Growing the Next Generation of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Researchers

Abstract

Hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) research is needed to improve care for the rapidly growing population of patients and caregivers affected by serious illness across the lifespan. Presently, multiple barriers hamper the advancement of HPM research, including limited scientific training opportunities, a relatively small pool of senior mentors, inconsistent access to institutional support, and scarce funding mechanisms to support increased numbers of early career investigators. Given this landscape, strategic investment in and guidance for the next generation of HPM researchers is critical to the success of the field. To support this mission, the Research Committee of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine authored the following three-part article series. In this introductory article, key recent advances in HPM research funding and training opportunities are described alongside a call to action for growing the next generation of HPM investigators. The second article presents specific advice and strategies to guide early career investigators through the requisite steps to develop and sustain a career in HPM research. The final article in the series reports on the findings of a structured codesign process with experienced HPM mentors to characterize the attributes of successful HPM research mentors and codify best practices for mentorship in our field. Together, these articles provide a roadmap for building and supporting the pipeline of HPM researchers with the ultimate goal of improving care for patients and families affected by serious illness across the lifespan.