Academic Medicine
January 2026
A new study published in Academic Medicine, titled “Qualitative Evaluation of an ACGME-Approved Online Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program,” highlights the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Family Medicine’s Community Hospice and Palliative Medicine (CHPM) Fellowship—a part‑time, primarily online program launched in 2020 and formerly known as the AIRE program.
Developed in collaboration with CHPM founders and leaders David Nowels, MD, MPH/MSPH; Katie Morrison, MD; Maurice Scott, MD; and Amos Bailey, MD, the study and program address the national shortage of palliative care physicians by enabling midcareer doctors to complete specialty training without leaving their home communities.
Based on interviews with program graduates, the study found that the fellowship strengthened physicians’ clinical skills, confidence, and leadership capacity while fostering supportive professional communities. Graduates reported significant personal and professional growth, increased competence in interdisciplinary palliative care, and an enhanced ability to serve as role models and systems-level change agents within their local healthcare settings.
From the article:
“Our evaluation of graduate interviews about the unique ACGME-accredited CHPM Fellowship training pathway demonstrates that the CHPM Fellowship effectively fosters professional competency development. The success of CHPM Fellowship graduates in passing initial board certification examinations provides additional confirmation that the program is accomplishing its goals. As an innovative fellowship model, the CHPM Fellowship offers a viable route for midcareer physicians to attain HPM board certification and holds promise for strengthening the palliative care workforce.”
Read more of the study.