Item-Writer Spotlight: Molly Feely, MD

ABIM is proud to spotlight members of the Item-Writing Task Forces, which are responsible for writing all of the content for assessments in each discipline of internal medicine. Learn more about the Item-Writing Task Forces and how ABIM creates assessment questions on the ABIM Blog. If you are interested in applying to serve as an Item-Writer, view current openings.

Molly Feely, MD | Hospice and Palliative Medicine Item-Writing Task Force

Dr. Feely is triple boarded: she is ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine in family medicine. Her clinical interests lie in palliative care for patients with end-stage renal disease and pain management for patients with dual diagnoses of cancer and substance use disorder. She has been highly active in education throughout her career, is a former program director for the hospice palliative medicine fellowship at Mayo Rochester and immediate past chair of education for palliative medicine. She has mentored hundreds of learners at various educational levels during her career.

Dr. Feely has been on the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Item-Writing Task Force for three years. When asked what her favorite part of the Item-Writing Task Force is, she said, “I have learned so much about my own specialty through the process of writing questions. From researching the actual data behind principles I thought I knew, to learning about topics I don’t necessarily encounter every day, this has been an incredibly enjoyable pursuit with a great bunch of people.” 

She was also asked if she had any advice for newer Item-Writers, and said, “Hang in there. The learning curve is real. It takes some time to figure out what a good question is and how to write it. Attend the group sessions as it is there that you will learn feedback on how to make your questions better.”