Trustbridge’s prestigious Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program
“We are training hospice advocates, not just doctors.”
– Dr. Vishesh Pathak
Welcome to
impact of compassion with your generosity.
At Trustbridge, we believe education is at the heart of patient care, and your support makes it possible. Because of you, we are bridging gaps in hospice care through essential programs like the Hospice & Palliative Physician Fellowships.
This groundbreaking initiative, in partnership with HCA Florida JFK Hospital, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine GME Consortium, along with the Veterans Affairs (VA) West Palm Beach Medical Center, equips physicians with specialized training in compassionate life limiting and end-of-life care.
Thanks to your commitment, our Fellows not only excel in clinical expertise but also in offering heartfelt support to patients and families. Together, we are bringing comfort, dignity, and love to those in their final stages of life—a precious gift made possible by your generosity.
Thank you for connecting life and love in our community.
With Gratitude,
Deborah Johnson, CFRE
Tarrah Lowry President, Trustbridge Foundation Interim President, Trustbridge
Tarrah Lowry
Deborah Johnson
We are Training Hospice Advocates
Dr Vishesh Pathak, newly appointed Trustbridge Medical Education Director, has been delivering educational opportunities to residents and staff since 2014, when then Director of Education, Dr. Richard Levene, integrated these initiatives into his training. Trustbridge has played a pivotal role in Dr. Pathak’s development as a physician. From his residency at JFK, through his own Trustbridge Physician Fellowship in 2017, and into his early years as a staff physician, Dr. Pathak describes Trustbridge as an organization that enveloped him. “It grounded me; made me enthusiastic, it was truly unique,” he reflects.
Since completing his own journey from student to hospice advocate, Dr. Pathak has heard each Fellow in the program express the same gratitude for the experience. For many young physicians, their time in Trustbridge’s training program is their first encounter with someone’s end of life journey. Many have never attended a funeral or walked through grief. “This is sacred work,” Dr. Pathak shares. “We are training doctors to become beacons in hospice.”
“Trustbridge
has a teaching attitude, encorporating it wherever possible across its scope.”
At the heart of Trustbridge’s graduate medical education programs is a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals dedicated to promoting the highest standards of patient care, scholarly activity, and training. Partnering teams:
Trustbridge Hospice & Trustbridge Hospice Foundation
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
HCA Florida JFK Hospital
University of Miami
Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
FAU Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine
L-R: 2024 Trustbridge Physician Fellowship graduation celebration: Director Dr. Vishesh Pathak, Fellows Dr. Samir Khouzam & Dr. Jonathan Ganesh, with Dr. Richard Levene
Innovating with Heart
At Trustbridge, we believe that compassionate care for hospice patients requires skilled, empathetic physicians. Our Physician Fellowship Program is a vital extension of this commitment, ensuring future hospice doctors are not only equipped with advanced medical expertise but also with a deep understanding of the human experience at the end of life.
For over four decades, Trustbridge has been at the forefront of hospice care in Florida. In the 1980s, our pioneering physicians laid the foundation for a hospice curriculum that has continued to evolve. Since 2009, our ACGME-accredited Fellowship Program has shaped compassionate and innovative doctors who care for patients in our communities. This year-long journey involves intense training and emotional growth, with Fellows rotating through diverse care settings—including Trustbridge inpatient units, patient homes, specialized care sites, JFK Medical Center, and the West Palm Beach Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center - where they provide end-of-life care to patients from all walks of life.
Beyond honing their medical skills, Fellows immerse themselves in the human side of hospice care. They learn to comfort grieving families and, through a dedicated two-week rotation with the Pediatric Oncology Support Team, gain invaluable experience caring for terminally or chronically ill children. This unique rotation teaches them to blend compassion, sensitivity, and expertise as they witness the incredible strength of children facing severe illnesses, providing gentle, heartfelt support to young patients and their families.
In addition to hands-on care, Fellows participate in integrative therapy sessions to nurture their own well-being, ensuring they are equipped to guide families through their healing journeys. Scholarly projects, lectures, and teaching opportunities round out their training, fostering innovation in areas such as advanced symptom management and holistic care. This comprehensive approach ensures Fellows emerge as well-rounded, compassionate physicians ready to make a lasting impact on the future of hospice care.
Above Left: Program educators celebrate 2024 graduates accomplishments: Erika Contreras, APRN, Trustbridge at JFK hospital, Father Gabriel Ghanoum, PsyD, BCC, HCA Director of Spiritual Care & Palliative Care. Above Right: Fellowship Graduate, Dr. Samir Khouzam, Associate Medical Director Dr. Faustino Gonzalez, Fellowship Graduate Dr. Jonathan Ganesh, Father Ghanoum
From Trustbridge Fellows to Esteemed Physicians
The Physician Fellowship Program has equipped graduates to become invaluable members of the Trustbridge team. These dedicated doctors, who have trained under our unique model of compassionate and holistic care, now bring their expertise to patients across our communities. In their own words, they share how the program has shaped their practice and enriched the care they provide to those at the end of life.
Dr. Katherine Brazzale
Trustbridge’s first Fellow, 2009, now carries the title of Chief Medical and Administrative Officer Hospice Division Empath
CTI Administrative Physician, 2015 Fellow
The fellowship strongly encouraged innovation and quality improvement, allowing me to explore new ideas and contribute to the advancement of palliative care practices. The opportunity to engage in meaningful research not only honed my analytical skills but also instilled a commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in patient care. All of these were instrumental in my later development of a Palliative Performance Scale (PPS), a patient assessment tool assisting clinicians in the field.
Percentage of Fellows, since it’s inception, who have continued with Trustbridge to deliver compassionate care within our community. 76%
Dr. Ekta Solanki Medical Director, Trustbridge, 2018 Fellow
Together in Compassion
Dr. Vishesh Pathak, 2017 and Dr. Ekta Solanki, both former Trustbridge Fellows, are a husband-and-wife team dedicated to providing exceptional hospice care.
“My experience completing the Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship program at Trustbridge was nothing short of life changing. The collegial environment, mentorship and support I received truly helped me transform into a more compassionate and empathetic physician who is well equipped to serve our very important patient population.”
Dr. Faneece Embry Blue Jay Care Team Physician, 2018 Fellow
“The fellowship was essential to my success in hospice and palliative medicine. The majority of my training was one-onone with my Attending Physician, giving me an in-depth learning experience which facilitated my growth.”
Dr. Faneece Embry
Dr. Vanessa Perez Cardona Jade Care Team Physician, 2020 Fellow
The fellowship was very well structured and provided a good foundation for both palliative care and hospice care. My fellowship was during the beginning of COVID, requiring me to become comfortable helping families of very sick patients navigate through goals of care and transition to hospice during an especially challenging time. The fellowship prepared me well to be able to handle patients in all settings. Being able to stay with Trustbridge was amazing as I was already familiar with my mentors and fellow doctors, this made the transition into my first year as an attending physician much smoother.
Dr. Malika Jafferjee
Associate Medical Director, 2022 Fellow
Being a part of the Hospice and Palliative Fellowship was by far the highlight of my training! I was able to work closely with amazing Attendings who made me feel well prepared for life after training. They have served as mentors and friends whose experiences have been invaluable. On top of that I felt like I found an extended family within my co-Fellows, nurses, social workers, team managers, chaplains, and music therapists. Staying a part of the Trustbridge family is an honor and feels like home.
Other graduates with Trustbridge, not pictured
2024 Jonathan Ganesh, MD Associate Medical Director, Medical Education
2024 Samir Khouzam MD Associate Medical Director
2021 Dr. Ilana Falitz, MD Associate Medical Director
2019 Jessica Eichler, MD
Palliative Care Physician, Boca Regional Hospital
2017 Carlos Villalba, MD Opal Care Team Physician
2016 Hernan Osorno, MD Swan Care Team Physician
2014 Amy Farbman, MD CTI Administrative Physician
2012 Richard Teitzman, DO Hospice Care Physician, Delray Medical Center
By supporting Trustbridge, you’re not only ensuring expert care today—you’re shaping the compassionate physicians who will lead the future of hospice care.
Your generosity is an investment in the next generation of leaders, ensuring the continuity of high-quality, empathetic care for generations to come. Thank you for being part of this vital legacy.
Palm Beach Island Hospice Foundation, then Palm Beach Island Guild, established groundbreaking care that birthed hospice care in Palm Beach County in 1978. Their continued support and partnership helps ensure the expansion of innovative practices for Trustbridge caregivers.
New Physician Fellow Award
The Dr. Faustino Gonzalez Physician Fellow Award was recently introduced to recognize a graduating Fellow who has successfully completed Trustbridge’s Palliative & Hospice Physician Fellowship program. Dedicated in honor of Dr. Gonzalez’s commitment to the field, this annual award will be bestowed upon a Fellow who exemplifies the highest level of compassionate care and dedication to hospice and palliative medicine.
The Scholarship will be dedicated in honor of the Fellow, and support the ongoing growth and development of the Palliative & Hospice Care Fellowship program at Trustbridge. This scholarship helps ensure future Fellows receive the essential training needed to continue providing exceptional care to our patients and families.
Help Build Tomorrow’s Healthcare Heroes
Support the Dr. Faustino Gonzalez Physician Fellow Scholarship. Start building here.
Deborah Johnson, President, Trustbridge Foundation, Dr. Faustino Gonzalez, and Tarrah Lowry, Interim President, Trustbridge.
Mark W. Cook, Palm Beach Island Hospice Foundation and Trustbridge Board member, Jonathan Fleece, President & CEO Empath Health, Chris Callahan Trustbridge Hospice Foundation Board Chair
Dr. Richard Levene, Fellowship Program Founding Physician, Lynnette Lin Palm Beach Island Hospice Foundation, Dr. Faustino Gonzalez, Dr. Vishesh Pathak
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Board Members Announced: Dr. Faustino Gonzalez & Ms. Carrie Titcomb
The Trustbridge Hospice Foundation Board of Directors is thrilled to announce Dr. Faustino Gonzalez and Catherine “Carrie” Titcomb, RN, as new members of the board. Both Dr. Gonzalez and Ms. Titcomb are already valued members of the Trustbridge family, and
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Dr. Faustino Gonzalez recently retired as Trustbridge Associate Medical Director.
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Locations
Hospice Resale Juno 863 Donald Ross Rd., Juno Beach | (561) 624-5495
Hospice Resale West Palm Beach 4833 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach | (561) 681-6511
Hospice Resale Boca Raton 141 NW 20th St., Boca Raton | (561) 338-4030
Catherine “Carrie” Titcomb, RN currently serves as President of Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation.
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“I want to thank you for the gentle way our beloved mother was cared for. We knew the moment we stepped through the doors of Hospice by the Sea; she was in good hands. The entire staff was tender in caring for her. We thank you for making her last days peaceful. ”
— A Grateful Daughter to the Boca Center Care Team
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