Eamon Eccles, MD
Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellow
My career in medicine has been heavily influenced by my own experience with cancer while in college. I completed combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency and am excited to use the skills obtained in HPM fellowship training to care for adults and children living with life-limiting medical conditions.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my wife and my cat (Moxie, short for Moxifloxacin), and playing golf.
Sarah Puryear, MD
Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellow
I was born and raised in Chicago then lived on the east coast until starting medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. I then came to IU for emergency medicine residency, which I completed in 2024. I have been working in local emergency departments since graduating residency. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, travel, gardening, and playing musical instruments.
Olga Vera Colon, MD
Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellow
I am a family medicine–trained physician from Puerto Rico, with residency training in Florida, and I am excited to join Indiana University for fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. I am passionate about patient- and family-centered care, meaningful communication during serious illness, and teaching learners at all stages. Outside of medicine, I enjoy exploring restaurants, learning about different cultures, traveling, watching TV series, and spending time with family, and I look forward to exploring Indianapolis and being closer to family in the area.
Ushma Bhandary, MD
Palliative-Pediatrics Fellow
I was born in Nepal and have lived in Colorado for most of my life. I completed medical school and pediatric residency at LSU New Orleans. I have never been to Indianapolis but looking forward to moving here with my crazy dog!
Maryam Yasin, MD
Hospice & Palliative Medicine - Hematology Oncology Fellow (Year One)
I'm from Singapore, and I recently completed my Internal Medicine residency in Washington, DC. I'm passionate about helping patients and their families navigate some of life's most challenging moments which is what drew me to palliative care. Outside of medicine, I enjoy traveling, spending time in nature, exploring new cultures, practicing gratitude, and appreciating the simple joys in life.
Omair Syed, MD
Hospice & Palliative Medicine - Hematology Oncology Fellow (Year Two)
My professional pursuits are deeply rooted in advancing health outcomes, enhancing global health initiatives and fostering holistic approaches to cancer care. Outside of medicine, I can be found exploring nature, visiting museums and art galleries, watching documentaries on world history, and seeking out the best cafes for lattes and pastries.
Former Fellows: Work After Graduation
| Erin Boente, MD
Palliative Fellow, Class of 2026 Amith Rao, MD Deborah Mack, MD Mary Christy, MD |
Diana Halloran, MD Palliative Fellow, Class of 2025 Alexis Kaiser, MD Melissa Pearson, MD |
Testimonials
“The year I spent in this program was the most enlightening (and most fun) year of my career to date. I chose this program due to its outstanding faculty and its culture of compassionate, patient-centered care, and it was everything I’d hoped for and more. There are so many opportunities to form meaningful connections with patients and families, and the faculty and staff are wonderfully warm and supportive. I learned a lot medically/academically, but even more importantly, this fellowship helped me to grow personally/emotionally/spiritually and prepared me well for the next phase of my career as a full-time palliative medicine specialist.”
“Eskenazi Hospital is a wonderful home base for the fellowship, exhibiting a culture of service to the community that is truly inspiring.”
“Everything I learned during the inpatient hospice experience turned out to be tremendously useful in my current job, as I have a much better understanding of how inpatient hospice works.”
“PalliTalk conference in Madison was exceptional, primarily for its stated purpose to further develop communication skills, though also for networking with peers in the palliative care world and building camaraderie with my co-fellows.”
“The reputations of the fellowship faculty as great clinicians, as well as educators and mentors, attracted me to the program. The HPM fellowship offered a wide variety of experiences in the all-to-brief year of fellowship training. I knew the core inpatient palliative care rotations would allow me to develop the skillset necessary to function as an inpatient palliative care physician, though I also appreciated the amount of elective time available to pursue my own interests and experiences that I otherwise may never have had.”
“The inpatient palliative care rotations gave me confidence in my ability to transition fairly easily into an inpatient palliative care position. I did leave Indiana to practice in a different state, though found no significant barriers in obtaining a position elsewhere.”
“The international elective in Eldoret, Kenya gave me an opportunity to join an inpatient palliative care team at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, the site of a sustained, decades-long partnership that has become a model for global health work. While facilities and resources may vary from the US, I found my role on the team to be similar to that of the inpatient palliative care rotations. My time was predominantly spent having goals of care conversations with patients (often via interpreter) as well as symptom management. The team and patients there are familiar with having international visitors, so I did not feel to be a significant distraction, but rather an extra provider who could help the team accomplish the day's work. During my time, there was a nurse who had recently joined the palliative care team. I often would work with her and she would help with interpreting while I was able to provide education on palliative care topics (medications, communication strategies, prognostication).”
“This program also offers excellent work-life balance with focus on physician wellness.”