Program Highlights
- Combines faculty from two academic medical centers: Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine.
- NewYork-Presbyterian is ranked #4 hospital in the nation and #1 in New York, according to U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospital" survey.
- Unique palliative care consultation models, including a dedicated ICU team and early intervention consult team.
- Inpatient Calvary hospice program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
- Individual fellow mentoring and research opportunities, e.g. with the Center for Research on End-of-Life Care and the Translational Research Institute on Pain in Later Life (TRIPLL) both at Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Center for Improving Care for Vulnerable Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions (CIPC) at Columbia School of Nursing.
- Outpatient palliative care clinic integrated within an NCI Cancer Center.
- Exposure to diverse patient populations and cultures in two different neighborhoods in Manhattan (Washington Heights and the Upper East Side).
- Geriatrics training and diactics built into the curriculum.
- GeriTalk Communication Training for HPM fellows provided by trained faculty.
- Monthly narrative medicine sessions through the Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics at Columbia University and the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine.
- Clinical ethics training with the Chair of the Ethics Committee at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
- Integration of contemplative care practices and meditation.
- AAHPM membership, conference fees, as well as travel and accommodation expenses to attend the annual AAHPM Assembly Meeting is covered.
About the Program
In 2019, the Palliative Care Programs at the Columbia and Cornell Campuses of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital initiated a Bi-campus Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, expanding on the already existing Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
NewYork-Presbyterian, with its diversity of clinical training programs, patient populations, faculty and staff, provides an ideal setting for interdisciplinary interaction and collaboration, as our fellows work with the varied clinical providers who participate in the care of seriously ill adults and children. The year-long fellowship encompasses the medical, psychosocial, ethical, existential, and spiritual domains of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. We are committed to the excellence and preparation of future leaders in the clinical, educational, policy and research areas of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Clinical Training
Rotation Site
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical center (CUIMC): Inpatient Consultation, Clinical Ethics, Continuity Clinic
- Newyork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center (WCMC): Inpatient Consultation, Continuity Clinic
- NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital (MSCH): Pediatric palliative care
- Calvary Hospital (Bronx): Long-term care rotation/hospice
- VNS Hospice: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx
The fellows have an active clinical role at all sites during the fellowship while working with the respective Interdisciplinary Teams (IDTs). One month of elective time is offered to pursue research or additional clinical training. Examples include: Clinical Ethics, Radiation Oncology, Integrative therapies, Interventional Pain Medicine, Consultation Psychiatry, Psychology, Neuro-Oncology, Geriatrics and more. International Electives are also possible — for example, in the Dominican Republic, Uganda and India.
| Rotations | Blocks (= 4 weeks) |
|---|---|
| Inpatient Consult Service (CUIMC) | 5.5 blocks |
| Inpatient Consult Service (WCMC) | 2 blocks |
| Clinical Ethics (CUIMC) | .5 block |
| Hospice (VNS) | 2.5 blocks |
| Pediatric Palliative Care (MSCH) | .5 block |
| Long Term Care/Hospice (at Calvary Hospital) | 1 block |
| Elective | 1 block |
| Vacation | 4 weeks |
Didactics & Educational Program
- HPM Fellowshop Core Lecture Series (weekly)
- Journal Club (monthly)
- Departmental Grand Rounds (weekly)
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine Grand Rounds (monthly)
- Bi-campus Case Conferences Columbia and Cornell (quarterly)
- Debriefing and Resiliency Training sessions for our fellows (monthly)
- Narrative Medicine Workshop (monthly)
- We are committed to helping our fellows develop a reflective practice and develop and strengthen their narrative competence. That is, "to recognize, absorb, metabolize, interpret, and be moved by the stories of illness." (Rita Charon)
How to Apply
Our Bi-campus (Columbia and Cornell campuses) HPM fellowship program is listed in ERAS as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia and Cornell Campus) Program — (5403512118)
[Previously, our fellowship program was listed as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus) Program Number 5403504076]
The fellowship is an ACGME approved interdisciplinary fellowship (4 fellows per year) located in both the Department of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and in the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine.
Applicants who have completed (or will complete) an ACGME approved residency in one of the following disciplines are eligible to apply:
- Anesthesiology
- Emergency medicine
- Family medicine
- Internal medicine
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation
- Psychiatry and neurology
- Radiology
- Surgery
Applications are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The following are required for applicants to upload to ERAS: Curriculum vitae, Personal statement, 3 letters of support, Test scores (e.g., United States Medical Licensing Examination or Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates). Fellowship candidates can submit applications to our program in July. We begin reviewing applications in August and invite successful applicants to interview on a rolling basis.
Craig D. Blinderman, MD, MA, FAAHPM
Fellowship Program Director
Dr. Craig D. Blinderman is an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Director of the Adult Palliative Medicine Service at Columbia University Medical Center/New-York Presbyterian Hospital and the Program Director of the Bi-Campus (Columbia and Cornell) Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Blinderman maintains an active inpatient and outpatient palliative medicine clinical practice. His academic and research interests include: decision-making at the end of life, the philosophy of care, medical ethics, and the integration of palliative care in medical education. He also has a strong interest in teaching and developing programs to improve students and residents' skills in communication and care for the dying.
Ron Adelman, MD
Fellowship Program Director
Dr. Ron Adelman is the Co-Chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is the Emilie Roy Corey Professor of Geriatrics and Gerontology. Dr. Adelman is also the Director of the Irving Sherwood Center on Aging, Director of the Center for Aging Research and Clinical Care and directs Adult Palliative Care at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Adelman’s research interests are in older patient-physician communication, caregiving, and a range of palliative care topics.
Shunichi Nakagawa, MD
Associate Program Director
Dr. Shunichi Nakagawa is Associate Program Director (Columbia) and Assistant Professor of Medicine, and Director of Inpatient Palliative Care Services at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Nakagawa graduated from Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Japan. He completed a residency in general surgery in Japan and a residency in Internal Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. He went on to complete a fellowship in Geriatrics and Hospice and Palliative Medicine both at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. Dr. Nakagawa joined the Columbia University Medical Center as a faculty member in 2013. Dr. Nakagawa specializes in symptom management and assisting goals of care in seriously ill patients. He also teaches palliative medicine, especially medical communication to medical students, residents, fellows and medical staffs in New York Presbyterian hospital. His research interests include: palliative care in heart failure patients who are on mechanical circulatory support, such as advance care planning, decision making, symptom management, caregiver burden and bereavement. He is also interested in communication about treatment preferences before high risk surgery.
Barton Sanders, MD
Associate Program Director
Dr. Barton Sanders is Associate Program Director (Cornell) and a graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and stayed at UAB complete a fellowship in Palliative Medicine. He joined the Cornell Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine where he serves as an attending for the inpatient palliative care consultation service, and also sees patients in the outpatient palliative care practice. His interests include the clinical delivery of palliative care and postgraduate physician education. Dr. Sanders is an associate program director for the Columbia/Cornell Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship.
Contact
Adult Palliative Care Service
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Elizabeth Moreno
Administrative Assistant to Dr. Blinderman and Fellowship Program Coordinator