Q & A with Rev. James R. Adams, MDiv, BCC – Palliative Care Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator James is the chaplain for the inpatient palliative care service as well as the bereavement coordinator for UNC Hospitals. He is a priest endorsed by the Anglican Church in North America and is board certified by the Association of Professional … Continued

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 … Continued

Q & A with Laura Patel, MD – Chief Medical Officer of Transitions LifeCare Why did you decide to work in palliative care? When I first began in my internal medicine training, I found myself frustrated by the way our flawed systems repeatedly failed my patients. I was drawn to geriatrics, and later to hospice … Continued

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 … Continued

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 … Continued

Q&A with Ellen Ozier, MSW, LCSW, APHSW-C, OSW-C Why did you decide to work in palliative care?  Being a Palliative Care Clinical Social Worker is actually a second career for me. I worked as a photojournalist for many years before I decided to return to graduate school to complete my Master’s in Social Work degree. I … Continued

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 … Continued

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 … Continued

Q&A with Christopher Thompson, MD, FAAHPM Why did you decide to work in palliative care?  I feel that Hospice and Palliative is my calling.  The first time I walked into an Inpatient Hospice Unit; I knew that was where I wanted to work.  I met my mentor that day and the rest is history.  The … Continued