What led you to the specialty of hospice and palliative medicine?
It was a calling, quite simply. Having taken care of my mother through a long metastatic breast cancer journey and then eventually serving as a caregiver during home hospice, understanding and ultimately optimizing the quality of the services we deliver for families facing serious illness became my life’s work. I grew up in the small town of Warrensburg, MO, (population 15,000) as a second-generation immigrant to parents coming from Bangladesh for a better life. And I’ve believed from the very beginning that who you are and where you live should not dictate the quality of health care that you receive. I completed my HPM fellowship in 2009, mentored by many dear colleagues I now consider friends, who taught me about the beauty of compassion delivered in a professionalized, equitable, and skilled way.
Which aspects of providing hospice and palliative care do you find most rewarding?
Relationships. As a clinical practice, hospice and palliative care provides such privileged moments to spend with people who are traversing something they wish was different, but who are also looking for professionalized compassion from others. Fred Rogers (ie, Mr. Rogers) said his mother had shared with him, “During tough times, look for the helpers.” Being present for those in need—oftentimes being a first responder during complexity and distress—is the relationship we have with our patients and with our craft. This is extraordinarily rewarding. But also, as professionals, the relationships we have in our field are truly special. The gift of our time is the most precious gift we can give anybody, and I’m so proud to be part of a field that gifts our presence and attention so genuinely and selflessly.
How did your background prepare you to become president of AAHPM?
I care deeply about this field and particularly appreciate the growing diversity of experiences, interests, and demographics of those who join us in this movement. That strength translates into our robust ability to connect with people of all walks of life. As the first South Asian president of our Academy, I hope to continue the momentum harnessed by our members and captured in our strategic plan to be an organization that is an ally to all in our field. My background is that of a bereaved son, outpatient palliative care clinician, and evangelist of the “loved one standard” (ie, let’s care for others in the way we would expect our loved ones to be treated). I look forward to harnessing the brilliance and passion of our members into the unified force that moves forward the philosophy and profession of hospice and palliative care.
What would you like to see AAHPM focus on during your term?
There are three areas I’d like to focus on. The first is around belonging. I believe all professionals who care for persons with serious illness and their caregivers should feel included in the Academy, regardless of their professional background, training, or experience. We can do more and better to ensure belonging for those who may not have a professional home or those who don’t yet see the benefits of membership for them. The second is related to workforce thriving, addressing but also going beyond resilience and burnout into career mapping and professional growth. The maturation of the field has resulted in several paths professionals can take, and assisting our members in finding their right journey should be a key benefit of being a member of the Academy. Third, leaning into issues of fidelity—what standardized practices and processes lead to the best outcomes—is another sign of maturation for our field. Moving from “showing up” to “showing out” means that patients can achieve their best outcomes regardless of who shows up and where the care occurs. Excellence in all we do is something that should be measured and proven to ensure that we remain a trustworthy field. I was taught that consistency builds trust, and demonstrating that consistency in how we practice will continue to build the trust that others have for this great field of ours.
What can be done to help others—physicians and medical professionals, patients and family, lawmakers, and the media—become more aware of hospice and palliative care?
The public opinion poll data from a decade ago compared to now reveal a sobering conclusion: the public does not yet understand the benefits of palliative care significantly more than when the field started. But we have made critical progress in creating our value proposition with health system leaders and payers, enriching partnerships with referring and collaborating clinicians, and standing as methodologic peers with scientists across older and larger areas of discovery. Furthermore, more—but not all—policymakers and regulators better understand who we are and what constituencies we serve. But the public—those who can serve as allies in the normalization and routinization of our services—have not yet engaged. There is much here, and I look forward to exploring ways we can move the familiarity of our work forward within the public eye.
When you have free moments outside of your demanding positions and your commitment to AAHPM, where can we find you?
With my family—at a band performance, tennis practice, soccer match, or travels near and far. In my world, my family comes first. It is the reason I am inspired professionally and the nonnegotiable when it comes to my priorities.
Tell us about those who have influenced your work.
Many have shared with me the gift of their mentorship, advocacy, and coaching. And truly, all should have people in their lives who play the role of mentor (where you should go), advocate (how to get there), and coach (this is what you need to get there). In my life, a few have played all three roles for the majority of my career. These include Amy Abernethy, Janet Bull, Jean Kutner, Christine Ritchie, Steve Pantilat, Betty Ferrell, and Peggy Maguire. And I’m deeply appreciative of the countless colleagues and friends in the field who congratulate you during the highs, who you lean on during the lows, and who are available during all the times in between. The generosity of the time we give to each other is, bar none, the secret sauce of this field.
What else would you like AAHPM members to know about you?
A couple adages I live my life by, which I’ve picked up over the years from mentors and colleagues. The first is how the Kamal family operates, which is to believe that “it will all be fine in the end, and if it’s not yet fine, it’s not yet the end” (Oscar Wilde). That sign hangs up in our living room as a reminder of perspective taking, patience, and grit. The other is that “you can have it all, but not necessarily all at the same time.” Another reminder of patience, pacing, and perspective.
Other adages I live by professionally, taught to me by various mentors:
- “Never take no from a person not in a position to give you a yes.”
- “To go fast, go alone. To go far, go together.”
- “If you want advice, ask someone for money. If you want money, ask them for advice.”
- “Most people will judge you by your actions, while you may often judge yourself by your intentions. Be open about your intentions and share with others when your behaviors fall short.”
- “The enemy of truth is not the lie; it’s oftentimes the more subtle myth or misperception.”
- “The opposite of love is not hate, anger, or angst; it’s indifference.”
Education
BA, University of Missouri–Kansas City (combined 6-year BA/MD program, graduated 2004)
MD, University of Missouri–Kansas City (graduated 2005)
Internal Medicine Residency, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (graduated 2008)
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (graduated 2009)
Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship, Duke University (graduated 2012)
MHS, clinical research, Duke University School of Medicine (graduated 2015)
MBA, University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management (graduated 2016)
Specialties
Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Medical Oncology
Years in Hospice and Palliative Medicine
15
Current Affiliations
Chief Patient Officer, American Cancer Society
Associate Consulting Professor of Medicine, Duke University
AAHPM Activities
At Large Board Member, 2018-2022
Treasurer, 2022-2024
Awards
2013 Visionaries in Hospice and Palliative Care
2014 Emerging Leaders in Hospice and Palliative Care