A Message from our Program Directors

Hear directly from the fellowship program directors

— Toluwalasé “Lasé” Ajayi, M.D .& Holly Yang, M.D. —

about what to expect from this one-year program in Southern California.

Thank you for your interest in the UCSD/Scripps Health Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program.

We are proud to continue a long tradition of training excellence, starting at San Diego Hospice in 2000, followed by ACGME-accreditation of our program in 2008 when Scripps Mercy Hospital partnered with San Diego Hospice as the sponsoring institution. In 2013, Scripps Mercy Hospital became the primary teaching site for the fellowship, and in 2015 the program transitioned to the UCSD Graduate Medical Education Department. Through our shared history, we have graduated over 135 fellows to date.

In a unique partnership, UCSD and Scripps Health share responsibility for the fellows, with trainees spending equal time in both institutions with all the benefits of both institutions. We are also pleased to be partnering with The Elizabeth Hospice to provide excellent training during our hospice rotations. Our combined faculty is thrilled to welcome your application to our program.

Our goal is to provide you the very best in HPM education, with close attention to your clinical, communication and teaching skills, as well as your personal and professional growth. Our interdisciplinary faculty is deeply committed to the future of our field and your development. You will have the opportunity to train in multiple settings, including UCSD hospitals in La Jolla and Hillcrest, Scripps Health hospitals, Rady Children's Hospital, UCSD and Scripps outpatient palliative care clinics, long-term care facilities and in the community.

San Diego is a fantastic place to live and train, with access to the ocean, desert and mountains all within a few hours away. It is a diverse, welcoming city, and we think you will find entertainment, outdoor activities and neighborhoods to suit your preference.

Quality of life is important to our patients and to us, and San Diego provides ample opportunity for exploration and relaxation in your free time.

Please take a look at our program, and please contact us with any questions you may have.