Summer 2026 Newsletter
Dear Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence Community,
Summer is always a time of transition in academic medicine, as we celebrate accomplishments from the past year while welcoming new people, programs, and opportunities. This summer's newsletter reflects both.
Education remains central to our mission. This summer, we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Palliative Care Training Center and recognized five outstanding educators through our third annual CPCCE Teaching Awards. We are also delighted to welcome our new class of Palliative Medicine fellows and to celebrate the launch of UW's new Integrated Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Fellowship. In our Researcher Spotlight, we feature Dr. Helene Starks as she reflects on her career, her commitment to mentorship, and the legacy of her work at UW.
We are also excited to highlight continued growth in clinical care across UW Medicine. Two new Inpatient Hospice Nurse Care Coordinators have joined Harborview Medical Center and UW Medical Center-Montlake, creating dedicated roles focused on improving access to hospice, supporting patients and families, and strengthening coordination across care teams and hospice agencies.
Our research community continues to thrive. This issue features several new grants and awards focused on improving advance care planning, reducing disparities in serious illness care, and supporting children with medical complexity and their families. We also share recent publications from Center investigators and upcoming opportunities to connect through Grand Rounds, works-in-progress meetings, and conferences this fall.
Thank you for being part of this community and for all that you contribute to improving care for patients and families facing serious illness. We hope you enjoy this issue and stay connected with the many opportunities ahead.
Erin
Erin K. Kross, MD (she/her/hers)
Professor of Medicine
Director, Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence
pallcntr@uw.edu
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