Banner MD Anderson in northern Colorado extends palliative care with new physician

GREELEY, Colo. (March 11, 2025) – Established patients at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Centers in northern Colorado now have access to specialized palliative care with the addition of Heidi Hallam, MD. Dr. Hallam joined Banner MD Anderson in November 2024, enhancing the comprehensive care available to patients undergoing cancer treatment in the region.  

While Dr. Hallam is board-certified in hospice and palliative care, her new role at Banner Health focuses specifically on palliative care. This means that any patient, from those with an early-stage cancer diagnosis to those nearing the end of life, can seek her support to improve their quality of life. Palliative care, provided alongside curative treatments, is personalized to relieve symptoms of both the disease and its treatment, such as pain, fatigue, nausea and difficulty sleeping.

Dr. Hallam’s passion for this field began at a young age when she witnessed the power of compassionate, intentional care when her uncle was in hospice care. The providers facilitated his last day, prioritizing his comfort so that the family could share meaningful last moments together, which left a lasting impact on her life and career path.

“Throughout my medical training, the experience with my uncle’s care team has always been in the back of my mind,” Dr. Hallam said. “It became clear that this field made the most sense for me and what’s important to me. I want to show the humanity of medicine, which is a big focus of my role.”

As a lifelong Coloradan, Dr. Hallam completed her medical degree at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, her residency at St. Anthony North Hospital and her fellowship back at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. With a background in family medicine, she values being a part of a hospital that is deeply connected to the local community. This made joining Banner MD Anderson at North Colorado Medical Center (NCMC) in Greeley and Banner MD Anderson at McKee Medical Center (McKee) in Loveland, Colo. a natural choice.

Dr. Hallam takes a highly personalized approach to palliative care, blending medical possibilities with each patient’s unique needs and preferences. She prioritizes building meaningful connections and taking the time to understand her patients’ stories, values and support systems. By collaborating closely with their entire care team, she ensures a holistic, compassionate approach that aligns with their goals and enhances their quality of life.  

“My philosophy of care is to strive to understand the whole person in order to improve the quality of life for patients and their families,” Dr. Hallam said. “Sometimes, people are nervous to pursue palliative care because they think it’s just there to take things away. In reality, palliative care is about understanding the things you can’t find in a medical chart. A patient is so much more than their diagnosis and I strive to honor that.”
Dr. Hallam works closely with Banner MD Anderson’s oncologists, radiation oncologists and other cancer care professionals at NCMC and McKee to provide an additional, physician-backed support system to established Banner MD Anderson patients.

For more information about Banner MD Anderson and palliative care, visit https://www.bannerhealth.com/locations/loveland/banner-md-anderson-cancer-center-at-north-colorado-medical-center-loveland.

About Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center delivers cancer care to patients through the partnership of Banner Health and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Banner MD Anderson offers focused disease-specific expertise in the medical, radiation and surgical management of the cancer patient; an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to patient care; access to clinical trials and new investigative therapies; state-of-the-art technology for the diagnosis, staging and treatment of all types of cancer; oncology expertise in supportive care services. For more information, visit www.BannerMDAnderson.com.