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Next Gen Scholars for Equity in Hospice and Palliative Medicine

In May 2023, AAHPM launched the inaugural Next Gen Scholars for Equity in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) Program. The program supports post-graduate medical residents and fellows interested in hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) from communities that are underrepresented in the profession’s workforce and leadership, and who will be essential as our professional community works together towards centering the needs of those currently marginalized in HPM.

Data suggests that a lack of culturally effective hospice and palliative care services in marginalized communities may contribute to disparities. Data further suggests that health outcomes and patient satisfaction are significantly better when physicians represent the populations they serve, yet African American and Hispanic physicians represent less than 5% and 8% of hospice and palliative medicine fellows, respectively. Representation is an important first step in addressing disparities¹.

Next Gen Scholarship 1Why this program is needed: Among active physicians, 56.2% identified as White, 17.1% identified as Asian, 5.8% identified as Hispanic, and 5.0% identified as Black or African American.

Note that the race for 13.7% of active physicians is Unknown, making that the largest subgroup after White and Asian.

Goals for the Program

  • To inspire medical residents from communities that are marginalized and underrepresented to pursue a career in HPM.
  • To develop and empower AAHPM members to become sponsors and equity champions.
  • To increase diversity and inclusion in the HPM professional workforce and leadership to more closely represent the communities we serve.
  • To cultivate the next generation of scholars and leaders who will advance equity in HPM.

How Does The Program Work

AAHPM will arrange for two years of structured sponsorship with a leader in the HPM field for 8 scholars. Scholars are paired with sponsors who closely match their interests and location of practice, based on completed applications.

Sponsors are advocates who utilize their influence and network to publicly endorse and help secure and connect scholars to career advancement opportunities. They will provide support to and access for the mentee; sharing perspectives, ideas, and guidance to help the scholar advance. As a sponsor, you are a valuable resource to your scholar as a guide, counselor, and potentially future. Sponsors are vested in the future progression of their scholars.

Both scholars and sponsors commit to a two-year relationship, communicating a minimum of once a month virtually in addition to via email or phone to focus on a scholarly project and career development. Scholars and sponsors decide together what the goals are for the duration of the program.

Scholars will work with their sponsors to produce a project to be presented at the 2024 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care. Projects may be featured in the AAHPM Quarterly newsletter or submitted to the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (JPSM) or other academic journals.

Also included, AAHPM will:

  • provide funds for up to two in-person scholar-sponsor meetings per year.
  • sponsor the scholar’s participation in the Annual Assembly either in-person or virtually.
  • present an award to the scholar judged to have produced the most outstanding project.
  • host quarterly Zoom meetings starting October 2023 with all scholars and sponsors.
  • provide organizational support and resources.

How Schools and Organizations Can Help

We seek assistance from institutions and organizations that identify candidates of underrepresented backgrounds or that aim to serve as allies in promoting the program. Candidates should be interested in additional exposure to hospice & palliative medicine research, clinical and leadership training. If your school is interested in partnering with AAHPM to help make this program a success please contact us as we would like to schedule a meeting to discuss a collaboration.

Congratulations to the 2023 Scholars and Sponsors

Scholars
Leah Carter, MD
Sofia Valbuena-Castor, MD
Bruno A. Costa, MD
Nicoy Downie, MD
Alexandria Hoy, MD
Rahee M. Nerurkar, MD
Jenay A. Powell, MD
Michael A. Walker

Sponsors
Susan E. Cohen, MD FAAHPM
Julie Childers, MD FAAHPM FASAM
Elizabeth Chuang, MD MPH
Khaliah A. Johnson, MD
Dana Lustbader, MD FAAHPM FCCM
Sonia Malhotra, MD MS FAAP FAAHPM
VJ Periyakoil, MD
Tammie E. Quest, MD FAAHPM

For more information or to inquire about the program, please contact Linda Sterling, DEI and Membership Engagement Manager ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) or Laura Witt, Workforce Initiatives Manager ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).