Aparna Desai

Aparna Desai, DO, MPH, FACP

Site Director, Palliative Clerkship and Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship

I am excited to be a member of the Division of General Internal Medicine, and to learn from and alongside my colleagues.

Bio

I am a palliative care physician and clinician educator specializing in serious illness care. I care for patients with life-limiting illness by honoring goals, hopes, and values to support decision-making related to treatment and by treating complex symptoms that may arise during the course of an illness. I am dedicated to educating students, residents, and fellows in palliative care and serve as faculty at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

After completing my fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at UCSD, I joined the faculty at MedStar Washington Hospital Center where I served as Program Director for the Interprofessional Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program. While at MedStar, I also directed the palliative medicine rotation for internal medicine residents and developed resiliency training for residents and fellows. I was awarded the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award from the Department of Medicine and the 2024 Impact Award for Excellence in Education, Mentorship, and Compassionate Leadership from the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program.

I lead the palliative education program at Johns Hopkins Bayview and am excited to provide a learning experience that models strong interdisciplinary collaboration and compassionate, patient- and family-centered palliative care. I believe in the power of sharing our stories as a source of connection and healing, and feel privileged to honor the stories of my patients’ lives in order to provide goal-concordant care. As an educator, I encourage vulnerability and reflective practice as a tool for professional growth and clinical excellence. My interests include communication skills training, professional identity formation, and interprofessional education.

I am excited to be a member of the Division of General Internal Medicine, and to learn from and alongside my colleagues. I enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, and finding humor in everyday life.

Education

  • Degrees

    • D.O. / Touro University Nevada 2016

    • M.P.H. / University of Southern California 2010

  • Residencies

    • Internal Medicine Residency / UCSF Fresno 2019

  • Fellowships

    • Hospice and Palliative Medicine / University of California San Diego 2020

  • Board Certifications

    • Board Certification Internal Medicine , 2020

    • Board Certification Hospital and Palliative Medicine , 2022

Scholarly Interests

Palliative care, medical education, clinical excellence, communication skills training, professional identity formation, and interprofessional education
Selected Publications

  • Screening and detection of delirium in the acute palliative care setting using the “Months of the Year Backwards” test: A cross-sectional study

    View publication