In May 2023, AAHPM launched the inaugural Next Gen Scholars for Equity in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) Program. The program supports 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.
Goals for the Program
- To inspire residents from communities that are marginalized or 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
This program is open to primarily residents who have a strong interest in hospice and/or palliative care. Our hope for this program is to inspire residents that are underrepresented in medicine to pursue a career in HPM. Scholar candidates from these groups will be given priority for this program.
AAHPM will arrange for two years of structured sponsorship with a leader in the HPM field for eight 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 scholar; 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 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 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.
Apply to Become a Scholar or a Sponsor
Applications to become a scholar or sponsor closed on June 30, 2025 at 5pm CT.
Scholars Eligibility
- Must be a resident specializing in one of the following:
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Neurology
- Gynecology
- Pediatrics
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Psychiatry
- Radiation Oncology
- Surgery
- Has a strong interest in hospice and/or palliative care.
- AAHPM membership not required.
- Must be a US resident
Sponsors Eligibility
- Must be a current AAHPM member who is an advocate for health equity
- Is willing and able to commit to two years of providing support, knowledge, and experience in HPM to a scholar with no financial benefit.
- Must have a minimum of five years work experience in hospice and/ or palliative care
Submission Instructions:
All applications must be submitted through the Academy’s online application portal.
When signing into the application portal:
AAHPM Members: please click AAHPM login. Your login is your member credentials.
Nonmembers: please click sign in as guest (scholar applicants only).
Application deadline is Monday, June 30 at 5pm CT.
We will do our best to match scholars with sponsors that share similar work experiences and will have eight (8) scholars and eight (8) sponsors marched by July 31. Those selected will be announced in August.
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.
Celebrate Our Next Gen Cohort
Congratulations 2025-2027 Scholars
Linette Acevedo Iglesias, MD
Emmanuel Genaro Villalpando, MD
Deborah Hernandez, MD
Ishaani Khatri, MD
Leslie Ojeaburu, MD MPH
Adeoluwa Oyakhire, MD MPH
Rebecca Singer Cohen, DNP PhD
Rhonda Smith Wright, PhD RN
Ange Uwimana, MD MS
Alexis Webber, MD MS
Thank you to our 2025-2027 Sponsors!
- Robert M. Arnold, MD FAAHPM
- Elizabeth Chuang, MD MPH FAAHPM
- Jon P. Furuno, PhD FSHEA FAAHPM
- Ahashta Johnson, MD FAAHPM
- Christine Khandelwal, DO MHPE HMDCB FAAFP FAAHPM
- David M McGrew, MD HMDC FAAHPM
- Katherine O’Brien, MD
- Priya Pinto, MD FAAHPM
- Gina Piscitello, MD MS
- Nicky Quinlan, MD
Past Recipients
Scholars
Alexander Evans Ayala, MD MPH
Yasmina Hachem, MD
Kimberly Mendoza, MD PhD MPH
Tochi Jeffrey Nwaneri Nwosu, MD
Sheila Okere, MD
Daniella Ortiz, MD
Helen Toyer Queenan, MD
Ciara G. Smith, MD
Sponsors
Julie Childers, MD FAAHPM FASAM
Heather A. Harris, MD FAAHPM
Kimberly Kopecky, MD MSCI
Dana Lustbader, MD FAAHPM FCCM
Sonia Malhotra, MD MS FAAP FAAHPM
VJ Periyakoil, MD FAAHPM FAGS
Tammie E. Quest, MD FAAHPM
Holly Yang, MD HMDC FACP FAAHPM
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 FAAHPM
Khaliah A. Johnson, MD
Dana Lustbader, MD FAAHPM FCCM
Sonia Malhotra, MD MS FAAP FAAHPM
VJ Periyakoil, MD FAAHPM
Tammie E. Quest, MD FAAHPM
For more information or to inquire about the program, please contact Linda Sterling, DEI and Membership Engagement Manager ( [email protected]) or Laura Witt, Workforce Initiatives Manager ( [email protected]).
Building the Future With Our Scholars and Sponsors
This photo gallery celebrates the meaningful connections between our Next Gen Scholars and the generous sponsors who make their growth possible. These partnerships represent a shared commitment to advancing hospice and palliative care through education, leadership, and collaboration. Explore these moments that showcase how, together, we are shaping the future of compassionate care.
Support the Program
You can help support future scholars to participate in the Next Gen Scholars for Equity program. Help us to create opportunities for future leaders to continue to build a strong field for hospice and palliative medicine.
Become a Member
Advance your career in hospice and palliative care by becoming a member of AAHPM, which provides you with access to discounts, educational resources, publications, networking opportunities, and more.