VITAS Healthcare’s Rupali Rajpathak, MD, Named an ‘Inspirational Leader Under 40’ in Hospice and Palliative Medicine

02/27/2015

MIAMI & PHILADELPHIA – Feb. 27, 2015 – Rupali Rajpathak, MD, a palliative care physician with VITAS Palliative Care Solutions in Philadelphia, has been named an inspirational leader in hospice and palliative medicine under the age of 40 by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Rajpathak accepted the award and was honored at an event on Feb. 27 at the 2015 AAHPM & HPNA Annual Assembly in Philadelphia.

Dr. Rajpathak was selected when AAHPM asked its 5,000 members to nominate individuals who are the young leaders in the field of hospice and palliative medicine. Dr. Rajpathak is one of the 44 physicians from across the country recognized for their exceptional contributions to the field, including involvement in AAHPM, educating others about the field, participation in charitable work, mentoring of students or residents, and other professional accomplishments.

“These individuals are enhancing care for seriously ill patients and their families through innovation, education, mentoring and clinical care,” said AAHPM President Jean S. Kutner, MD MSPH FAAHPM.

At VITAS, Dr. Rajpathak offers pain and symptom management consultations to terminally ill adults. She completed a fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and an internal medicine residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. She received a medical degree from Topiwala National Medical College at the University of Mumbai, India, and a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

“We are so proud of Dr. Rajpathak for receiving this prestigious recognition and for all of her achievements,” said Ron Fried, Executive Vice President of Development and Public Affairs for VITAS. “Dr. Rajpathak is an outstanding caregiver with an unwavering commitment to excellence and to the VITAS leading value of putting patients and families first.”

Added Dr. Rajpathak: “I am honored and humbled to be named an inspirational leader under 40 and look forward to continuing to work closely with my colleagues at VITAS as well as the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine to keep making contributions and raising the bar on excellence within this dynamic field.”

By definition, hospice and palliative medicine is the medical specialty that focuses on improving quality of life and relieving pain and other symptoms in seriously ill patients. Hospice is a specific type of palliative care for terminally ill patients whose life expectancy is likely to be six months or less. A complement to the medical treatments that physicians are already providing, palliative care helps manage pain, alleviates symptoms to improve quality of life, assists patients and families with complicated decisions regarding medical care, and offers emotional and spiritual support as patients deal with difficult medical issues. VITAS palliative care physicians are highly trained in managing pain and symptoms that accompany serious illness. They work closely with other attending physicians to help ensure a completely coordinated plan of care.

More information about the award is available on the AAHPM website www.aahpm.org.

About AAHPM

The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is the professional organization for physicians specializing in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. AAHPM’s 5,000 members also include nurses and other healthcare providers who are committed to improving the quality of life of seriously ill patients and their families. For more than 25 years, the Academy has been dedicated to expanding access of patients and families to high quality palliative care, and advancing the discipline of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, through professional education and training, development of a specialist workforce, support for clinical practice standards, research and public policy. Learn more at www.aahpm.org.