Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Curriculum

Conferences and Didactics

Fellows participate in a robust educational curriculum that includes:

  • Weekly outpatient continuity clinic
  • Weekly didactic sessions
  • Journal club quarterly
  • Case-based learning conferences (x2)
  • Research presentation
  • Schwartz Rounds monthly
  • Holden's Supportive & Palliative Care Grand Rounds monthly
  • University of Iowa Health Care Ethics conferences
  • Interdisciplinary team meetings weekly
  • PalliTalk (Vital Talk curriculum for fellows)
  • American Association for Hospice and Palliative Care Annual Assembly
  • Medical student communication workshops (minimum 2 per year)

These experiences foster clinical excellence, scholarly development, and interdisciplinary collaboration throughout the fellowship year.

Thursday Didactics & Clinic Layout

Clinic will be on Thursday mornings, with fellows rotating on an every-other-week basis. One fellow will be excused from their service duties to attend clinic while the other remains on their respective service, then switch the following week.

In addition, Thursday afternoons are protected time dedicated for both fellows as follows:

  • 13:00-14:00: Core didactics on a weekly basis
  • 14:00-15:00: Weeks 1 and 3 will be dedicated to board preparation while weeks 2 and 4 will include time for research or presentation preparation
  • 15:00-16:00: Every week will provide administrative time for patient logs, catching up on notes, wellness, return to service, etc.
Thursday schedule

Additionally, we are introducing a Humanities Curriculum, held every fifth Thursday as a dedicated Humanities Half-Day. This protected educational experience provides fellows with the opportunity to explore the human, emotional, ethical, spiritual, and existential dimensions of serious illness and end-oflife care.

Through a variety of experiences—including reflective writing, literature, narrative medicine, visual arts, film, facilitated discussion, and shared storytelling—fellows are encouraged to examine the personal and professional impact of caring for patients with serious illness. The curriculum is designed to foster self-reflection, deepen empathy, enhance communication skills, and strengthen resilience while promoting a greater appreciation for the diverse experiences of patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

By integrating the humanities into fellowship training, we aim to cultivate compassionate, reflective physicians who are equipped not only with clinical expertise but also with the insight and emotional intelligence necessary to provide exceptional patient-centered care.