Patricia M. Fogelman is a nurse practitioner.

What is palliative medicine and why is it so misunderstood?

Conditions
January 16, 2026

After years of leading palliative medicine departments, as a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, I’ve had countless conversations that start the same way. A colleague in the hallway says, “Oh, palliative care—that’s so important. You all are so nice.” Or a hospital administrator tells me, “We wish we could give you more, but resources are tight right now.” Or my personal favorite: “Palliative care is …

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What is palliative medicine and why is it so misunderstood?

A soul that never loses faith

Conditions
February 24, 2022

I am so tired. Not in the usual “hard day at work,” but in a “deep-in-my-soul” tired. I am exhausted.

I am heading into my third year as system medical director, where I lead a system-wide palliative medicine program in rural health.

As in many rural systems, we have issues with broad geographic spread coupled with lower population density and limited resources.

But for those of us working in rural health, there is …

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A soul that never loses faith

We can’t deny death, even if it’s a colleague

Conditions
March 12, 2020

Does care fall short or go higher when the patient is one of our own?

It depends on who you ask: We, the medical team, believe we try hard for everyone, but go the extra mile when it’s one of our own. Perhaps to family/outsiders, we’re not doing enough.

A recent case illustrates this phenomenon: a gifted physician colleague, a new diagnosis of advanced cancer. Needs control as part of a coping …

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We can’t deny death, even if it’s a colleague