Outpatient services 

Town Campus (OPD Building: PCF Extn 1st Floor)

Monday (Full day)

Tuesday (Full day)

Wednesday (Afternoon)

Thursday (Full day)

Friday (Full day)

Dr. Jenifer Jeba.S, MD, Dip Pall Med, MSc, Pall Med Pvt OP – Tuesday

Dr. Jewell Joseph MD (RT) Pvt OP – Friday

Dr. Jyothsna Kuriakose MD (Palliative Medicine) Pvt OP – Monday

Ranipet Campus (A002, Basement room numbers 27-32)

Mondays,Tuesdays,Thursdays and Fridays -full day OPD 

Wednesdays – afternoon OPD

Dr. Jenifer Jeba.S, MD, Dip Pall Med, MSc, Pall Med Pvt OP – Friday

Dr. Jewell Joseph MD (RT) Pvt OP – Monday, Wednesday

Dr. Jyothsna Kuriakose MD (Palliative Medicine) Pvt OP – Tuesday

Our outpatient services are provided by a multidisciplinary team consisting of doctors, nurses, social worker and psychologist. We provide active total care for patients with palliative care needs aiming to improve the quality of life of patients and their families, by relieving suffering (physical, psychological, social and spiritual).

Inpatient services

Inpatient care is provided for patients admitted for purpose of symptom control, end of life care, nursing care. We also teach and empower caregivers in the provision of care at home.

Consultation services

We as a multidisciplinary team provide consultation services for patients admitted under other departments; to manage difficult symptoms, provide lymphedema and nursing care, and counselling services. 

Multidisciplinary tumour board

Palliative care doctors regularly participate in the multidisciplinary tumor board held to discuss management of cancer patients. 

Palliative nursing services 

Palliative care nurses train and empower caregivers in the provision of nursing care; including wound care, care of bed bound patients, lymphedema care so patients can continue to be cared for at home. 

Social care 

Palliative care social worker helps in assessment of patients’ socioeconomic background, social support in care of patients and provide necessary assistance as appropriate.

Psycho-oncology services

Palliative care psychologist provides support through counselling patients’ and families going through oncological treatment, grief and bereavement. This service is available for outpatients and inpatients.

Domiciliary services

Palliative care team visits sick patients in and around Vellore who are unable to come to hospital. This is done twice a week to provide care through adequate symptom management, nursing care, to empower the carers and ensure care continuum at home.

Education and Training

Christian Medical College Vellore offers DNB Palliative Medicine, which is a 3-year competency-based postgraduate training program. DNB Program in Palliative Medicine with two candidates per year was started in the department from 2024.

This program is well-structured and designed to develop competent clinicians who will be equipped to provide compassionate, holistic care for those with life-limiting illnesses. Christian Medical College Vellore is well-suited to undertake this training, as palliative care services are provided in outpatient, inpatient, domiciliary, and hospice settings.  Residents will have a wide clinical exposure to palliative care in the oncology and non-oncology settings. Working as part of a specialist multidisciplinary team will provide opportunities to learn from healthcare professionals from different disciplines. 

The program will help achieve academic excellence; practice person-centred care, gain research skills and leadership qualities in the growing field of palliative medicine.

Dr Aby John Thampi and Dr Shadhikha K, our first DNB residents, have achieved early academic recognition. Dr Aby was runner-up in the Bruce Davis Gold Medal Examination 2025 conducted by Institute of Palliative Medicine and had received first prize in the Dr Ida B. Scudder essay competition at CMC Vellore. Dr Shadhikha received a scholarship to attend the 2nd Jella Nandedkar Memorial Hybrid Symposium on Evidence-Based Palliative Care (Hyderabad, November 2025)

Dr Shadhikha K, DNB Palliative Medicine Resident

“My first year of postgraduate training in Palliative Medicine at CMC Vellore has been an enriching blend of strong academics and wide clinical exposure. The department’s emphasis on holistic, patient-centred care, along with structured teaching and mentorship, has been instrumental in shaping my clinical skills and professional values.

Dr Aby John Thampi, DNB Palliative Medicine Resident

“Both academically and clinically, my time at Christian Medical College till now, has been quite fulfilling. Along with strong emphasis on academics, research, and comprehensive patient care, the department also places emphasis on professional and interpersonal development. Clinical exposure provides a wide range of learning outside of cancer centers by offering a balanced mix of complex non-oncological and oncological cases. Comprehensive and well-supported pain and symptom management enables the emphasis to shift from procedure-heavy practice to thoughtful, patient-centered care. The workplace is encouraging, non-toxic, and driven by a truly compassionate team culture. Along with physically, mentally and emotionally challenging the physician in you, the training aims to extract your potential. More than anything, it is incredibly rewarding and develops compassionate, self-assured residents. The department of palliative medicine in CMC provides a multi-faceted learning environment for people who have a passion for patient-centered medicine.”

The Certificate course in Palliative Medicine is a one-year, full-time residential course which consists of training in the principles of palliative care, symptom management, ethics and communication skills in clinical practice. The in-service training includes training in palliative care out-patient and in-patient setting and home care. They also have peripheral postings in related departments.
 

The Department of Palliative Medicine is also involved in providing teaching to undergraduate students in essentials of Palliative care. Post graduate trainees and fellowship students from other specialities including; Radiotherapy, Geriatric Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Gynae Oncology also go through posting in Palliative Care. 

Doctors and nurses from mission hospitals visit the department to gain further knowledge, skills and understanding in provision of palliative care especially to manage patients in low resource rural hospitals with cost-effective ways. 

Essentials of palliative care nursing training is provided for MSc nursing and Fellowship in Oncology nursing students. Allied health students including those doing medical sociology and hospital administration also spend time in the department. 

Post-graduate Fellowship in Palliative Medicine – alumni

2007-08    Dr. S. Ravi Livingston, Dr. Vishnu Priya.B

2008-09    Dr. Shakeel Ahmed  

2009-10    Dr. Sushma Shivananda

2010-11    Dr. Somnath Dey

2011-12    Dr. VanneihsangiRalte

2012-13    Dr. Sherin Mary Mathew

2015-16    Dr. Abhinav Singh, Dr. Sheeja Jacob

2016-17    Dr. Priyanand Pusuluri, Dr. Susan Shekinah 

2017-18    Dr. Lois Sara James

2018-19    Dr. Dani Swarna Mathew, Dr. SriSushma Nagasuri

2019-20    Dr. G. Chrusolitha Robbie

2023-24    Dr Lakshmi Haritha