Section Chief, Palliative Care Physician, Palliative Medicine

Section Chief, Palliative Medicine

MedStar Washington Hospital Center | Washington, DC

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.

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.