Palliative Medicine
The Section of Palliative Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics has been recently established in the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Palliative Care is comprehensive care for patients who have serious illness or require end-of-life care. The goal of the specialty is to relieve patient suffering, improve quality-of-life, facilitate informed decision-making, and assist in care coordination between clinicians and across sites of care and various disciplines.
Originally started as the Reach Team in 2016 by a small group of passionate providers dedicated to palliative care, the team has grown to include an assortment of both medical doctors and advanced practice providers, as well as the support of social workers, chaplains and other interdisciplinary teams. The creation of the Section of Palliative Medicine builds upon the foundation the Reach Team has established and communicates that both academic inquiry and education in palliative care should stand alongside this outstanding clinical care program. The section is already active in national presentations and peer-reviewed publications.
Hill Named Section Head
Adam B. Hill, MD, will be the inaugural Head of the Section of Palliative Medicine for the Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Hill is currently Associate Professor and Chief of the Division of Palliative Care at Indiana University and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. His planned start date on the CU Anschutz campus is slated for August 15, 2022.
Dr. Hill has been at IU and Riley since 2014 when he started his Palliative Care fellowship. Upon completing his fellowship training, he joined the faculty as Assistant Professor. He was named Division Chief in 2017 after also serving as Associate Director for the Department of Pediatrics Residency program. Dr. Hill is a member of the American Association of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, a faculty induction member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, and the 2020 recipient of the IU School of Medicine Morris Greene Pediatric Faculty Teacher of Year Award. He was also awarded the 2019 Pediatric Faculty of the Year at Indiana University, and elected as one of the youngest members into the Hall of “Distinguished Alumni” by his alma mater Butler University. Dr. Hill is also an award-winning author and international speaker, having published his memoir “Long Walk Out of the Woods: A Physician’s Story of Addiction, Depression, Hope and Recovery” and speaking on his experience of living as a man in recovery working in modern medicine.
Dr. Hill received his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis) in 2007. He completed a residency in pediatrics at Saint Louis University and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in 2010. From 2010-2013 he completed a pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellowship at Duke University.
Dr. Hill has an ambitious agenda for leading the Section of Palliative Medicine with a focus on building the Section’s international reputation in in pediatric palliative medicine, hospice care, and compassionate, high-quality approach to patients and families with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. He will also bring a complementary focus on patient-oriented research, high quality educational and training programs, and child health advocacy.