Experienced Interdisciplinary teams

The fellow works with interdisciplinary teams at multiple sites. The team members include:

• Chaplains
• Music therapists
• Nurses
• Nurse practitioners
• Pharmacists
• Physicians
• Social Workers

Faculty diversity

Although Palliative Medicine is administratively housed in Internal Medicine, there are multiple medical specialties represented on our faculty: Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, Infectious Disease and Obstetric/Gynecology. In addition we are able to utilize the expertise of the palliative pharmacist, as well as staff with additional ethics training. Different points of view from team members promote creative thinking and problem solving as they encourage one another to share their different points of view.

Scheduled Didactic Learning

1. Palliative Care Journal Club
2. Case Presentation Conference
3. Supportive and Palliative Care Interdisciplinary Conference
4. Ethics Conference
5. Fellows' Core Conference

Regional/National Conferences

1. American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) Annual Assembly
2. PalliTALK: A Communication Workshop for Practicing Providers @University of Wisconsin-Madison
3. UI Children's Hospital Pediatric Palliative Care Annual Conference

Our 13-block clinical curriculum includes:

• 1 block of Orientation
• 6 blocks of inpatient adult consultation service
• 4 blocks of hospice/long-term care
• 1 block of pediatric palliative care
• 1 block of elective

In addition, fellows have a one half-day per week longitudinal outpatient clinic throughout the year.

We provide broad based clinical experience in hospice and palliative medicine at our teaching sites.

Iowa City: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is the only combined academic and Level 1 Trauma institution in the state. UIHC serves a large geographical area, accepting patient transfers and referrals from across the state of Iowa and surrounding states. The resulting patient population is culturally, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse providing opportunities to see patients with a broad spectrum of serious illnesses.

UI Health Care Medical Center and UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital together deliver high quality care in collaboration with University of Iowa Physicians, the state’s largest multi-specialty medical and surgical group practice, composed of UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine faculty physicians. Working together as University of Iowa Health Care, these partners provide patient care, conduct biomedical research, and train the next generation of health professionals.

Iowa City Hospice: A not-for-profit hospice that began serving patients in 1983. It provides care to patients in Johnson County and 6 other surrounding Iowa counties. The overriding goal of this experience is for the fellow to gain sufficient learning to be able to step into the role of a hospice medical director.

Partners

• University of Iowa Health Care
• Iowa City Hospice, Iowa City

Below is an example of the Department of Internal Medicine Common Curriculum Schedule. It is shared between Fellows from all divisions of the Department.

2024-25 Fellows Conference Master Schedule.pdf

The Fellows as Clinician Educators (FACE) Program is designed to introduce future clinician-educators to a set of skills which may be of use in their career. The program presents concepts of educational design and research, lecture development, evaluation, observation and feedback. At the conclusion of the program, FACE participants are required to develop a teaching portfolio.

Learn more about FACE

Medical specialty certification in the United States is a voluntary process which serves multiple purposes for the trainee and the public.

Certification:

• distinguishes a physician as someone with a distinct level of expertise;
• provides more opportunities when applying for employment;
• presents resources and tools by the ABMS;
• represents a commitment to life-long improvement for providing the best patient care; and
• elevates physicians into the ranks of doctors committed to the highest standards of healthcare.

For specific information about taking the HPM board exam, offered every two years, visit the AAHPM website.

Prerequisites are an MD or DO degree and completion of an ACGME-approved residency in one of eight specialties:

• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Surgery
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Radiation Oncology
• Child Neurology

Applicants can also be considered who have completed ACGME-approved residency in one of the following specialties:

• Anesthesia
• Emergency Medicine
• OB/GYN
• Radiology Oncology
• Surgery
• Psychiatry

The University of Iowa Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Training Program is certified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). All fellowship trainees are required to be licensed by the Iowa Board of Medical Examiners.

Your interview day will begin with a welcome breakfast with the Supportive and Palliative Care Team and Dr. Yuya Hagiwara, Program Director. You will be provided with an overview of the program, followed by a tour of the UIHC. You will meet individually with faculty members, and possibly other members of the Palliative Care Team. Your itinerary will help maximize your understanding of what our program can offer.

Current Fellows

Nickolas DeMark, DO
Medical School: Des Moines College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines, IA
Residency: Internal Medicine, Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, Kalamazoo, MI

Cameron Khor, MD
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
Residency: Physical Medicine and Rehab, Cornell University Medical Center, New York, NY and Internal Medicine, Rutgers University, Mountainside Hospital, Montclair, NJ

Former Fellows

2023-2024

Mehndi Dandwani, MD
Medical School: Terna Medical College, India
Residency: Internal Medicine, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, CT
Currently: Fellowship, Hematology and Medical Concology, University of Iowa Health Care

Hunain Aslam, MD
Medical School: Ziauddin Medical College, Pakistan
Residency: Internal Medicine, Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, Scranton, PA
Currently: Private Practice, Houston, TX

2022-2023

Benny Chang, MD
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Internal Medicine
Currently: Private Practice, New York, NY

Lauren Kirkpatrick, MD
Medical School: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine
Residency: University of Kentucky, Internal Medicine
Currently: Faculty, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

2021-2022

Elyse Brock, MD
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School
Residency: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Currently: Faculty, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Justin Buzick, MD
Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine
Residency: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Internal Medicine
Currently: Hem/Onc Fellow, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine

2020-2021

Mark Rostad, MD
Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine
Residency: Gundersen Medical Foundation, Internal Medicine
Currently: Private Practice, Fargo, ND

John Wilde, DO
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences
Residency: Community Memorial Health Systems, Internal Medicine
Currently: Faculty, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

2019-20

John Arce, MD
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Residency: La Crosse-Mayo Family Medicine Residency, Family Medicine
Currently: Private Practice, Eau Claire, WI

Daniel Miller, MD
Medical School: University of Illinois, College of Medicine
Residency: Advocate Christ Medical Center, Emergency Medicine
Currently: Faculty, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

2018-19

Chad Glisch, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin, Internal Medicine
Currently: Private Practice, Milwaukee, WI

Katie Melton, DO
Medical School: Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Med & Surgery
Residency: Tripler Army Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Currently: Faculty, Tripler Army Medical Center

2017-18

Charles Goldman, MD
Medical School: Washington University School of Medicine
Residency: Washington University School of Medicine, General Surgery
Currently: Private Practice, Des Moines, IA

Amy Keranen, MD
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School
Residency: Michigan State University, Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, Emergency Medicine

2016-2017

Susan Slycord, DO
Medical School: Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Med & Surgery
Residency: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Internal Medicine
Currently: Private Practice, Cedar Rapids

2015-2016

Martin Bazelak, MD
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Residency: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Internal Medicine
Currently: Private Practice, Milwaukee

Jabeen Taj, MD
Medical School: Deccan College of Medical Sciences
Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Internal Medicine
Currently: Faculty, Emory University, School of Medicine

2014-2015

Zachary Erekson, MD
Medical School: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine
Residency: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Internal Medicine
Currently: Private Practice, St. George, UT

Since 2009, the Palliative Care volunteers have been serving patients with serious illness. They form an integral part of the program in their visits to patients and families in addition to their sympathy card program for all the families of patients who die at University of Iowa Health Care. The volunteers offer many services to patients and families, including life review, hand photos, and simple presence. The UI Health Care volunteer program has funded palliative care projects regularly to enhance care to patients.

“Partnering with patients and their loved ones to provide goal-oriented care creates perception, connection, and direction that can be lost during the treatment of serious illness. It is our privilege to refocus efforts from the patient to the person. Teaching learners from medicals school through fellowship how to provide this level of care is one of my greatest passions.” – John H. Wilde, DO

"It is my belief that the work that we do a a medical community should be for one primary purpose: the help every day the best it can possibly be for our patients and families. We partner with patients and families, striving towards achieving the fullness of life for every single patient no matter if we meet them on the first day of their life or on the last."
--Abimola Olayinka, MD

“Too often we hear the words ‘there is nothing else that can be done’. In my view there is always care to given, pharmacotherapy necessary to manage symptoms and suffering that demands our attention. This is the kind of care that we would all wish for ourselves and our loved ones."
-- James B. Ray, PharmD, CPE

“The help I received when my family was ill was priceless. My work here is a fulfilling way to pay it forward.”

-- Linda Steburg – Volunteer Coordinator