Kelly Ferraro, MD

Assistant Professor, Medicine-Internal Medicine


FacultyPhoto
Medical School
  • MD, Emory University School of Medicine (2008)
Undergraduate School
  • BA, University of Virginia (VA) (2004)
Residency
  • San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Program, Chief Resident, Internal Medicine (2011)
Fellowships
  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Program, Hospice and Palliative Medicine (2019)
Department
Medicine-Internal Medicine

Professional Titles

  • Division Chief, Denver Health Palliative Medicine
  • COMPASS Guide, CU Anschutz School of Medicine
  • Denver Health Site Coordinator, CU Anschutz Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Recognitions

  • 5280 Top Doctor, 5280 Magazine (2022)
  • Staff Humanism in Medicine Award, SAUSHEC Internal Medicine Residency (2018)
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society, Uniformed Services University Edward Herbert School of Medicine (2018)
    Medical students select two faculty nationally per year as their clerkship faculty who most embody the practice of patient-centered care through modeling the qualities of integrity, excellence, compassion, altruism, respect, and empathy.
  • Army American College of Physicians Military Treatment Facility Teacher of the Year, American College of Physicians (2017)
  • James J. Leonard Award for Excellence in Teaching Internal Medicine. Outstanding Ward Attending., Uniformed Services University Edward Hebert School of Medicine (2016)
  • James J. Leonard Award for Excellence in Teaching Internal Medicine. Outstanding Preceptor., Uniformed Services University Edward Hebert School of Medicine (2014)
  • Teaching Staff of the Year, Transitional Year Residency, SAUSHEC (2013)

Publications

  • Ferraro K, Sanchez-Reilly S. Palliative Volume Resuscitation in a Patient with Cancer and Hypercalcemia: Why Bother?. J Palliat Med. 2019 Sep 11. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31509060
  • Ferraro K, Zernzach R, Maturo S, Nagy C, Barrett R. Chief of Residents for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety: A Recipe for a New Role in Graduate Medical Education. Mil Med. 2017 Mar;182(3):e1747-e1751. PubMed PMID: 28290953
  • Ferraro K, Sanchez-Reilly S. Palliative Volume Resuscitation in a Patient with Cancer and Hypercalcemia: Why Bother?. J Palliat Med. 2020 Jun;23(6):871-873. PubMed PMID: 31509060
  • Cunningham J, Levine S & Ferraro KP. Caring for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer. SGIM Forum. Oct 2020. 1, 12-13.
  • Presenter, Colorado Medical Society Virtual Grand Rounds. Putting Your Patient at the Center of Care: Serious Illness Conversations and Symptom Management in a Time of COVID-19. Presented July 29, 2020.
  • Colorado Department of Public Health & Education. Difficult Conversations: Covid-19 and Beyond. https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/acp-tools-for-providers (Accessed 10/24/2020).
  • Team-Based Learning: TREK Foothills Curriculum. Co-authored and provided expert content for Dementia & End of Life Care team-based learning case.
  • Ferraro, KP & Keesler, S. “Triage, Palliative Care and Pain Management.” Fundamental Disaster Management, 4th edition. Ed. D. Dries, D. Ferraro & R. Maves. Society of Critical Care Medicine. 2022.
  • Ferraro K, Sharma S, Indovina KA. Providing comfort: Caring for patients who wish to die in their home country. Cleve Clin J Med. 2024;91(5):270-272
  • Terasaki D, Abt D & Ferraro K. Questioning methadone split-dosing for analgesia among hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder. Addiction. April 2024.
  • Cunningham JM, Ferraro K, Durfee J, Indovina KA. Social Determinants of Health Impacting the Experience of Young Adults With Cancer at a Single Community Urban Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of Patient Experience. 2024;11: 23743735241255450.
  • Sharma S, Reinert C & Ferraro K. Palliative medicine referral trends by demographics for patients with stage IV cancer at an urban safety net hospital. J Clin Oncol. 2023; 41(16): e18541.

Professional Memberships

  • American College of Physicians, Fellow
  • American Academic of Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Member

Practice Locations

Denver Health
777 Bannock St
Denver, CO 80204
303-436-6000

Hospital Affiliation
  • Denver Health Medical Center

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Board Certification (2022)
  • Internal Medicine, Board Certification (2011, 2023)
Care Philosophy
I am passionate about the equitable care of societally vulnerable patients and providing accessible palliative medicine to all patients.

Public Speaking
Yes
I am a subject matter expert in the delivery of Palliative Medicine to societally vulnerable patients and during disaster situations.