Dr Peltier is a professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Section Head of the Palliative Care Center in the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine. She has extensive background in medical education, leadership and neuromuscular neurology. She brings these skills to palliative care in the areas of clinical pathways and teaching communication skills. Her research interests are in quality improvement and the development of models for 'upstream' palliative care in serious illness as well as for inpatient hospice in the critically ill patient. My care philosophy has always been holistic, and patient/family- centered.