Washington, D.C. April 2, 2007 — Michelle Grant Ervin, M.D., has joined VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of Greater Washington as its medical director. Dr. Grant Ervin provides medical direction in all aspects of patient care including direct patient care, and visiting and caring for patients in their residences.

“Serving as Medical Director is a truly fulfilling role, and it allows me to work with a dedicated, hard-working team and apply my skills and knowledge in palliative medicine,” said Grant Ervin. “But the most gratifying aspect of this position comes from helping patients and their families.”

Dr. Grant Ervin is a graduate of the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine at the University of Illinois. She completed her medical residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and holds board certifications in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine. She was also inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians in 1989 and 2002. At Howard University, Dr. Grant Ervin served as Chair and Residency Director of Emergency Medicine from 1993 through 2003.

Dr. Grant Ervin brings an extensive background in hospice and palliative care to her position as Medical Director with VITAS. She currently serves on the advisory boards of the Iona Senior Services in Washington D.C. and the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. She is President-elect for the national advisory board for the American Alliance for Cancer Pain Initiatives. Dr. Grant Ervin also holds a masters degree in Health Professions Education (MHPE) from the Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago; a fellowship in Bioethics at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago; and a faculty scholar appointment with the Project on Death In America funded by the Open Society Institute.

“Dr. Grant Ervin is a pleasure to work with,” said Gwen London, a Volunteer Coordinator and Community Liaison with VITAS’ Washington program. “Her knowledge of palliative care is seen daily in compassionate interactions with patients and the direction she gives to her staff.”