UCSF Fresno Hospice and Palliative Medicine

The one-year Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) fellowship is an integral part of the fully accredited Family Medicine Residency Program.  The HPM program director, Dr. Alireza Soleimani Fard, and other palliative-care trained physicians work with a team of specialists to provide a comprehensive approach to training in hospice care.

Our principle training site is Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC), a 733-bed hospital, offering a full range of inpatient services including 1,800 ICU admissions annually.  CRMC is part of Community Medical Centers (CMC), a nonprofit, locally owned health care system that operates four acute-care hospitals and a variety of other health care facilities.  Community Regional Medical Center provides inpatient and comprehensive outpatient services to patients of all ages.  Special hospital services include a level one regional trauma center, a level one regional burn center, and the only birth center in the region designated to handle high-risk pregnancies. 

UCSF Fresno HPM fellows begin with an introduction to our inpatient consultation services along with an intensive month of didactics. Monthly academic half days begin in August and are comprised of case conferences, interactive lectures from multiple disciplines, and journal club. Part of our yearlong curriculum includes board reviews as well as sessions in wellness and selfcare. Clinical rotations include palliative care inpatient consultations, home hospice, and general inpatient, visits to our affiliated nursing home, and electives with Medical Oncology, Interventional Pain Management, Psychiatry, Hepatology, and Pediatric Palliative Care. The fellow is an integral member of an interdisciplinary team (IDT) that includes nursing, chaplaincy, and social workers all dedicated to the field of palliative care. 

Fellows also have the opportunity to train at the VA Central California Health Care System (VA). At the VA, fellows have exposure to outpatient and inpatient Palliative care consultations daily.  Fellows receive formal weekly didactics and board reviews under close supervision of the palliative faculty and in collaboration with the interdisciplinary palliative team. Fellows will have exposure to resources and services unique to the veteran population and are expected to serve as palliative care team leaders during this VA rotation.   

Research is built into the curriculum as part of a longitudinal experience.  Supervision and guidance are provided throughout the year.  Each fellow will have dedicated time to complete their research projects.

Highly qualified applicants for the fellowship should have a demonstrated interest in palliative care and be board-certified or board-eligible in an ACGME-approved specialty. Successful applicants, who will be selected through the NRMP match, must have completed or be in the process of completing an ACGME-accredited residency program. Additionally, they must be eligible for a medical license in California before the fellowship begins and must participate in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Four exceptional fellows are selected each year.

Fresno is a large metropolitan city with a small-town charm. Fresno is known for its farmers markets, community events, world class hospitals, and award-winning school districts. Another perk to living in Fresno is the affordable housing and proximity to many recreational opportunities in the area that include three nearby national parks — Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon. The Central Valley is only a short drive to the beach or the mountains and approximately 3 hours away by car to San Francisco or Los Angeles. You can visit an art museum, see a concert/event at the Save Mart Center, visit the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, watch a Grizzlies baseball game or cheer on our Fresno State Bulldogs, relax at a local winery or craft brewery, and much more!

All Are Welcome

UCSF does not use race, gender, sex, ethnicity or national origin, or other protected categories or proxies for protected categories in the selection process.