Current Fellows
Academic Year: July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
Domenic "Dom" DiGiovine, M.D.
Domenic DiGiovine completed a bachelor's degree in Biomolecular Science and Philosophy at the University of Michigan. He graduated with honors after completing his thesis on the ethical considerations of fairly distributing limited healthcare resources. He went on to complete medical school, also at the University of Michigan, and spent his time focusing on medical student wellness and the intersection of mental health and physical illness. He completed combined training in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry residency at the University of Kansas. As a chief resident of the Med/Psych program, he led an effort to adjust the clinic structure and learned how to prioritize and organize resident concerns in a way that made change possible. He is interested in pursuing outpatient palliative care, with a specific interest in exploring how access to mental health care, early palliative care involvement, and longitudinal relationship formation can improve patent outcomes for those navigating the challenges of chronic and terminal illnesses.
Emma Doenier, M.D.
Emma Doenier, MD received her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she majored in Neurobiology and Psychology and earned a certificate in Stem Cell Sciences. Prior to medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, she was awarded a Fulbright Research Fellowship in Oslo, Norway. She completed her internal medicine residency at Washington University in St. Louis / Barnes-Jewish Hospital, where she participated in the Teaching Physicians Pathway and subsequently served as a Chief Resident. Her academic interests lie at the intersection of palliative care, communication, and medical education, with a focus on supporting patients, families, and learners through moments of uncertainty. She is particularly interested in simulation-based education and serious-illness communication, as well as educational leadership that emphasizes presence and reflective growth in emotionally complex clinical encounters.
Nicoy Downie, M.B.B.S.
Nicoy Downie earned his medical degree from the University of the West Indies (Mona, Jamaica) and completed Internal Medicine residency training at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, where he served as Chief Resident. In this role, he provided program wide leadership across resident education, mentorship, and clinical operations, including the design and implementation of longitudinal initiatives aimed at strengthening trainee scholarship and professional development. He was also selected as an AAHPM Next Generation for Equity Scholar, reflecting a sustained commitment to equity-centered serious illness care. Nicoy's professional identity is rooted in caring for patients navigating serious illness, with particular emphasis on communication, symptom management, and dignity-focused care. His clinical and scholarly interests sit at the intersection of Hematology/Oncology and Palliative Medicine, with focused interests in thrombosis, sickle cell disease, malignant hematology, and patient-centered decision making. Across these domains, he is driven by a shared goal of pairing high-quality, evidence-based medicine with clear, compassionate communication, ensuring that care remains aligned with each patient's values and goals.
Ju Hyun "Judy" Lee, N.P.
Originally from New Mexico, Judy moved to Boston in 2018 to be a clinical researcher and met nurse practitioners who inspired her to pursue nursing. After receiving her degree as Family Nurse Practitioner, she began working as a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner in central Connecticut. Through her fellowship year, she hopes to continue to deepen and strengthen her skills in providing compassionate palliative care. Judy enjoys knitting with a cup of tea or coffee in a sunny corner.
Valeria "V" Melo, M.D.
Valeria grew up in the Chicago suburbs. She received her bachelor's degree in Biology and Public Health, with a minor in Biochemistry from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. She earned her medical degree from Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and then completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco where she served as the inaugural chief administrative resident at the local safety net hospital - San Francisco General Hospital. She is now pursuing dual fellowship training in palliative care followed by gynecologic oncology, seeking to bridge the two fields and provide full scope, person-centered care to her future oncology patients, from diagnosis to end-of-life care. She envisions an academic career at a safety net hospital that focuses on the intersection of palliative care and gynecologic oncology and increasing access to palliative care among underserved communities. Additional interests include health disparities, public health messaging / community outreach, and medical education.
Kriti Prasad, M.D.
Kriti Prasad received her bachelor’s degree in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to attending medical school at the University of Minnesota, she worked as a mental health worker in a peripartum psychiatric program and as a researcher studying clinician burnout, experiences that grounded her commitment to holistic, trauma-informed care for both patients and providers. She pursued her Internal Medicine residency (Primary Care Track) at Boston Medical Center, where she has cared for patients with serious illness, complex pain, and substance use disorders. Her clinical interests lie at the intersection of palliative care and addiction medicine, with a focus on the management of total pain, chronic pain in advanced illness, and complex symptoms in individuals with substance use disorders. She aspires to build an academic career integrating outpatient palliative care and addiction medicine, with a focus on trauma-informed practice and advocacy for marginalized communities.communication. She hopes to spend her palliative care fellowship year honing the skills needed to be an exemplary clinician and communicator with the goal of eventually being able to teach others how to do the same.
Helen Queenan, M.D.
Helen received her bachelor's degree in Anthropology with a minor in Culture, Health, and Science from Smith College. Before pursuing her medical degree, she worked as a research assistant at Tufts University, where she helped develop research strategies to improve healthcare access for people who inject drugs. She completed her medical training at Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., where she served as Co-President of Community Service, leading projects in partnership with community organizations and identifying key needs of patients in the district. She completed a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency at the University of Colorado in 2026, where she served as Co-President of the Minority and Allied Residency Council (MARC) for residents and fellows. In this role, she fostered community through workshops, activities, and community engagement. Helen's commitment to community service remains central to her work as she bridges research and palliative care to bring goal-concordant care and treatment to her patients. She has been awarded the Next Generation Scholarship from AAHPM and has developed research focused on medically complex pediatric patients who, thanks to technological advances in medicine, are now living longer and aging into adulthood. Helen's interest and passion for palliative care stem from her desire to bring primary palliative care to every patient, regardless of age, medical complexity, or socioeconomic disadvantage.
Amanda Whitbeck, M.S.N.
Amanda has been working at BWH/DFCI for over seven years, first in research as a clinical research coordinator, team lead CRC, and clinical research manager, and for the past two years as an inpatient oncology nurse on a solid tumor floor. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience at the University of Rochester, and then she went back to school at Simmons University where she received her RN and MSN to become a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2025. Her interest in palliative care began during her time as an inpatient oncology RN and blossomed when she did an elective palliative pare rotation at DFCI as an NP. She learned so much about the discipline and knew she wanted to continue being a part of improving patient quality of life. She is so excited to be a fellow and continue that journey! When she is not working, she loves to bake, exercise, spend time with friends and family, travel, play music, and enjoy the outdoors.