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Palliative Care

2025 – 2026 Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellows

Adult Palliative Medicine TrackSamira Ali, MD

Dr. Samira Ali was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma for her undergraduate degree, graduating summa cum laude. She is the first person in her family to earn a college degree. She completed medical school was completed at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Prior to starting medical school, Dr. Ali worked as a certified nursing assistant in assisted living and inpatient physical rehabilitation. She completed her family medicine residency program, including a year as chief resident, at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in east Los Angeles county. During residency, she had the opportunity to learn about palliative medicine and found it to be an incredibly meaningful field, especially when it comes to addressing racial and ethnic disparities in palliative care. In her spare time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, practicing classical south Asian dance, photography, and reading.

Samira Ali smiles for a professional photo.

Pediatric Palliative Medicine TrackRicci Allen, MD, MSc

Dr. Ricci Allen is originally from the Tampa Bay area, which is where she went to the University of South Florida, earning undergraduate degrees in Biomedical Sciences and Psychology. She then attended Oxford University for a master’s degree in Clinical Embryology and completed a dissertation regarding ovarian tissue cryopreservation for pediatric patients with cancer. Dr. Allen returned to Florida for medical school at the University of Central Florida, where she met her husband, who is a Med-Peds resident in DC. She completed her pediatrics residency program at Johns Hopkins Hospital, enjoying the emphasis on learning and teaching in her program and throughout Hopkins. She fell in love with palliative care as a second-year resident on her pediatric oncology rotation, where she saw the dramatic impacts the palliative team had on patients and their families. Her future career goals are to become a pediatric gastroenterologist who includes palliative techniques in her day-to-day practice, as well as doing palliative clinical time as an attending.

Ricci Allen smiles for a professional photo.

Adult Palliative Medicine Track​Benjamin Joseph Michael Horn, DO, MA

Dr. Benjamin Joseph Michael Horn was born and raised in Peoria, Arizona. He attended his undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona, completing a dual degree in Organismal Biology as well as German Studies, spending part of his time studying and conducting research at the Die Universität Leipzig and Heidelberg. He then moved to Kansas City to complete his Masters in Bioethics, after which he completed his medical school training at Rocky Vista University in Colorado. Dr. Horn completed his residency training program in internal medicine-pediatrics at Louisiana State University Shreveport Health Sciences Center. During fellowship training, he hopes to expand on previous research analyzing conversations and the complex dynamics involved in end-of-life decision-making processes across various cultures and groups. In his free time, he loves to bake, hike, rock climb, and enjoys board game nights with his friends.

Benjamin Joseph Michael Horn smiles for a professional photo.

Adult Palliative Medicine TrackJoanna Rowe, DO, MA

Dr. Joanna Rowe grew up in Ohio. She completed an undergraduate degree in Art, Business and Theatre Arts and Cinema at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. After college, she worked in the service industry, developing essential “soft skills” which help her every day in her role as a doctor. She later spent several months in Sicily, Italy teaching English to children at a theater-based camp. She attended Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine for her medical degree and master of arts degree. Dr. Rowe is completing her surgery residency training program at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. She considered herself a non-traditional medical student and now an unconventional surgery resident. She chose hospice and palliative medicine before choosing surgery. In her opinion, the two specialties are intertwined, and she hopes to keep them that way throughout her practice. She has three cats, about 30 house plants, and one husband. Away from work, she spends time with all of them and paints.

Joanna Rowe smiles for a professional photo.