July 1, 2014
Dear Prospective Fellow:
The Palliative Medicine Fellowship Training Program at the University of South Florida is
designed for candidates who wish to pursue a clinical or an academic career in hospice or
palliative medicine. The program offers a one-year fellowship that leads to board eligibility in
hospice and palliative medicine. Up to two fellows will be selected this year.
The first major teaching site for the program is LifePath Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., the
largest non-profit independent hospice in the country. With an average daily census of over
2,500 hospice patients and active palliative care consultation services, the fellow will have an
opportunity for contact with diverse patients having varied clinical conditions in a wide array of
settings. Lifepath Hospice has had a long-standing affiliation with the University of South
Florida, serving as a teaching site for medical students, residents and fellows. The James A.
Haley Veterans Hospital is the second major teaching site for the program offering an active
inpatient palliative care consult service, an inpatient hospice unit, an active home care program
as well as a large skilled nursing facility.
Fellows in palliative medicine will receive broad, practical experience in hospice and palliative
medicine through rotations at the 24-bed Melech House or Sun City Center House Inpatient
Care Centers, LifePath’s Home Hospice Program, and community hospital consultation services
affiliated with Axis Palliative Healthcare, LLC, an affiliate of LifePath Hospice and Palliative
Care, Inc. In addition, fellows may choose electives at the Tampa General Hospital, H. Lee
Moffitt Cancer Center, both having active palliative care services, as well as the James A. Haley
Veterans Hospital.
Fellows are expected to identify a specific scholarly activity/research project during their first
year and participate in this activity throughout the year. LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care,
Inc., is one of the only hospices in the country with an active research department. Fellows can
also interact with multidisciplinary colleagues at the Center for Hospice, Palliative Care, and End
of Life Studies at USF which focuses on education and research in end of life and palliative
care. Fellows will be encouraged to submit one or more papers for publication in the medical
literature. During the training period, in addition to clinical rotations, fellows will participate in
educational activities for and teach medical students, residents and other disciplines. Fellows
will be evaluated monthly by interdisciplinary faculty in the six competency domains required by
the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge,
Practice-based Learning and Skills, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism
and Team-based Practice.
During the year, each palliative medicine fellow will spend six months in hospice inpatient
units/palliative care consultation services, four months with home hospice teams, one month on
a pain service, and one month on an elective. The fellow will also have a continuity experience
with a hospice home care team for 12 months. These settings give fellows opportunities to care
for patients with a broad range of palliative care needs. Electives will be offered in geriatric
home care, geriatric long term care, oncology, radiation oncology, cardiology, pulmonary
medicine, and ethics and humanities.
A completed application including three letters of recommendation should be sent to the
Fellowship Program Director as soon as serious interest is determined. Candidates who have
completed post-graduate training in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine will be eligible for this
fellowship training program. Candidates will be judged on the strength of prior training,
demonstrated clinical competence and potential for excellence in a career in hospice and
palliative medicine. Interdisciplinary faculty members will interview selected candidates before
final decisions are made. All enrolled fellows will receive a stipend based on the salary
guidelines of the University of South Florida.
It is the policy of the LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care and the University of South Florida
not to discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national
origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, political affiliation, handicap or veteran status
in matters of admissions, employment, or services in the educational programs or activities that
it operates, in accordance with civil rights legislation and agency commitment.
The field of hospice and palliative medicine, both academic and clinical areas, remains wide
open for well-trained graduates. One can literally pick the geographic area and practice
preference. I have personally found it an enjoyable and rewarding profession. I am pleased to
hear of your interest in the field. Please let me know how I can be of further assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Robert Walker, M.D.
Associate Professor and Director
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program
Enclosures: application & checklist
University of South Florida
Department of Internal Medicine
Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Fellowship Program
The following documents are required along with your application to our program.
Until we have received all required documents, your application will NOT be reviewed.
Checklist
Application form
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Letters of recommendation (3 current)
One page personal statement re: goals and aspirations and why you are choosing a hospice and
palliative care fellowship
Transcript from medical school
Copy of medical school diploma
USMLE (Steps 1, 2 & 3)
ECFMG certificate (if graduated from foreign medical school)
All such applications and recommendations should be mailed to:
Robert Walker, MD, Program Director
c
/o Lourdes Rodriguez
12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd. MDC19
Tampa, FL 33612
You may also e mail your application packet to LRODRIG1@HEALTH.USF.EDU
POST GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM APPLICATION
University of South Florida College of Medicine
Tampa, FL
Department of Internal Medicine
POSITION APPLYING FOR: Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship TO BEGIN: July 1, 2015
PERSONAL DATA
Name: ______________________________________ Social Security No.:___________________
Present Address: __________________________________________________________________
Number
Telephone Number: (
Street
City
State
)_____________________ Pager Number: (
Zip
) _______________
Email: __________________________________________________________________________
Birthdate: _____________________ Birthplace: _________________________________________
City / State / Country
Citizen of __________________ VISA Status _____________ ECFMG No.:__________________
(if applicable)
Emergency Contact Name: __________________________ Telephone No.: (
) ____________
EDUCATION
Medical School Name: _____________________________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
INTERNSHIP / RESIDENCY
School
(list below in chronological order every program you have attended)
Location
Dates Attended
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Board Eligible __________________ Board Certified ______________ Specialty ______________
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, PUBLICATIONS, SPECIAL SKILLS
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
LICENSE:
Do you hold a valid state medical license? _______ State(s) __________ Number: _____________
AREA OF INTEREST: Describe your possible future professional goals or interests? (i.e. academic
career, private practice, group practice, nursing home physicians, etc.)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
DATE: _______________ SIGNATURE: ____________________________________________
COPIES OF THE FOLLOWING ARE REQUIRED FROM EACH APPLICANT APPLYING
FOR A POSITION
Application form
ECFMG (if applicable)
Medical School Diploma
USMLE (1,2 & 3)
Curriculum Vitae
Letters of Recommendation
Medical School Transcript
One-page personal statement. (Re: goals and aspirations and why you are choosing a hospice and
palliative medicine fellowship)
A small (2x3) photo is appreciated to help in identifying you if you should come for an interview.
2x3 photograph
All applications and documentation should be sent to:
Robert Walker, MD, Program Director
c/ Lourdes Rodriguez
o
12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd. MDC 19
Tampa, FL 33612