The Science of Comfort

As head of the Carbone Cancer Center Palliative Care Program and director of the palliative care fellowship program, Dr. Toby Campbell’s work focuses on comfort and care for patients facing serious illness. Palliative medicine improves quality of life and involves all members of the health-care team, physicians, nurses and specialists. It provides an extra layer of support for patients and families and addresses everything from physical symptoms to spiritual issues. In an era of rising medical costs and health-care reform, palliative medicine also refocuses care on patient need, leading to less patient suffering and lower health-care costs for families and the country.