Kayla N Andres, MD

My path to hospice and palliative medicine began through my own family experience — caring for my father during a serious illness. While that time was challenging, it clarified what matters most to me as a physician: showing up with kindness, presence, compassion, and helping patients and families feel supported during some of life’s most uncertain moments.

As a palliative care physician, my goal is to help patients live as well as possible while navigating complex medical conditions. I take the time to listen carefully to patients’ goals, values, and concerns, and I work alongside them to better understand what matters most in their lives. I use that understanding to help patients make informed decisions about their care and to support them through changing needs over time.

I truly enjoy getting to know patients as people. Every individual has a unique story, and it is a privilege when patients invite me into theirs. Creating space for those stories — and incorporating patients’ preferences and priorities into their care — is one of the most meaningful aspects of my work.