Ciara G. Smith, MD
University of Kentucky
Internal Medicine – Psychiatry
Medicine program sponsors residents from underrepresented communities who are interested in hospice and palliative medicine (HPM). Research shows that providing culturally effective HPM services to marginalized communities can help address disparities. Additionally, studies indicate that healthcare outcomes and patient satisfaction improve significantly when physicians reflect the populations they serve. However, African American and Hispanic physicians make up less than 5% and 8% of hospice and palliative medicine fellows, respectively. To address this gap, AAHPM has developed this program to introduce and promote hospice and palliative medicine to a wider range of resident physicians.
AAHPM conducted interviews with our inaugural group of Next Generation Scholars, who joined the program in 2024. We sought to gain insight into their motivations for applying and what they find fulfilling about being part of the Next Gen Scholars program.
1. What inspired you to pursue this opportunity?
I was inspired by this program’s commitment to helping those from underserved communities get the chance to garner mentorship from those who were like minded and wanted to expand the diversity in the field of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
2. What do you hope to gain from the program?
I want to gain insight into this field specifically in how I as an African American can gain the necessary skills needed to help those from my community that tends to neglect end of life care and accepting the support that palliative care aims to offer to improve quality of life.
3. What has been the biggest benefit to being a scholar in the program?
It has been stellar having a mentor in this field who has given me her insight into palliative care as a whole and who has also helped me immensely during my fellowship cycle in applying and helping me match into a palliative care fellowship starting this summer.
4. What is something you have accomplished already that you are proud of?
I am proud of my palliative care bundle which I started during residency that was aimed at addressing palliative care needs on daily rounds for ICU patients. This project was integral to not only addressing primary palliative care needs but to increase awareness of palliative care from a grass roots level.
5. How do you see this program benefiting you in the future?
I see this program expanding in the future to have more scholars with more mentors to further increase the scope of this program and who we can reach.
6. What would you envision for the future of this program?
I would love to not only see the scholars have their own projects but to have a legacy project that the program must pass down year after year. This would serve to be a calling card to the program to have even more appeal.