We were pleased to welcome Shelley Rice, MD, to the PeaceHealth Medical Group Palliative Care & Hospice team of providers in 2020. She comes to PeaceHealth from Duke University Health System, where she practiced as a Palliative Care Physician at Duke University Hospital and Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. In clinical practice, Dr. Rice supports patients and their families to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for those experiencing serious illness. Her healing approach includes help with complex medical decision making, establishing care goals, relief from symptoms and stress, discussing treatment options and improving patient wellbeing. “I enjoy working with patients and families to identify what matters most to them and clarify medical expectations for possible treatment courses to create a customized plan,” she said. Dr. Rice practices collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team that includes nurse practitioners, physician assistants, chaplains and social workers. “I practice to help people with serious illness live their lives as fully as possible," she said. Dr. Rice is married with two adult children: a daughter who is a preschool teacher and a son who is in culinary school. Her husband is trained as a Buddhist chaplain. Outside of the clinic, you’ll find her in the garden or on a hiking trail.