Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine Observership

The Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine department accepts short-term observers from all over the world. Each year, we have the resources to accept up to 12 visiting physicians looking to build or grow a palliative care program in their community. Read more about observer programs at MD Anderson.

Our goal is to accept those visitors who have the opportunity to make significant contributions in the field of palliative/supportive care. Because of limited resources, we may be unable to accommodate visitors according to their schedule. However, we do try to coordinate with schedules as time and resources permit. The earlier an applicant plans their visit in advance, the more likely it is that we would be able to schedule the visit for a desired time.

Please keep in mind that observers do not have clinical privileges to see or treat patients.

Please visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Precautions page for the institution's latest COVID-19 updates. If you are interested in becoming a short-term observer with our department once COVID restrictions are lifted, please send a letter of intent, along with an updated CV, to:

Shawva LoveLady 
SBLoveLady@mdanderson.org

Mailing address:

MD Anderson Cancer Center 
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1414
Houston, TX 77030 
Attn: Shawva LoveLady

Through the Patient Home Visits (formerly Texas Bus Rounds), medical providers visit homes, hospices and other care sites around Houston to learn about the challenges patients and their families face toward the end of life. Through this patient-centered approach, the Patient Home Visits help providers identify these challenges and discuss methods of care that can help each patient can live as well as possible, for as long as possible.

This program is for anyone who is interested in Palliative Care or hospice work. We welcome all students, researchers, health care professionals, those interested in exploring careers in Hospice or Palliative Care, and the general public to participate in this educational program.

Educational Objectives

After attending the program, the participant should be able to:

• Identify and manage the complex medical, ethical, spiritual and psychosocial issues that patients face near the end of life
• Demonstrate an increased understanding and sharing of best practices in palliative care within a patient-care setting
• Discuss and manage difficult issues with an interdisciplinary team committed to improving the quality of health care delivery
• Appropriately evaluate, assess and manage cancer pain in order to improve patients’ quality of life
• Model/demonstrate effective ways of communicating with patient and caregivers that will lead to improved patient and family care
• Provide and administer an improved-upon psychosocial and spiritual care model that is administered to patients and families during this stage of their illness.

Registration

Rounds are scheduled monthly, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Upcoming dates:  To Be Announced

Space is limited, so please register early by completing the registration form (pdf) and submitting it with payment according to instructions on the form.  The bus will depart from the John Mendelsohn Faculty Center, 1400 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030 at 8 a.m. sharp on each scheduled day; plan on arriving at the hospital no later than 7:30 a.m. 

Continuing Medical Education hours are offered to Patient Home Visits participants.