Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship
The Pediatric Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology interdisciplinary team at the Children's Cancer Hospital at MD Anderson offers a one-year clinical Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The program is approved for two positions.
Pediatric patients and their families come from all over the world to the Children’s Cancer Hospital seeking treatment for their life-threatening, life-limiting, and terminal diseases. Our interdisciplinary team approach achieves the highest quality of patient and family-centered care.
Because our faculty and staff are at the forefront of this field both clinically and academically, and they treat a diverse patient population that is unmatched anywhere else in the world, our program is uniquely positioned to train a new generation of experts in Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
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Letter from our Program Director
Welcome to our Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program!
Our program is committed to excellence in patient care, education, and research. You will learn from world-renowned faculty who are at the forefront of our field. Throughout the program, you will work closely with our interprofessional team, participate in diverse clinical experiences, engage in scholarly activities, and contribute to innovative research.
Our fellowship offers exceptional training in pediatric hospice and palliative medicine, focusing on pain and symptom management, care transitions, and compassionate communication with children and families facing serious illness. You will become an expert in medical decision-making and quality of life concerns for patients with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses.
We strive to create an enriching environment for fellows to become leaders in pediatric palliative care, and our goal is to prepare you for a successful career impacting the lives of children and families across all ages and diseases.
We prioritize fellow wellness with programs to support health, resilience, and a positive work environment. We hope you will consider joining our team. Please reach out to me with any questions during the application process.
Sincerely,
Karen Moody, M.D., M.S.
Professor
Current Fellow and Alumni
Current Fellow
Shady Gad, M.D., M.S.
Medical Degree: Tanta University School of Medicine, Tanta, Egypt
Master of Science: Clinical & Translational Research, Rutgers University
Residency: Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center, Montclair, NJ
"I appreciate being part of the MD Anderson Pediatric Palliative Medicine Family. MD Anderson is dedicated to cancer patients in many ways. The program is a comprehensive training opportunity that focuses on making fellows strong in an academic and clinical environment. Every patient has their own story that is special to them. In my spare time, I like to take walks listening to audiobooks about history. I like skating and cooking sometimes. I started to play the piano but I still need a lot more practice,” he said.
Gad believes the Houston area has a huge and diverse population where you can find everything within reach. “I fell in love with Houston when I first visited. It is one of the cities where people come from all over the world for training, learning or working. I admire such destinations."
Alumni
Amanda McCarthy, M.D. [2023-2024]
Staff Physician, Houston Hospice
Fellowship: Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Fellowship: Pediatrics Critical Care Medicine University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Residency: General Pediatrics Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Emily Rav, D.O. [2023-2024]
Staff Physician, Pediatric Palliative Care at Cook Children's Medical Center
Fellowship: Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Fellowship: Pediatric Hematology Oncology MD Anderson Cancer Center
Residency: Maria Fareri Children's Hospital/Westchester Medical Center
Rhonda Idemmili, M.D. [2022-2023]
Pediatric Palliative Care Physician, Unity Point Health Blank Children's Hospital
Fellowship: Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Fellowship: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Residency: Pediatrics Blank Children's Hospital, Des Moines, IA
Muhammad Usman Baig, M.B.B.S. [2021-2022]
Assistant Professor, Neuro-Oncology and Palliative Care, Loma Linda School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA
Fellowship: Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Fellowship: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Residency: Pediatrics, University of Arizona
Avis Harden, M.D. [2020-2021]
Assistant Professor, Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Fellowship: Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Fellowship: Advanced Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program
Fellowship: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
![Pediatric patients at table for art lesson](/content/mda/en/education-training/clinical-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/pediatric-hospice-and-palliative-medicine-fellowship/jcr:content/mainparsys/imageslideshow/slides/4/image.resize.j892813521.jpg)
![Harpist plays for pediatric patient](/content/mda/en/education-training/clinical-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/pediatric-hospice-and-palliative-medicine-fellowship/jcr:content/mainparsys/imageslideshow/slides/5/image.resize.j1670336516.jpg)
![Staff member watches pediatric patient color](/content/mda/en/education-training/clinical-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/pediatric-hospice-and-palliative-medicine-fellowship/jcr:content/mainparsys/imageslideshow/slides/1/image.resize.j-276521837.jpg)
![Pediatric patient receives art instruction from staffer](/content/mda/en/education-training/clinical-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/pediatric-hospice-and-palliative-medicine-fellowship/jcr:content/mainparsys/imageslideshow/slides/2/image.resize.j-740221855.jpg)
![Lady plays drum with pediatric patient](/content/mda/en/education-training/clinical-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/pediatric-hospice-and-palliative-medicine-fellowship/jcr:content/mainparsys/imageslideshow/slides/3/image.resize.j-455843263.jpg)
![Pediatric patients at table for art lesson](/content/mda/en/education-training/clinical-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/pediatric-hospice-and-palliative-medicine-fellowship/jcr:content/mainparsys/imageslideshow/slides/4/image.resize.j892813521.jpg)
![Harpist plays for pediatric patient](/content/mda/en/education-training/clinical-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/pediatric-hospice-and-palliative-medicine-fellowship/jcr:content/mainparsys/imageslideshow/slides/5/image.resize.j1670336516.jpg)
![Staff member watches pediatric patient color](/content/mda/en/education-training/clinical-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/pediatric-hospice-and-palliative-medicine-fellowship/jcr:content/mainparsys/imageslideshow/slides/1/image.resize.j-276521837.jpg)
![Pediatric patient receives art instruction from staffer](/content/mda/en/education-training/clinical-training/graduate-medical-education/residencies-fellowships/pediatric-hospice-and-palliative-medicine-fellowship/jcr:content/mainparsys/imageslideshow/slides/2/image.resize.j-740221855.jpg)
Contact Information
For inquiries and questions, contact:
Karen Moody, M.D.
Director, Pediatric Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology
Director, Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program
Associate Professor, Pediatrics and Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine
KMoody@mdanderson.org
Kate Bond, B.S.
Associate Program Manager
Krbond@mdanderson.org
Related Resources
MD Anderson Cancer Center is committed to encouraging good health and staying true to our mission to end cancer. If you are applying for a GME fellowship or residency program starting on or after July 1, 2016, please be advised that MD Anderson will have instituted a tobacco-free hiring process as part of its efforts to achieve these goals. If you are offered an appointment, you will be subject to a Pre-Employment Drug Screen for tobacco compounds in compliance with applicable state laws. If you do not pass the urine drug screening which includes testing for tobacco compounds, you CANNOT be appointed at MD Anderson. Should you fail to meet this contingency, MD Anderson will withdraw your offer of appointment for the academic year. You may reapply for the following academic year, but there are no guarantees that you will be offered a position as many of our programs are already filled for several years out.
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