UMC Palliative Medicine Clinic
2000 Canal Street, ACB Zone 2A
New Orleans, LA 70112
For Appointments: 504-702-3000
Your Doctors
Sonia Malhotra, MD
Megan Flanagan, MD
Alva Roché, MD
David Pollet, MD
Compassionate Palliative Medicine
The UMC Palliative Medicine Clinic provides specialized care for people living with serious or complex illnesses. Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms, improving quality of life, and helping patients and families better understand and manage their care. Palliative care is not only for end-of-life care. It can be helpful at any stage of serious illness—from the time of diagnosis through treatment and recovery—and can be provided alongside treatments intended to manage or cure the condition.
How Palliative Medicine Can Help
Palliative medicine may be helpful for:
- Pain, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, poor appetite, or other difficult symptoms
- Side effects or challenges related to treatment
- Questions about treatment options and what to expect
- Conversations about personal goals and priorities
- Coordination and communication among physicians and care teams
- Emotional or practical concerns related to serious illness
- Support for family members and caregivers
- Planning for future health care needs
Supporting Patients and Families
Living with a serious illness can affect many parts of life. Our palliative medicine team takes time to listen, understand what matters most to each patient, and provide an added layer of support throughout treatment.
We work alongside the patient’s physicians and other care team members to manage symptoms, improve communication, and make care easier to understand. Our goal is to help patients feel as well as possible, remain involved in decisions, and continue the activities and relationships that are important to them.