Outpatient Nurse Practitioner Lead, Palliative Care
Massachusetts General Hospital
Heather Patel, NP, serves as the Lead Nurse Practitioner in the Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). She earned her Master’s degree in Adult Health from Boston College in 2010, with a sub-specialty in Palliative Care. Heather has dedicated the past 12 years to ambulatory palliative care practice within the MGH Cancer Center, where she provides comprehensive, patient-centered care to individuals facing serious illness.
Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Heather spent 10 years working as a registered nurse. During this time, she completed a Spirituality for Health Care Professionals fellowship—an experience that helped shape her professional identity and solidify her commitment to palliative care. Her clinical interests focus on supporting patients with serious illness, particularly those with cancer, and she has a special interest in caring for young adult patients navigating complex medical and psychosocial challenges.
In addition to her clinical leadership, Heather is actively involved in education and professional development. She has delivered lectures at Harvard Medical School and co-led small group learning through the Harvard Medical School Center for Palliative Care Education Committee. Passionate about nursing leadership, she values her role as Lead NP and is committed to mentoring colleagues and advancing team-based care. Heather’s professional goals include advocating for expanded research and education to better address the unique needs of patients receiving outpatient palliative care.
Palliative Care Intervention to Improve End-of-Life Care Communication in AML and MDS
Saturday, March 7, 2026
10:40am - 11:00am PST
Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose