The Institute for Palliative Medicine
The Institute for Palliative Medicine is an internationally-recognized center for research and education. Since 1989, it has become the largest facility of its kind, acclaimed for scientific and educational leadership in advancing the relief of suffering.
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Center for Research at The Institute for
Palliative Medicine
As a world leader in palliative care, San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine plays a unique role within San Diego’s bioscience community.
On our combined research-and-treatment campus, the research team includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and health care professionals from all disciplines. Physician specialists who participate in research at The Institute for Palliative Medicine include oncologists, anesthesiologists, neurologists, internists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, family physicians, among others. Their work not only advances the science of palliative care, but develops ways to improve the quality of life of hospice patients. Many of our Hospice patients generously participate in our research, while they benefit directly from it. An example of the value of this approach is the introduction of Relistor™, a new drug developed by Wyeth Laboratories with research and testing assistance from The Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice. The drug helps restore normal bowel function in patients on opiod medication, which can be severely constipating.
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CENTER FOR PALLIATIVE STUDIES
The Center for Palliative Studies offers a wide range of educational activities and training for physicians and other medical professionals, as well as medical students, interns, residents and fellows. We are proud to host the world’s largest physician fellowship training program in palliative medicine, bringing together physicians from many specialties under one roof and enhancing their ability to relieve suffering through the practical application of palliative medicine.
Training is also provided for professionals and students in the fields of nursing, social work, bereavement, Dietetics, and integrative therapies. In addition, we host visiting scholars (professionals who come to study for anywhere from one day to several months,) continuing education courses and conferences.
Our objective is to make palliative care training available to every qualified professional and student who is interested.
The Center for Palliative Studies Academic and Research Website Click Here
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PHYSICIAN FELLOWSHIP IN PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
The Physician Fellowship Program is a rigorous, accredited one-year palliative medicine training program designed for physicians who wish to develop significant expertise in palliative medicine, either to integrate it into their specialty practice or to pursue a long-term career as a clinician or an academician in palliative medicine. Fellows work with San Diego Hospice physician leaders and attendings, delivering care in the In-patient Care Center and as part of the home care teams serving 1000 patients throughout San Diego County. A second-year program is also available on a select basis.
For more detailed information on our Fellowship Program click here to view our Academic and Research Website
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INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM at The
Institute for Palliative Medicine
As a global leader in education, research, and advocacy in the art and science of palliative care, our contributions take us far beyond San Diego and California. Over the past few years, we have been invited to work with governments and large health care systems in countries around the world to help them to build their palliative care infrastructure. Under the leadership of Dr. Frank Ferris, IPM staff educate physicians and other healthcare professionals all over the world, from Jordan and Mongolia to the former Soviet republics of Moldavia and Georgia, in an effort to bring better care to patients and their families.
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Senior Staff Profiles at
The Institute for Palliative Medicine
The Institute for Palliative Medicine is the world leader in training physicians and health care professionals in palliative care.
At our combined research-and-treatment campus in San Diego, our mission is three-fold: to advance the theory and practice of palliative care, to provide each of our patients with the full benefit of what we’ve learned, and to share our knowledge with the world.
The Institute is fortunate to be led by this distinguished group of experts:
Charles von Gunten, M.D., Ph.D., FAAHPM is Provost. In addition to leading all academic and research programs at the Institute, Dr. von Gunten serves as a teaching faculty member and provides direct patient care. He earned an MD degree and a PhD degree in molecular biochemistry from the University of Colorado, and trained in internal medicine and medical oncology at Northwestern University in Chicago. He holds the rank of Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, holds an established investigator award from the National Cancer Institute, and is Chair, Test Committee, Hospice and Palliative Medicine for the American Board of Medical Specialties. Dr. von Gunten is particularly interested in the integration of hospice and palliative care in academic medicine, and has published and spoken widely on hospice, palliative medicine, and pain and symptom management.
Laurel Herbst, M.D. is the Chief Medical Officer for San Diego Hospice and its clinical programs. She is a widely-respected clinician who leads the largest group of board-certified hospice and palliative care subspecialists in the world and has been a national leader in advancing the recognition of hospice and palliative medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association. Dr. Herbst attended the University of Southern California for both undergraduate and medical training, and completed internal medicine and hematology/oncology training at the University of California, San Francisco.
Helen McNeal, B.B.A. is the Executive Director of the Institute for Palliative Medicine, responsible for the administration of the Institute and oversight of professional education and research programs. As an educator and consultant, she has worked in the field of palliative care for many years, for Health Canada, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Frank D. Ferris, M.D. is Director of International Programs. His work centers on disseminating expertise in palliative medicine to developing countries around the world, and his success at doing so is recognized by the US State Department, the National Cancer Institute, and the World Health Organization. Dr. Ferris completed medical training at McMaster Medical School in Ontario, and postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto. In addition to publishing widely, he holds many professional appointments and associations with leading medical institutions, including UC San Diego School of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the University of Toronto.
Gary Buckholz, M.D. is Director of our Fellowship Program and Clinical Medical Director of our Northwest Home facility. Dr. Buckholz leads the largest program training physicians in hospice and palliative medicine in the world, open to practitioners from a wide variety of specialties, including Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, Oncology, Psychiatry, Neurology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Surgery, and others. Dr. Buckholz attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine and performed postdoctoral training at Brown University and San Diego Hospice.
Scott Irwin, M.D., Ph.D. is Medical Director for Palliative Care Psychiatry. In addition to building our research program to diagnose and treat mental distress better in advanced illness, he serves as both a clinical instructor and clinician. Dr. Irwin received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and completed his medical training at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.
Charles Lewis, M.D. is Medical Director of our Inpatient Care Center and our Director of Integrative Palliative Care. As both a clinician and faculty member, Dr. Lewis leads our efforts to ensure a holistic approach to the treatment of our patients—physical, emotional, and spiritual. He attended the School of Medicine at Washington University and performed postgraduate work at the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis and the School of Medicine, St. Louis University.
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