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Serious Medicine. Extraordinary Care.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is a medical subspecialty that helps patients and families facing life limiting illnesses. Attention is focused on physical, psychological, spiritual and social domains of life-changing illnesses. The medical team includes a physician, a nurse practitioner, social work and pastoral care. Working with the primary care physician, this team compassionately assists patients and families at a time that can seem overwhelming.

Meet Our Team

Todd M. Sauer, MD is the medical director of Palliative Care at The Nebraska Medical Center. He attended Creighton University School of Medicine, trained in family medicine in Lincoln, NE and completed a Fellowship at the Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice.

Carri Siedlik is the advanced practice nurse on the palliative care team with over 15 years of experience working with patients and families in multiple care settings. She is a member of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association and the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association. Carri has also served as an educator at the University of Nebraska Medical Center School of Nursing.

  • Palliative Care: A Medical Specialty Advocating for Patients and Families
    The overwhelming diagnosis of a serious disease; significant debilitating symptoms; a terminal illness; there are many reasons patients or family members might need the help of palliative medicine. Since it is a relatively new medical specialty, many people do not know what it is or how it can help.