Fellowship Director, Palliative Care Physician, Palliative Medicine
MedStar Health · Washington, DC
Posted October 17, 2026
MedStar Washington Hospital Center · 110 Irving St NW, Washington, DC, US, 20010
- Pay: $225,000 per year
- Schedule: Full Time, Day
- Location: MedStar Washington Hospital Center
- MedStar Job ID: 168918
Fellowship Director, Palliative Medicine MedStar Washington Hospital Center | Washington, DC
About MedStar Washington Hospital Center MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a 912-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center and one of the nation's leading tertiary and quaternary care hospitals. Located in the heart of Washington, DC, the Hospital Center serves as a major referral center for some of the region's most complex medical and surgical patients.
The organization is nationally recognized for excellence in cardiovascular care, neuroscience, trauma, critical care, transplantation, and burn care. Its distinguished programs include:
- Nationally recognized cardiology and cardiac surgery services, including the highest three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
- The region's first Comprehensive Stroke Center, certified by The Joint Commission.
- The District of Columbia's only Cardiac Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program.
- MedSTAR, a nationally verified Level I Trauma Center with advanced air and ground transport capabilities.
- The region's only adult Burn Center.
Physicians joining MedStar Washington Hospital Center become part of an innovative academic environment dedicated to exceptional patient care, research, education, and quality improvement.
Opportunity MedStar Health is seeking exceptional candidates for leadership positions within the Division of Palliative Medicine at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
We are recruiting for
- Section Chief, Palliative Medicine
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Director
These positions may be filled by a single individual or divided between two leaders, depending on candidate qualifications and interests.
About the Program MedStar Palliative Care is an established, highly respected program with a national reputation for innovation, clinical excellence, education, and interprofessional practice. The Washington Hospital Center team includes physicians, advanced practice providers, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, and dedicated administrative support working collaboratively to care for patients with serious illness.
The program is deeply integrated throughout the health system and is highly valued by hospital leadership, referring specialists, and interdisciplinary partners. The ACGME-accredited Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship has trained numerous successful academic and clinical leaders and continues to attract highly competitive applicants from across the country.
Faculty have opportunities for clinical, educational, quality improvement, and research collaboration, including partnerships with:
- MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
- Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Critical Care, Trauma, Transplantation, and Neuroscience Programs
- Ongoing health services, communication, and serious illness care research initiatives
Position Responsibilities
The Section Chief will provide strategic and clinical leadership for palliative care services across MedStar Washington Hospital Center, supporting comprehensive symptom management, serious illness communication, advance care planning, and interdisciplinary care for patients with serious medical conditions.
Key responsibilities include
- Providing leadership and oversight for the palliative care clinical program.
- Supervising, mentoring, and supporting an interdisciplinary team of physicians, APPs, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, and trainees.
- Advancing program growth, quality improvement, and clinical innovation initiatives.
- Collaborating with hospital, medical staff, and health system leaders to strengthen palliative care integration across service lines.
- Participating in institutional committees related to ethics, hospice, quality, and patient-centered care.
- Educating medical students, residents, fellows, and practicing clinicians in palliative medicine.
- Supporting scholarly activity, research, and evidence-based practice.
- Maintaining strong partnerships with referring clinicians and specialty services.
For candidates serving as Fellowship Director - responsibilities also include oversight of fellowship recruitment, curriculum development, trainee mentorship, accreditation requirements, and program evaluation.
Qualifications Candidates must possess
- Board certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, with primary board certification in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or another relevant specialty.
- Demonstrated expertise in complex symptom management, serious illness communication, and end-of-life care.
- Experience in clinical leadership and interdisciplinary team development.
- Strong teaching, mentoring, and educational skills.
- Commitment to evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and program advancement.
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
- Eligibility for medical licensure in the District of Columbia.
Preferred qualifications include
- Experience leading palliative care programs or fellowship training programs.
- Academic scholarship, research experience, or quality improvement leadership.
- Experience caring for high-acuity patient populations, including cardiovascular disease, oncology, trauma, critical care, neurology, or transplant patients.
- Academic faculty experience within a complex teaching hospital environment.
Why Join MedStar Palliative Care?
This is an exceptional opportunity to lead one of the region's premier academic palliative care programs while helping shape the future of serious illness care, research, and education within MedStar Health. Leaders will work alongside nationally recognized clinical, educational, and research partners while making a meaningful impact on patients, families, trainees, and the broader healthcare system. Compensation: $225,000.00+ potential incentives, quality, and administrative pay.
Employer
MedStar Health
MedStar Health is the largest health system and the largest provider of healthcare services in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore region. A non-profit organization, MedStar brings together 30,000 associates working at 10 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care sites, more than 700 access points of care across more than 225 zip codes in 17 counties in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
The MedStar system includes:
- Hospitals including MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar Union Memorial, MedStar Franklin Square, MedStar Good Samaritan, MedStar Harbor, MedStar Montgomery, MedStar Southern Maryland and MedStar St. Mary's
- MedStar Medical Group, one of the nation's 15 largest medical groups, plus ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care and primary care practices across the region
- One of the largest graduate medical education programs in the country, with major research and innovation platforms
Why physicians and advanced practice providers choose MedStar:
- Published hiring ranges on every position
- The largest employed anesthesia group in the region, with MDAs, CRNAs and CAAs employed directly by the health system
- Productivity and quality incentives, paid malpractice, CME time and allowance, and 403(b), 457(b) and 457(f) retirement plans on many roles
- Student loan forgiveness eligibility as a non-profit employer
Recognition: MedStar Health has been named one of "America's Greatest Workplaces" by Newsweek (including Inclusion and Diversity, Women, Parents and Families, Mental Wellbeing and Healthcare) and one of "America's Best Employers" by Forbes. MedStar is committed to equity for all people and communities.