2021 Donation Healthcare Hero - Dr. Marwa Kilani
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Sponsor: Honored by Specialist Direct
HONORED BECAUSE
Dr. Kilani is a remarkable physician who, during end-of-life care, honors the family's wishes and the patient's decision of donation and transplantation while providing comfort, peace, and dignity. During the COVID- 19 pandemic, the community that Dr. Kilani serves was greatly affected; the hospital she supports had the highest number of COVID-19 cases, contributing to a dynamic and difficult healthcare climate. Even though all the challenges, she ensured that families were well cared for. Whether that meant meeting with families outside of the hospital to update them, or spending hours on the phone helping families come to terms with the potential donor's prognosis, she was always there to provide empathy, solace, and compassion. Additionally, she has been an advocate for Donation after Cardiac Death, caring for and supporting patient and family wishes at her designated hospital when other hospitals were unable to facilitate the donation process.
BIOGRAPHY
Marwa Kilani was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She attended UCLA for her undergraduate studies and UCSD School of Medicine. She then did her training at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center in the specialty of Internal Medicine and thereafter continued on as a hospitalist for 7 years. It is at that point in her career that she found her passion in Palliative Care and underwent board certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine in 2010. She is currently the Medical Director of Palliative Care at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center and has sat on the Board of Governors of Providence Holy Cross for the last 5 years. Most recently, she completed her MBA at Concordia University, Chicago. Besides her passion for her work, she has a wonderful family with twin boys and a deeply devoted husband who practices Endocrinology at UCLA. Her interests include travelling, reading, listening to podcasts and Legos.