WVU graduates first Palliative Medicine and Hospice fellow in the state

The West Virginia University Department of Medicine’s Section of Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine and Hospice has graduated its first fellow, Dr. Rey Carvajal, from the Palliative Medicine and Hospice Fellowship program.

“When I started my training with the WVU Internal Medicine Residency program, I quickly realized that I was interested in joining the Palliative Medicine and Hospice team. Their robust service, dedication to providing excellent care, and team rapport made it an easy and exciting decision to become their first fellow,” said Carvajal.  

The Palliative Medicine and Hospice Fellowship program was developed in the 2019-2020 term with the help of Dr. Janna Baker Rogers, assistant professor and assistant program director, and Ruth Lamp, program manager, to provide formal training in a growing specialty and prepare its applicants to meet the needs of palliative and geriatric patients across West Virginia, specifically in rural areas.

“As the state with the third oldest population, we felt a responsibility to train our future physicians in the clinical importance of palliative medicine and build a presence not only in Morgantown, but across the WVU Medicine hospital system,” said Dr. Osvaldo Navia, section chief of Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine and Hospice.

WVU’s residency and fellowship training programs offer broad clinical experience, with rotation opportunities at many WVU Medicine partner hospitals and institutes. To learn more about the Department of Medicine, visit medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/medicine.