I am a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. My primary clinical responsibilities are seeing patients and precepting students and residents at the ECMC Family Health Center. My focus is community-based palliative care and enhancing the training of clinicians in primary palliative care skills. Patient education is an important aspect of my care. Building disease understanding for patients and families empowers them to make informed decisions as illness progresses. My approach is to develop meaningful relationships with all members of the family, promoting health, wellness and survivorship care. I guide patients through adaptation to illness and explore patient goals and values to improve identification of patient and family care preferences. My research interests include assessing barriers and facilitators to advanced care planning documentation.