Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and by 2008, there were over 3000 members of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Today, the field uses interdisciplinary treatment aiming to maintain quality of life while balancing appropriate therapies. Role of hospice and palliative care physicians Physicians in this subspecialty have advanced knowledge and skills to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting, life-threatening and terminal illnesses. This specialist has expertise in the assessment of patients with advanced disease and catastrophic injury, the relief of distressing symptoms, the coordination of interdisciplinary patient and family-centered care in diverse settings, the use of specialized care systems including hospice, the management of the imminently dying patient; and legal and ethical decision making in end-of-life care. They work with an interdisciplinary hospice or palliative care team to maximize quality of life while addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both patients and family members throughout the course of the disease, including through the dying process and subsequent bereavement. This care can occur within or outside of a formal hospice or palliative care team. Education and training of hospice and palliative care physicians Physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school. Medical schools may be accredited by either the liaison committee on medical education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Associations Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (AOACOC). Medical school is generally 4 years of training. After completion of medical school, individuals must complete a residency accredited by either the American Committee on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in any number of specialties. Some main specialties include: anesthesiology emergency medicine family medicine internal medicine obstetrics and gynecology pediatrics physical medicine and rehabilitation psychiatry and neurology surgery radiology After completion of residency, which can generally last from 3 to 7 years, individuals must complete at least 12 months of fellowship in Hospice and Palliative medicine in order to sit for board certification examinations (see below). As of 2021, there are 156 recognized fellowship programs in Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Certification of specialists The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is the leading professional organization for physicians subspecializing in hospice and palliative medicine in North America. The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care is the major professional organization devoted to the global spread of hospice and palliative medicine. The American Board of Internal Medicine administers the initial board certification