A resident's view of pediatric palliative care.

When I tell people that I have chosen pediatric palliative medicine as my specialty, I usually hear one or a combination of the following: “Why would you want to do that?”, “What is that?”, or “It takes a special person.” Notably, I get the same comments from medical professionals and lay people alike. I believe these responses indicate the opportunities and challenges inherent in pediatric palliative care, both as a specialty field and within the realm of resident education.