“In my nearly three years as a palliative care clinician, I have witnessed and understood in greater depth the failures of communication that we tolerate in our health care system. I have seen this in my patients from every walk of life and across the spectrum of serious illness. My academic efforts are deeply rooted in the clinical care of the seriously ill. My desire to be a better educator, a clinical innovator, and a researcher are shaped by these experiences. My personal experiences and medical and research training have provided me with a strong foundation for growth as a leader. I intend to apply social justice principles and social science methods toward the investigation and implementation of communication interventions to improve patient- and family-centered care for seriously ill individuals from underserved and other communities. This is my life’s work and the focus of my career development efforts. The Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program will provide me support to continue my research, connect me with other future leaders in our field, and accelerate my growth as an educator, innovator, and researcher.”