Supportive and Palliative Care

Through all phases of cancer treatment and beyond, recovery or survivorship, our support care teams will design an integrated program with the primary goal of improving your quality of life.

At Winship, we have many specialists who can help you manage your symptoms and reduce the burden of side effects. These teams draw from wide-ranging resources in supportive oncology, integrative oncology and palliative care.

Supportive Oncology

Supportive oncology helps you manage your symptoms and also provides support for the emotional and spiritual aspects of dealing with your diagnosis. Winship has several supportive oncology services that meet the needs of our cancer patients.

Our Supportive Oncology Outpatient Clinic delivers state of the art services that cover the full spectrum of cancer care from diagnosis to survivorship. Our team strives to reduce the physical and emotional suffering through comprehensive pain and symptom management and supportive counseling.

Benefits of supportive and palliative oncology:

  • Manage symptoms such as nausea, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, fatigue, and depression.
  • Provide counseling in making difficult medical decisions.
  • Provide emotional and spiritual support.
  • Coordinate home care referrals.
  • Help navigate the complex health care system.
  • Assist with advanced care planning regarding future care and treatment.
  • Provide resources, counseling, and referrals for evidence based integrative oncology community resources.

Our supportive oncology team is constantly evaluating new therapies to find the most effective ways to reduce the burden of cancer on your quality of life.

Ask your oncologist for a referral or for more information on the program, please call (404) 778-1900.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is comprehensive treatment of the discomfort, symptoms and stress of serious illness, but it does not replace your primary care treatment. Palliative care focuses on all the ways a serious illness like cancer can affect patients and families.

Often confused with hospice care, palliative care is appropriate for any stage of a serious illness, whereas hospice care is meant specifically for those approaching the last stages of life or for those who prefer to discontinue treatment.

The Emory Palliative Care Center is a comprehensive program providing multidimensional collaboration through the unique services and expertise provided across Emory, its affiliates and community partners. The Palliative Care team coordinates closely with your health care team to prevent and ease suffering, and improve your quality of life. Discussing palliative care at the beginning of cancer treatment provides the maximum benefit.

You and your family may have many questions and concerns regarding treatment choices, side effects, emotional issues and more. We are here to help you through the entire process. For more information about palliative care at Emory, please ask your nurse or doctor for a referral or call (404) 778-7777. 

Photo of  Kimberly A. Curseen, MD
Kimberly A. Curseen, MD

Kimberly A. Curseen, MD

Director, Palliative Medicine Program
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Dr. Curseen is the primary provider for the Supportive Oncology Clinic at Winship.

Photo of  Laura Brachman, MD
Laura Brachman, MD

Laura Brachman, MD

Assistant Medical Director, Outpatient Palliative and Supportive Care
Emory Healthcare

Dr. Brachman provides patients with cancer with relief from their symptoms and helps improve their quality of life throughout their journey.

Photo of  Tammie E. Quest, MD
Tammie E. Quest, MD

Tammie E. Quest, MD

Director, Emory Palliative Care Center
Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University

A nationally recognized expert in palliative care in the emergency setting, Dr. Quest is the Director of the Emory Palliative Care Center for Emory's Woodruff Health Sciences Center.

Photo of  Susan K. Kunihiro, MD
Susan K. Kunihiro, MD

Susan K. Kunihiro, MD

Assistant Professor, Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. Kunihiro works to improve quality of life for patients with cancer, no matter the stage of illness - from initial diagnosis, during treatment, in remission or closer to end of life.

Photo of  Meredith Maxwell, MD
Meredith Maxwell, MD

Meredith Maxwell, MD

Assistant Professor, Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. Maxwell collaborates with the multidisciplinary care team at Winship to help patients address symptoms and improve their quality of life during their journey with cancer.

Photo of  Jesse A. Soodalter, MD
Jesse A. Soodalter, MD

Jesse A. Soodalter, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine

A palliative care specialist, Dr. Soodalter provides specialized outpatient medical care with a focus on relief from the symptoms and stress of cancer and other illnesses.

Photo of  Ali J. Zarrabi, MD
Ali J. Zarrabi, MD

Ali J. Zarrabi, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. Zarrabi provides physical, emotional, and spiritual care for patients living with serious illness.

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