Welcome from Palliative Medicine Program Director

Jennifer Barker, DO

Dear Potential University of Texas Health San Antonio Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellows:

As the program director for one of the largest Hospice and Palliative Medicine Programs in the United States, I’d love to tell you a few of the reasons you should join us for your training at UT Health San Antonio.

Our program is supported not only by UT but by the Veterans Administration and University Health System, our county hospital.  This provides our team with a robust complement of interdisciplinary faculty Chaplains, Social Workers, Psychologists, Pharmacists, and Nurses and offers excellent learning, teaching, and patient care experiences.  We are one of six VAs that have interdisciplinary chaplains, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and psychology fellows who work and learn alongside our physician fellows.  This creates a unique experience that will enrich your understanding of the depth and meaning of the palliative experience.

Since we are supported by multiple entities, you will experience a breadth of patient experiences and a faculty dedicated to teaching and patient care.  Our graduates are well-rounded, knowledgeable palliative medicine specialists.

We believe strongly in wellness at UT Health San Antonio.  Our program has a well-developed and highly regarded wellness curriculum that includes self-care rounds, a mentorship program, an annual fellow retreat and many other important aspects of work-life balance that are integrated into the fellowship year.  Fellows are an integral part of the curriculum and self-care rounds are learner driven.  The curriculum addresses healthy lifestyle and work habits, promotes and teaches ways to increase resilience in self and others, and addresses existential suffering, an under addressed and important aspect of patient care, but of the clinicians themselves.

For these and many more reasons the UT Health Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship is the program for you.  We care.  We listen.  We grow. AND…We are here for you.  Take a look at our website and our other programs.  Please feel free to reach out with questions.  I would love to hear from you and look forward to meeting you!

 

Best,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Jennifer

 

Jennifer Barker, DO, FAAHPM

Associate Professor, University of Texas Health San Antonio

Program Director, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Chief of Palliative Care, GEC

South Texas Veterans Health Care System

MC 00E, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd. San Antonio, 78229