2023-2024 Hospice & Palliative Care Fellows
Pictured L to R: Drs. Justine McGiboney, Dyan Alvarez, John Rainwater, and Gabe Daniels
The UAB Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program has been training leaders in palliative care since 2000, making it one of the oldest and most established training programs in the country. To date, we have trained nearly 60 fellows from across the country, some directly out of residency training and others mid-career. Our one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship offers a rigorous interdisciplinary education in palliative care at UAB Hospitals, the Birmingham VA Medical Center, and Children's of Alabama.
Fellows also receive training in the outpatient setting through several outpatient clinics, through telehealth and home-based palliative care, and through partnerships with community hospices and long term care facilities. In addition to clinical skills, the curriculum includes training in palliative research methodology and quality improvement, teaching skills, and palliative care and hospice business and administration. The balance and breadth of experience ensure that fellows are ready to practice in the inpatient, ambulatory, or hospice settings upon completion of the fellowship training.
We offer a one-year clinical fellowship with three adult-track positions and one "combined clinician" (e.g. Med-Peds or Family Medicine) position.
UAB has been training palliative care specialists longer than almost anyone and the program is full of recognized leaders in the field. Birmingham is a really fun town with great restaurants, breweries, and unique neighborhoods…I found the people—not just in palliative care, but across specialties—to be outstanding in knowledge, professionalism, and compassion…In my time as an attending, the large and growing network of faculty and alumni/ae has proven an invaluable resource for troubleshooting patient issues and for support. ~ Dr. Sam Webb (Class of 2018-2019)
As we create a fellowship at our hospital, I use the structure and rigor of my fellowship at UAB as a guide. I also feel that my mentors and connections from UAB are mine forever. It truly was one of the highlights of my education. ~ Dr. Alex Leigh (Class of 2009-2010)
Fellows with interests in pursuing academic or leadership positions as researchers, teachers or administrators in the care of older adults are encouraged to pursue an additional 1 to 3 years of advanced training through the John A. Hartford Foundation-funded Southeast Center of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine (SCEGM) or through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Special Fellowship in Advanced Geriatrics.
Program Aims
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To train the next generation of leaders in palliative medicine, whether in clinical care, research, or education.
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To teach physicians to provide compassionate holistic care to patients and families suffering from serious illness within the context of an interdisciplinary team.
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To guide physicians to communicate effectively with patients, families, and other healthcare providers.
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To prepare physicians to help coordinate transitions across the continuum of care.
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To equip trainees to advocate for access to palliative care within our health systems and communities.
Fellowship Committee Members
Walter Baehr, III, MD (Program Director)
Emily Dodenhoff, MD (Associate Program Director)
Elizabeth McAlister, MS, C-TAGME (Program Coordinator)
Leslie Avant
Brian Donahue
Samuel Hand, MD
Sylvia Huang, PhD, MA, MEd
Garrett Hurst, MD
Susan McCammon, MD, MA
Jackie Palmore, RN, BSN, CHPN
We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) beginning July 22.