The ESMO Palliative Care Fellowship is a short-term training program (typically 4 weeks) for young oncologists to develop specialized skills in cancer palliative care . Organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology, this fellowship places the trainee at a leading palliative or supportive care department in Europe. During the observership, the fellow learns best practices in pain management, symptom control, and multidisciplinary approaches to patient support. The experience is meant to be brought back to the fellow’s home oncology practice, thereby integrating stronger palliative care principles into cancer care globally.
Eligibility Criteria:
- ESMO member oncologists (medical, radiation, or surgical) under age 40 or in training.
- Typically applicants are in the final years of residency/fellowship or recently board-certified in oncology.
- Must demonstrate a strong interest in palliative care. Often, candidates hold a role in supportive care at their home institution or plan to establish palliative services.
- Proficiency in English is required (and if the host center operates in a local language, some proficiency in that language is beneficial). The home institution should endorse the application, confirming that the fellow can implement learned skills afterward.
Funding Details:
- Grant: ESMO provides a stipend to cover travel and living costs for the one-month observership. The stipend is approximately €2,500 (exact amount may vary slightly year to year).
- The host institute does not charge any training fees and will offer access to clinics, home care visits, team meetings, etc.
- The fellow receives free registration to the next ESMO Congress or an ESMO Palliative Care workshop if applicable. No salary is provided since this is an observership (fellows typically maintain their salary from home institution or take unpaid leave).
Deadline:
- Due January 30, 2026 . All application materials (CV, motivation letter, reference letters) must be submitted in this window.
- Results are usually communicated by March 2026. Fellows then arrange with hosts to undertake the fellowship later in 2026 at a mutually convenient time.
Where to go for further information: