We aim to provide fellows with an interdisciplinary approach to compassionate practice across the patient care spectrum. Our graduates are prepared to succeed in any clinical, educational, academic or leadership role in the scope of palliative medicine while maintaining resilience and professional fortitude.

To accomplish this, fellows are exposed to a wide array of clinical experiences across healthcare settings while working with a diverse team of colleagues.

Program Highlights

  • Wide array of clinical experience across healthcare settings including a large Children’s Hospital where fellows get their pediatric experience
  • Dedicated team of colleagues including social worker and chaplain
  • Diverse patient population including perinatal, pediatric, and adults
  • Busy continuity clinics to become proficient in outpatient palliative care

Program Components

Curriculum

Our curriculum is focused on giving each fellow comprehensive knowledge in communication skills, symptom management, and pain management. You will participate in weekly didactics, which include lectures, case presentations, journal club, and board review. Our didactics are inter-professional learning experiences including social work, spiritual care, nursing, and learners.

Facilities

  • LLU Medical Center: The majority of adult inpatient rotations occur here
  • LLU Children’s Hospital: A dedicated children’s hospital for the pediatric rotation
  • VA Hospital: less than a mile away, this facility provides a unique population of veterans in inpatient and clinic settings
  • Long-term care facility: nearby facility where fellows will work with a Loma Linda University Health geriatrician
  • Clinics: One is embedded in the Cancer Center, which provides excellent continuity of care for our patients with a cancer diagnosis. There are additional clinics for non-cancer patients, and chronically ill pediatric patients.

Research

Each fellow is expected to participate in a quality improvement (QI) or research project and present this at the end of the year.

Portrait of Joseph Vega
Portrait of Joseph Vega
What our alumni are saying
“The fellowship program provides the perfect blend of communication techniques and symptom management skills in order for you to feel comfortable working in any setting after graduation. Most importantly, the core faculty are completely invested in your training and are the kindest people to work with. I wholeheartedly recommend Loma Linda University Health for individuals considering palliative medicine and hope you enjoy the fellowship as much as I did.”
Joseph Vega
Class of 2023