Biography
Dr. Neale graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with B.A. in Biology (1996). After holding a research position at the National Institutes of Health, she attended Stanford University School of Medicine (2002). She came to UNM School of Medicine for Internal Medicine residency and a primary care chief resident year (2006). She pursued dual fellowships in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Geriatric Medicine at the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY (2008). Subsequently, she joined UNM SOM Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care. She worked predominantly as a Geriatric primary care provider at UNM Senior Health Clinic, with part-time service on the inpatient palliative care consult team until 2015 when she became a full time member of the Division of Palliative Medicine.
Personal Statement
I came to UNM school of medicine initially as a resident and subsequently as a faculty member because of my devotion to providing excellent and compassionate medical care to New Mexico's diverse and underserved population. I am honored to care for elderly patients and patients living with serious illness because these are critical times in life when "whole person" and "whole family" care is critical. Working with a talented an extremely dedicated interdisciplinary team to respond to patients' physical, emotional, psychosocial and existential/ spiritual suffering is fascinating and constantly challenging. As our patients often live with multiple chronic medical issues and socio-familial-economic challenges, it is deeply meaningful for me to teach our medical students about providing palliative care along the trajectory of a serious illness. I am the faculty coordinator for the Palliative Experience during the Internal Medicine Clerkship, and the Medical Student and Resident Electives in Palliative Care.
Areas of Specialty
Geriatric Palliative Care Delirium Communication of Difficult Information (Breaking Bad News") Culturally Respectful / Responsive Palliative Care Medical Student Education in Palliative Medicine"
Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine (2006) American Board of Hospice and Palliative Care (2008, 2018) American Board of Geriatrics (2008) Certificate in Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (EPERC) Clinical Research Training Program, Mount Sinai SOM 2008 Certificate in Donald W. Reynolds' Master Clinician-Educator Program (MGEP) 2008
Achievements & Awards
Selected to attend AAMC’s Early Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar, 2010 Geriatric Academic Career Award (grant funding by US DOH and HRSA) 2010-2012 UNM SOM MES (Medical Education Scholarship) program, 2010-2012 Palliative Care Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Clinic Medical Director, 2011-2015 ECHOCare Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Complex Care Clinic Co-Medical Director, (Co-investigator in Healthcare Innovation Challenge Grant funded by CMMS) 2012-2016
Languages
- English
Courses Taught
Small group facilitator for UME Doctoring courses II, IV, and VI Faculty coordinator (curriculum development and primary preceptor) for the Palliative Experience during the Internal Medicine Clerkship, the Medical Student Palliative Care Elective, and the IM/FP Resident Elective in Palliative Care.
Research and Scholarship
Litrivis J and Neale D. How Should Common Symptoms at the End of Life be Managed? The Hospitalist. May 2013 Marr L, Neale D, Wolfe, V, Kitzes J. Confronting Myths: The Native American Experience in an Academic Inpatient Palliative Care Consultation Program. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2012 Jan;15(1):71-6 Epub 2012 Jan 13 Pierce JR, Kellie SM, West TA, Richardson JM, Neale DA, Montgomery OG, McClure SC, Bell TE. Top Ten List of Long-Term Care Facility Preparations for the Upcoming Influenza Season. Journal of the American Geriatric Society. 2009 Dec;57(12):2318-2323 Neale D. A Primer on Palliative Care. The Carlat Report: Psychiatry. 2013 Feb;11(2):1-3 Neale D. Disease-Specific Treatment Protocols. ECHOCare Operations Manual 2013 (online). 5-12 page algorithms and recommendations for evaluation and treatment of specific medical conditions) for the ECHOCare Project Outpatient Intensivist Teams. Disease states include: diabetes, heart failure, renal disease, liver disease, depression, anxiety, asthma, and chronic obstructive lung disease.