U of R Doctor Helps Transform Nation's End-of-Life Care

The Institute of Medicine, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization with a mission to improve American’s health has selected Dr. Patricia Bomba, of Pittsford to serve on the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Transforming End-of-Life Care. Bomba is a nationally recognized palliative care and end-of-life expert who designs and oversees the implementation of community projects throughout New York state.

“New York state is ahead of the curve when it comes to ensuring patients’ wishes are honored at the end of life,” Bomba said. “I hope to parlay the successes of New York state into a new national standard that empowers patients, their families and physicians to make and share sound decisions.”

Bomba serves as New York’s representative on the National POLST (Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) Paradigm Task Force and chairs New York’s MOLST Statewide Implementation Team. She was the driving force behind a 2008 New York state Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) law which helped to ensure that a person’s end-of-life wishes were followed, whether the person was at home, in a nursing home or in any other non-hospital setting.

Dr. Bomba completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Rochester and is board certified in internal medicine, with added qualifications in geriatric medicine. She currently serves as vice president and medical director, geriatrics, for the insurer Excellus BCBS.