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Graduate Medical Education news
New fellowship trains doctors focused on palliative care
Lauren E. Nicholls, MD, was just 17 years old when she grasped one of the most profound distinctions in caring for patients with a terminal illness: the difference between if something can be done and whether it should be done.
She was a medical student when she learned about palliative care, a medical specialty dedicated to helping patients and families navigate that question. Now, as an assistant professor at Geisinger College of Health Sciences, she’s helped to introduce a new palliative medicine fellowship at Geisinger Northeast, which will welcome a new fellow in 2025.
The 1-year fellowship will train physicians of any specialty to grow comfortable and confident in having the difficult conversations.
“In palliative medicine, you focus on what people still want to be able to do and enjoy in the time that they have left,” said Dr. Nicholls. “The whole goal is to understand the patient’s functional goals and say, ‘These are the medical things that will help get you there.’”
In addition to communication skills, clinicians will be trained in symptom management, end-of-life care and hospice care.
Geisinger College introduces molecular genetic pathology fellowship
Making better health easy relies on precision. And precision relies on understanding a patient’s unique genetic composition.
That’s why the demand for pathologists who are fellowship trained in molecular genetic pathology has recently soared. Jialing Huang, MD, PhD, an associate of Geisinger Medical Laboratories and a fellowshiptrained pathologist himself, said Geisinger College has responded by establishing a molecular genetic pathology fellowship training program.
Dr. Huang noted that the program will support and advance Geisinger’s distinct focus on molecular medicine.
“This fellowship will add to Geisinger College’s rich environment of academic activity and also enhance care for our patients.”
A fair to remember
For the second year, Geisinger Graduate Medical Education hosted a New Resident Welcome Fair in Danville. The street fair was celebrated in June.
New and current residents and their families, faculty, staff and community members enjoyed a night downtown. More than 70 local businesses, organizations and restaurants greeted the residents and introduced them to life in Danville.
