Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship

The MaineHealth Maine Medical Center (MHMMC) Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship is a one-year program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). We offer four fellowship positions per year.

Program aims

Develop expert clinicians who deliver whole-person, high‑quality palliative care across diverse settings

Fellows will master the assessment and management of common and complex symptoms throughout the course of serious illness—integrating physical, psychosocial and spiritual dimensions of care. They will learn advanced communication skills that support coping and shared decision-making. They will provide compassionate, culturally responsive care in multiple environments—including inpatient, ambulatory, home‑based care, hospice (including GIP), the VA and underserved urban and rural community settings. 

Foster leaders who thrive in fully integrated interprofessional teams

Fellows will learn to collaborate deeply and effectively with interprofessional colleagues including advanced practice professionals, social workers, chaplains, nurses and others to deliver coordinated, person‑centered care. They will receive feedback from multiple disciplines, cultivating a strong foundation of mutual respect and team-based practice. 

Prepare future clinicians to serve Maine and rural Northern New England

Graduates will be confident practicing independently across settings and health systems. They will be prepared to meet the unique needs of rural populations, including rural and rural-adjacent communities in Maine and the broader Northern New England region. 

Shape fellows into educators who uplift learners, colleagues and the wider community

Fellows will develop skills to teach and coach interprofessional learners and colleagues in communication and primary palliative care principles. They will engage in education within the systems they serve and contribute to the broader understanding of palliative care in their communities. 

Develop holistic, resilient and reflective clinicians

Fellows will cultivate practices that support resilience, self-awareness and well-being. They will model sustainable, healthy professional identity formation. 

Produce clinical leaders and future innovators in the field

Fellows will develop the ability to critically evaluate evidence, participate in scholarship and lead quality improvement initiatives. Graduates will be prepared to take on leadership roles in clinical programs, education, system design or interdisciplinary practice.

What makes us unique

• Rooted in Maine, serving Northern New England: We are committed to training physicians who want to build meaningful careers in this region—especially in rural and community-based settings—where the need for high‑quality palliative care is great.
• Care across every setting: Fellows train in truly diverse environments: inpatient consults, home-based hospice, GIP, ambulatory clinics, the VA, rural hospitals and underserved community sites such as the MaineHealth Preble Street Learning Collaborative.
• Fully-integrated interdisciplinary teams: At every training site, fellows work side‑by‑side with advanced practice professionals, social workers, chaplains, nurses and others who are fully embedded in care. Multi‑disciplinary feedback is built into the experience by design.
• Whole-person, holistic approach: We emphasize care that integrates physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs—while also supporting fellows’ own well-being, resilience and reflective practice.
• Educators and leaders in the making: Fellows receive structured mentorship to become skilled teachers for colleagues and learners, effective communicators and clinical leaders ready to strengthen the palliative care workforce. Quality improvement education and leadership development prepare fellows to contribute to the future of hospice and palliative care.
• Commitment to underserved populations: Training includes experiences with patients experiencing homelessness, economic hardship and limited access to health care—preparing graduates to serve with humility, compassion and equity.

Learn more about our MaineHealth palliative care services. We are happy to speak with you further. Feel free to contact us!