio, and neurological diseases.
• Fellows will be familiar with the pharmacology of all major drug groups used in the management of cancer and non-cancer related symptoms, including analgesics, anti-emetics, cardiac and respiratory drugs, and psychotropics.
• Fellows will have excellent skills in communication and counseling of patients and their families.
• Fellows will be able to implement follow-up planning to establish community support for patients, including hospice care, long-term cancer rehabilitation, nursing homes, long-term acute care, home care, etc.
• Fellows will be able to incorporate evidence-based decision-making for dying patients and their families.
• Fellows will be able to access the relevant literature in helping to solve clinical problems.
• Fellows will be able to apply critical appraisal skills to literature in palliative medicine.
• Fellows will be able to discuss the ethical issues of confronting dying patients, their families, and their physicians, including end-of-life decision making, advance directives, care planning, competency, euthanasia, and assisted suicide.
• Fellows will be able to outline a general framework for ethical decision-making.
• Fellows will be able to describe an approach to managing the particular ethical issues of the end-of-life, including withdrawing or withholding therapy, advance directives, euthanasia, and assisted suicide.
• Fellows will understand the health care delivery system and the economics of different settings.
• Fellows will be able to demonstrate integrity, honesty, and compassion in the care of patients.
• Fellows will be able to act as an effective advocate for the rights of the patient and family in clinical situations involving serious ethical considerations.

Research Goals

This program is designed to prepare fellows for a career in academic and clinical research. An advanced hospice and palliative medicine research position is available to selected individuals who have secured outside funding from their home institution or a granting agency. Recognizing that trainees have different backgrounds, interests, and training in research, as well as different career goals, one of the major objectives of the research component of the fellowship is to help prepare individuals for transition to a faculty position in which they will be able to pursue investigative activities and compete for funding from the National Institutes of Health and other funding agencies.
 

• Fellows will become familiar with methodological and content aspects of symptom control and palliative care research.
• Fellows will receive formal training in critical appraisal of the literature and research methodology.
• Fellows will be mentored in the preparation of at least two peer-reviewed publications.
• Fellows will attend the biweekly ¡°Chief¡¯s Journal Club¡± for brief analyses of recent supportive care topics.

Teaching Goals

• Fellows will become effective educators. They will be expected to regularly present articles in the monthly journal club as well as in the weekly PRIM rounds and unit rounds. They will participate in weekly didactic lectures with the faculty.
• Our palliative care program has active didactic sessions that include both weekly and monthly academic presentations by fellows, as well as monthly research presentations by the research team. At the beginning of the year, fellows will be assigned a mentor to oversee their scholarly activities. The weekly fellows¡¯ presentations are supervised by faculty, and if deemed appropriate, will culminate into a manuscript for publication. Fellows will become familiar with methodological and content aspects of symptom control and palliative care research. They will receive formal training in critical appraisal of the literature and research methodology.
• Fellows will become familiar with the education of residents, fellows, and visiting faculty.
• Fellows will become familiar with the process of developing a curriculum for symptom control and palliative care.
• A completed project, either in clinical or basic science research and quality improvement (QI), is required of each fellow, and a written paper suitable for publication is expected before a certificate from MD Anderson Cancer Center is issued. Our track records indicate our fellows, on average, publish at least two papers per year.

Administration Goals

• Fellows will become familiar with the organization and reimbursement of symptom control and palliative care services.
• Fellows will be capable of preparing a project, including clinical and financial justification, for the development of Palliative programs in academic medical centers.
• Optional, preliminary training on organizing a fellowship program in palliative care is offered to fellows.
  

Research Opportunities and Training

Our fellows have the opportunity to work with, learn from, and collaborate with faculty members in our department and research mentors across the institution. Fellows participate in a research seminar series to cover various topics in palliative care research, and they are encouraged to submit and present their research at national meetings, such as the annual American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) conference.

Clinical Training

Core rotations include the inpatient consultation service, clinic (including telemedicine), and palliative care unit, where fellows work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams comprising physicians, advanced practice providers, social workers, chaplains, counselors, and pharmacists. Fellows also rotate through pediatrics, hospice, and external hospital facilities to gain experience with a range of serious illnesses outside of cancer. There will be an opportunity to choose from electives in Psychiatry, Integrative Medicine, Cancer Rehabilitation, Radiation Oncology, Pain Management, and Ethics, as well as a multitude of non-oncological elective options in the Veterans Administration Hospital (VA).

Didactics

The fellowship includes protected time for formal and informal didactics, including lecture series, interactive group discussions/workshops, conferences, as well as bedside teaching. Case conferences, journal clubs, and grand rounds occur on a scheduled basis weekly. Fellows will have the opportunity to present challenging cases and participate in group debriefing sessions throughout the year to promote resiliency and wellness.

Scheduling Expectations

Our program adheres to the ACGME requirements for trainee working hours and takes these requirements seriously.?During on-call hours, fellows may take call from home and are not required to be in-house, as there is nocturnist coverage in the case urgent evaluation is necessary.

Board certification

Upon satisfactory completion of the fellowship program, each fellow is eligible to take the written and oral examinations for certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

The program averages 60-70 applicants per year, and fellows have enjoyed lots of success. Past graduates include faculty at the following academic institutions: MD Anderson, Johns Hopkins University, Emory University, the Cleveland Clinic, and the Mayo Clinic.

• Ancy KM, Azhar A, Guzman Gutierrez D, Bruera E. "I'm Done": A patient's wish and will to die. Palliat Support Care. 2023 Dec 22:1-4. doi: 10.1017/S1478951523001931. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38131142.
• Hui D, Mastroleo GS, Rozman De Morales A, Peek A, Reddy A, Zhukovsky DS, Joy M, Ali S, Bruera E. Implementation of Patient Reported Outcomes in Outpatient Palliative Care: From Paper to Computer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Aug;66(2):e197-e203. doi: 0.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.04.012. Epub 2023 Apr 18. PMID: 37080480; PMCID: PMC11875839.
• Amaram-Davila J, Reddy A, Arthur J, Narayanan S, Gogineni M, Mallipeddi T, De Moraes AR, Maddi R, Shelal Z, Urbauer D, Chen M, Bruera E. Efforts to Improve Naloxone Co-Prescription for Patients With Cancer Pain at Risk of Opioid Overdose. J Palliat Med. 2023 Jul;26(7):969-973. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0389. Epub 2023 Apr 17. PMID: 37074064; PMCID: PMC10316523.
• Dev R, Fortuno ES 3rd, Amaram-Davila JS, Haider A, Bruera E. Benefits and risks of off-label olanzapine use for symptom management in cancer patients - case report. Ann Palliat Med. 2023 May;12(3):600-606. doi: 10.21037/apm-22-1167. Epub 2023 Mar 14. PMID: 37038067.
• Tschanz JM, Bruera E, Arthur JA. Managing Cancer Pain in Hospitalized Patients with Comorbid Opioid Use Disorder with Buprenorphine: A Case Series. J Palliat Med. 2025 Mar;28(3):416-419. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2024.0092. Epub 2024 Oct 9. PMID: 39383025.
• Heung Y, Clark M, Tschanz J, Bruera E. Opioid Prescription Denials by Community Pharmacies for Cancer-Related Pain: A Case Series. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Sep;66(3):e431-e435. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.06.027. Epub 2023 Jun 24. PMID: 37356595.
• Khan R, Tschanz J, De La Cruz M, Hui D, Urbauer D, Grouls A, Bruera E. Patient considerations of social media account management after death. Support Care Cancer. 2024 Oct 1;32(10):696. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08882-9. PMID: 39352567.
• Pawate V, Davila JSA, Reddy A, Bruera E. Routine Monitoring of QTc Interval as a Barrier for Efficient Use of Methadone in Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Feb;67(2):e147-e150. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.10.018. Epub 2023 Oct 18. PMID: 37863373.
• Arthur J, Pawate V, Lu Z, Yennurajalingam S, Azhar A, Reddy A, Epner D, Hui D, Tanco K, Delgado Guay MO, Vidal M, Chen M, Bruera E. Helpfulness of Question Prompt Sheet for Patient-Physician Communication Among Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 May 1;6(5):e2311189. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.11189. PMID: 37129892; PMCID: PMC10155065.
• Khan R, Tang M, Azhar A, Bruera E. The Administrative Burden on Palliative Academic Physicians. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 May;67(5):e399-e402. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.01.035. Epub 2024 Feb 6. PMID: 38331231.
• Tang M, Khan R, Ruiz Buenrostro A, Andersen CR, Lau J, Hui D, Zimmermann C, Bruera E. Subcutaneous administration of drugs and hydration in acute palliative care units: Physician attitudes and beliefs in the United States and Canada. Palliat Support Care. 2024 Jun;22(3):535-538. doi: 10.1017/S1478951523001943. PMID: 38126334.
• Kim MJ, Admane S, Chang YK, Shih KK, Reddy A, Tang M, Cruz M, Taylor TP, Bruera E, Hui D. Chatbot Performance in Defining and Differentiating Palliative Care, Supportive Care, Hospice Care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 May;67(5):e381-e391. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.01.008. Epub 2024 Jan 12. PMID: 38219964.
• Admane S, Clark M, Bruera E, Reddy A. Caught in the Name Game: Navigating the Data Linkage Conundrum. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Jul;68(1):e79-e81. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.04.009. Epub 2024 Apr 15. PMID: 38631649.
• Amaram-Davila J, Vega MF, Kim MJ, Dalal S, Dev R, Tanco K, Admane S, De Moraes AR, Thomas LA, Shelal Z, Gogineni M, Bramati P, Urbauer D, Hui D, Arthur J, Haider A, Bruera E, Reddy A. Perceptions Toward Naloxone Among Patients With Cancer Receiving Opioids. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Dec;68(6):e500-e507. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.08.034. Epub 2024 Aug 30. PMID: 39218123.
• Admane S, Clark M, Reddy A, Narayanan S, Bruera E. Safely Prescribing Opioids With Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir - Case Report and Management Recommendations. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Jan;67(1):e99-e104. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.09.027. Epub 2023 Oct 3. PMID: 37797677.
• Bramati PS, Admane S, Rozman de Moraes A, Chen M, Padilla GJ, Erck M, Stanton P, Delgado-Guay MO, Bruera E. Perspectives on Self-Reported Sexual Dysfunction by Palliative Care Patients with Cancer. J Palliat Med. 2025 Feb;28(2):234-238. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2024.0311. Epub 2024 Dec 9. PMID: 39648817.
• Hui D, Maxwell JP, de la Rosa A, Jennings K, Vidal M, Reddy A, Azhar A, Dev R, Tanco K, Heung Y, Delgado-Guay M, Zhukovsky D, Arthur J, Reddy S, Yennu S, Ontai A, Bruera E. The impact of a web-based prognostic calculator on prognostic confidence in outpatient palliative care. Support Care Cancer. 2024 Oct 8;32(11):714. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08911-7. PMID: 39377783; PMCID: PMC11875840.
• Clark MD, Bramati P, Singleton G, Troyer J, Alizadeh P, Berly A, Fellman B, Hui D, Bruera E. Gabapentinoids Rotation to Duloxetine in Palliative Care Patients With Cancer Receiving Concurrent Opioids. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2025 Jan;69(1):e97-e99. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.09.016. Epub 2024 Sep 26. PMID: 39341429.
• Hui D, Hanneman SK, Jennings K, Ontai A, Cron S, Bruera E. Predictive Biomarkers of Dyspnea Response to Dexamethasone and Placebo in Cancer Patients. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Aug 6:S0885-3924(24)00852-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.07.003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39297834.
• Bruera E. Improving Palliative Care Access for Patients With Cancer. JAMA. 2024 Sep 11. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.14059. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39259572.
• Bruera E. Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Teams in Acute Care Hospitals and Cancer Centers: A Job for Sisyphus. J Palliat Med. 2024 Aug;27(8):976-978. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2024.0190. Epub 2024 Jul 15. PMID: 39008415.
• Nguyen K, Bruera E. Acute Urinary Frequency in a Cancer Patient on Olanzapine. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Oct;68(4):e340-e342. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.06.024. Epub 2024 Jul 3. PMID: 38969262.
• Yennurajalingam S, Thomas L, Stanton PA, Lu Z, de Moraes AR, Bruera E. Cancer-related fatigue among patients with advanced cancer receiving immune-checkpoint inhibitors: a prospective study. Support Care Cancer. 2024 Jun 25;32(7):459. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08643-8. PMID: 38918253.
• Hui D, Huang YT, Andersen C, Cassel B, Nortje N, George M, Bruera E. Cost of Hospitalization Associated with Inpatient Goals-of-Care Program Implementation at a Comprehensive Cancer Center: A Propensity Score Analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Mar 28;16(7):1316. doi: 10.3390/cancers16071316. PMID: 38610994; PMCID: PMC11010830.
• Rozman de Moraes A, Erdogan E, Azhar A, Reddy SK, Lu Z, Geller JA, Graves DM, Kubiak MJ, Williams JL, Wu J, Bruera E, Yennurajalingam S. Scheduled and Breakthrough Opioid Use for Cancer Pain in an Inpatient Setting at a Tertiary Cancer Hospital. Curr Oncol. 2024 Mar 5;31(3):1335-1347. doi: 10.3390/curroncol31030101. PMID: 38534934; PMCID: PMC10969060.
• Arthur J, Edwards T, Lu Z, Amoateng DM, Koom-Dadzie K, Zhu H, Long J, Do KA, Bruera E. Healthcare provider perceptions and reported practices regarding opioid prescription for patients with chronic pain. Res Sq [Preprint]. 2023 Sep 27:rs.3.rs-3367358. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3367358/v1. Update in: Support Care Cancer. 2024 Jan 22;32(2):121. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08323-7. PMID: 37841840; PMCID: PMC10571602.
• Epner DE, Reddy SK, Hui D, Fellman B, Bruera E. Doing the hard work of learning: oncologists' enduring impressions of a year-long communication skills training program. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Dec 30;32(1):71. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-08285-2. PMID: 38158427; PMCID: PMC11753289.
• Yennurajalingam S, Mott F, Lu Z, Urbauer D, Stanton P, Torres H, Rantanen PA, Davis S, Dev R, Hui D, Bruera E. Perception of subjective lived experiences of individuals with anorexia-cachexia in patients with advanced lung cancer. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2023 Oct 10;10(Suppl 1):100314. doi: 10.1016/j.apjon.2023.100314. PMID: 38197040; PMCID: PMC10772162.
• Itzep N, Campbell U, Madden K, Bruera E. Discrepancies Between the Electronic Medical Record and Website Access to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Mar;67(3):e251-e253. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.11.029. Epub 2023 Dec 5. PMID: 38061502.
• Amaram-Davila J, Bramati P, Gammon L, Mallipeddi T, Jastrzemski O, Clark MD, Arthur J, Reddy A, Bruera E. Deficiencies with CAGE-AID questionnaire in identifying nonmedical opioid use-a report of two cases. Ann Palliat Med. 2023 Sep;12(5):976-980. doi: 10.21037/apm-23-192. Epub 2023 Aug 22. PMID: 37691336.
• Reddy A, Gonz¨¢lez JB, Rizvi A, Nortje N, Dalal S, Haider A, Amaram-Davila JS, Bramati P, Chen M, Hui D, Bruera E. Impact of an Institution-Wide Goals of Care Program on the Timing of Referrals to Outpatient Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Dec;66(6):e666-e671. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.08.019. Epub 2023 Aug 27. PMID: 37643654; PMCID: PMC11815992.
• Dev R, Agosta M, Fellman B, Reddy A, Baldwin S, Arthur J, Haider A, Carmack C, Hui D, Bruera E. Coping Strategies and Associated Symptom Burden Among Patients With Advanced Cancer. Oncologist. 2024 Feb 2;29(2):166-175. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad253. PMID: 37669020; PMCID: PMC10836315.
• Bramati PS, Aldana G, Bruera E. Premonition of Death. J Clin Oncol. 2023 Nov 20;41(33):5200-5201. doi: 10.1200/JCO.23.01269. Epub 2023 Sep 26. PMID: 37751565.
• Admane S, Clark M, Reddy A, Narayanan S, Bruera E. Safely Prescribing Opioids With Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir - Case Report and Management Recommendations. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Jan;67(1):e99-e104. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.09.027. Epub 2023 Oct 3. PMID: 37797677.
• Tang M, Ann-Yi S, Zhukovsky DS, Fellman B, Bruera E. Distress, demoralization, and fulfillment among palliative care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliat Support Care. 2024 Jun;22(3):482-486. doi: 10.1017/S1478951523001803. PMID: 38037463.
• Amaram-Davila J, Reddy A, Clark MD, Nancherla A, Arthur J, Bruera E. Reliability of urine drug testing among patients on buprenorphine transdermal patch. Palliat Support Care. 2024 Aug;22(4):822-824. doi: 10.1017/S147895152300086X. PMID: 37525588; PMCID: PMC10830884.
• Tang M, Heung Y, Fellman B, Bruera E. Frequency of vaccine hesitancy among patients with advanced cancer. Palliat Support Care. 2024 Apr;22(2):289-295. doi: 10.1017/S147895152300113X. PMID: 37525556; PMCID: PMC11773624.
• Ann-Yi S, Milbury K, Jones M, Necroto V, Whisenant M, Li Y, Bruera E. Supportive Care for Dual Caregivers who Care for Their Partner With Cancer and Their Young Children. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Nov;66(5):e603-e609. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.07.012. Epub 2023 Jul 21. PMID: 37482225; PMCID: PMC11772045.
• Edwards T, Arthur J, Joy M, Lu Z, Dibaj S, Bruera E, Zhukovsky D. Assessing risk for nonmedical opioid use among patients with cancer: Stability of the CAGE-AID questionnaire across clinical care settings. Palliat Support Care. 2023 Jul 13:1-5. doi: 10.1017/S1478951523000871. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37439217; PMCID: PMC10787045.
• Shih KK, Arechiga AB, Chen X, Urbauer DL, De Moraes AR, Rodriguez AJ, Thomas L, Stanton PA, Bruera E, Hui D. Postvaccine Era COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Distress in Palliative Care Patients With Advanced Cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Oct;66(4):328-337.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.06.028. Epub 2023 Jun 30. PMID: 37394198.
• Baez Gonzalez J, Clark MD, Bruera E. Fluoroquinolone-Induced Seizure in a Patient Receiving End-of-Life Care: A Case Report. J Palliat Med. 2023 Nov;26(11):1590-1592. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0123. Epub 2023 Jun 14. PMID: 37319353.
• Heung Y, Zhukovsky D, Hui D, Lu Z, Andersen C, Bruera E. Quality of End-of-Life Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Apr 8;15(8):2201. doi: 10.3390/cancers15082201. PMID: 37190130; PMCID: PMC10136926.
• Tang M, Clark M, Reddy A, Bruera E. Fentanyl Toxicity Related to Concomitant Use of Ciprofloxacin and its Effects as a CYP3A4 Inhibitor. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Aug;66(2):e307-e309. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.04.024. Epub 2023 May 5. PMID: 37150364.
• Tanco K, Olson A, Fellman B, Jankowski M, Lai SY, Shete S, Harbison K, Scheid J, Bruera E. Analysis of Dispensing and Utilization Patterns of Medical Cannabis Products in State Licensed Cannabis Dispensaries. J Palliat Med. 2023 Nov;26(11):1482-1487. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0075. Epub 2023 Jun 6. PMID: 37285183.
• Tang M, Abdelaal M, Lau J, Ruiz Buenrostro A, Chen M, Zimmermann C, Bruera E. Subcutaneous vs Intravenous Administration of Medications and Fluids for Patients With Cancer in the US and Canada. JAMA Oncol. 2023 May 1;9(5):717-719. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.0239. PMID: 36951869; PMCID: PMC10037196.
• Hui D, Ahmed S, Nortje N, George M, Andersen CR, Wilson K, Urbauer D, Flowers C, Bruera E. Differential Impact of a Multicomponent Goals-of-Care Program in Patients with Hematologic and Solid Malignancies. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Feb 28;15(5):1507. doi: 10.3390/cancers15051507. PMID: 36900298; PMCID: PMC10001115.
• Zhukovsky DS, Soliman P, Liu D, Meyer M, Haider A, Heung Y, Gaeta S, Lu K, Stepan K, Stanton P, Rodriguez A, Bruera E. Patient Engagement With Early Stage Advance Care Planning at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Oncologist. 2023 Jun 2;28(6):542-550. doi: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad015. PMID: 36848260; PMCID: PMC10243763.
• Carmack CL, Agosta MT, Ann-Yi S, Bruera E. Treating Radiation Anxiety With Systematic Desensitization: Head and Neck Cancer Case Reports. J Palliat Med. 2023 Jul;26(7):1020-1023. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0232. Epub 2023 Feb 2. PMID: 36730789.
• Reddy A, Haider A, Arthur J, Hui D, Dalal S, Dev R, Tanco K, Amaram-Davila J, Hernandez F, Chavez P, De Moraes AR, Wu J, Nguyen K, Subbiah I, Epner D, Shelal Z, Delgado Guay MO, Mallipeddi T, Bruera E. Levorphanol as a Second Line Opioid in Cancer Patients Presenting to an Outpatient Supportive Care Center: An Open-label Study. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Jun;65(6):e683-e690. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.01.013. Epub 2023 Jan 28. PMID: 36720398.
• Bramati PS, Azhar A, Khan R, Tovbin M, Cooper A, Pangemanan I, Fellman B, Bruera E. High Flow Nasal Cannula in Patients With Cancer at the End of Life. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Apr;65(4):e369-e373. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.12.141. Epub 2023 Jan 14. PMID: 36646330.
• Dev R, Bruera E. Treatment options for persistent pain and numbness in cancer survivors. Ann Palliat Med. 2023 Jan;12(1):32-35. doi: 10.21037/apm-22-1392. Epub 2022 Dec 27. PMID: 36627856.
• Yennurajalingam S, Lu Z, Rozman De Moraes A, Tull NN, Kubiak MJ, Geng Y, Andersen CR, Bruera E. Meta-Analysis of Pharmacological, Nutraceutical and Phytopharmaceutical Interventions for the Treatment of Cancer Related Fatigue. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Dec 23;15(1):91. doi: 10.3390/cancers15010091. PMID: 36612088; PMCID: PMC9817820.
• Tanco K, Lopez G, Koyyalagunta L, Fellman B, Halm J, Ignatius J, Bruera E. Comparison of Health Care Providers Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol in the Management of Pain and Other Symptoms in Cancer Patients. J Palliat Med. 2023 Apr;26(4):539-543. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0433. Epub 2022 Dec 23. PMID: 36576904.
• Zhukovsky DS, Heung Y, Enriquez P, Itzep N, Lu Z, Nortje N, Stanton P, Wong A, Bruera E. Just-in-Time Decision Making: Preliminary Findings of a Goals of Care Rapid Response Team. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Apr;65(4):e337-e343. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.11.022. Epub 2022 Dec 8. PMID: 36496112; PMCID: PMC9729166.
• Amaram-Davila J, Kim MJ, Reddy A, Edwards T, Dai J, Urbauer D, Shelal Z, Ross Y, Hosain M, Bruera E, Arthur J. Health Care Provider Attitudes and Beliefs Toward Nonmedical Opioid Use in Patients with Cancer Pain. J Palliat Med. 2023 Feb;26(2):248-252. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0293. Epub 2022 Dec 7. PMID: 36476019; PMCID: PMC9894589.
• Tang M, Arthur J, Cooper A, Clark M, Bruera E. Nonmedical opioid use at the end of life: A tale of addiction and a last wish. Palliat Support Care. 2023 Jun;21(3):561-563. doi: 10.1017/S1478951522001717. PMID: 36545767; PMCID: PMC10175098.
• Yennurajalingam S, Konopleva M, Carmack CL, Dinardo CD, Gaffney M, Michener HK, Lu Z, Stanton P, Ning J, Qiao W, Bruera E. Treatment of Cancer-related-Fatigue in Acute Hematological Malignancies: Results of a Feasibility Study of using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Mar;65(3):e189-e197. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.11.003. Epub 2022 Nov 13. PMID: 36384181.
• Bramati PS, Swan A, Urbauer DL, Rozman De Moraes A, Bruera E. Evaluation of a Daily Nine-Item "Handbook for Self-Care at Work" for Palliative Care Clinicians. J Palliat Med. 2023 May;26(5):622-626. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0347. Epub 2022 Nov 1. PMID: 36318801; PMCID: PMC10325800.
• Hui D, Nortje N, George M, Wilson K, Urbauer DL, Lenz CA, Wallace SK, Andersen CR, Mendoza T, Haque S, Ahmed S, Delgado-Guay M, Dalal S, Rathi N, Reddy A, McQuade J, Flowers C, Pisters P, Aloia T, Bruera E. Impact of an Interdisciplinary Goals-of-Care Program Among Medical Inpatients at a Comprehensive Cancer Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Propensity Score Analysis. J Clin Oncol. 2023 Jan 20;41(3):579-589. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.00849. Epub 2022 Oct 6. PMID: 36201711; PMCID: PMC9870226.
• Shih KK, Anderson A, Dai J, Fellman B, Rozman de Moraes A, Stanton P, Nelson C, DeLa Cruz V, Bruera E. Hybrid Work from Home Clinical Academic Environment: A One-Year Follow-Up Survey of Attitudes and Beliefs of Members of a Department of Palliative Care, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine. J Palliat Med. 2023 Mar;26(3):342-352. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2022.0203. Epub 2022 Sep 14. PMID: 36108159.

Hospice & Palliative Fellowship
Email:  mda_hpm_fellowship@mdanderson.org

In addition to gaining unparalleled education and training experience, MD Anderson trainees have access to exceptional resources and benefits to help them build meaningful careers and lead fulfilling lives.

Institutional benefits and support

GME trainees¡¯ salary stipends are updated every year based on the ACGME¡¯s recommendations, and because our trainees are considered workforce members, they also enjoy MD Anderson¡¯s employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement planning, disability insurance and six weeks of parental leave.

Our GME House Staff Senate offers trainees the opportunity to experience a leadership role in a medical field career, and the institution¡¯s Academic Mentoring Council provides avenues to secure tailored academic mentoring from faculty. Our GME trainees benefit from the extensive support offered to our research trainees, too; they are invited to participate in grant application workshops, apply for pilot grants to support their research ideas and receive monetary awards for securing extramural grant funding.

Trainee wellness is also of utmost importance at MD Anderson.

Our trainees have access to MD Anderson¡¯s , fitness center and other wellness resources provided by the institution. Additionally, our Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC), which provides oversight of our accredited programs, regularly assess our trainees¡¯ needs and implements various initiatives, such as providing free call meals and discounted parking to GME House Staff, to address those gaps. The committee even has a subcommittee entirely dedicated to supporting the wellness of our trainees.

Our efforts to ensure a welcoming and supportive education and training experience have been commended nationally. In 2023, the Office of Graduate Medical Education received the , a prestigious national award that recognizes our institution for its respectful and supportive environment for delivering medical education and patient care.

Beyond MD Anderson

MD Anderson¡¯s location has many benefits, too. Our main campus is nestled inside the Texas Medical Center, the world¡¯s largest medical center which boasts about 10 million patient encounters each year. Many of our faculty are involved in interorganizational research collaborations, both within the TMC and across the nation, exposing trainees to groundbreaking advancements in medical care in real time.

Most importantly, the city of Houston is a great place to call home and raise a family. We are one of the most culturally diverse cities in the nation. More than 145 different languages are spoken across the city, placing us behind only New York and Los Angeles. In fact, about 30% of the city¡¯s population speaks a language other than English at home. And, paychecks here stretch farther than most U.S. metro areas, thanks to our low cost of living.

Visit our Why Houston page to learn more about our city¡¯s affordable housing, fine dining, entertainment scene, nationally renowned museums and other great attributes.