Curriculum

Our one-year training program provides a full, well-rounded clinical experience. Thirteen four-week clinical blocks include inpatient palliative care at two hospitals (three blocks at each) and four hospice blocks (divided between inpatient and home/residential hospice settings). We collaborate with local agencies for geriatrics and pediatrics (one block each at Senior Care Partners/P.A.C.E. and DeVos Children’s Hospital, respectively). The four-week long elective block may be split into two electives, and options include clinical ethics, the business of hospice, advanced heart failure, advanced pain management, geriatric psychiatry, Gyn-Oncology, interventional radiology, radiation oncology, and research.

Fellows fully participate in regular Interdisciplinary Team rounds throughout the continuum of care, including involvement with APPs, chaplains, and social workers. There are two outpatient palliative care clinic options and a LTACH for longitudinal care experiences. Teaching opportunities abound, as the consult services regularly have rotating medical students and residents. Weekly teaching conferences and case presentations occur in collaboration with three other HPM fellowship programs in Southwest Michigan. We encourage fellows to conduct or participate in research and/or quality improvement projects through Western Michigan University and CentricaCare Navigators. Funding is provided for continuing education, books and subscriptions and attendance at a national conference. Wellness resources are available to promote resiliency.

Elective Options (2-4 Weeks) 

Weekly Conferences and Case Discussions

We have a collaborative partnership with the following Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship programs in Michigan:

• Trinity Health (formerly Mercy Health), Grand Rapids
• Corewell (formerly Spectrum Health), Grand Rapids
• Sparrow Health, Lansing