Sunaina Dias, DO

Sunaina Dias, DO, is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician specializing in palliative medicine. She completed her residency training at Garnet Health Medical Center in Middletown, NY, where she also served as chief resident. She then worked as a primary care physician at Garnet Health Doctors before completing her fellowship training in Hospice & Palliative Care at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Dr. Dias was drawn to palliative medicine as it encompasses analysis of how complex medical conditions affect daily living and quality of life. She enjoys working closely with patients and families to determine what their values and life goals are and what symptoms they may be experiencing because of their medical conditions. Her goal is to be able to develop individualized treatment plans that incorporate physical, social, emotional and spiritual health.

Why should someone choose you to care for their health?
I truly value and enjoy getting to know patients and family members. I believe this is a vital component of being able to advocate for patients and provide individualized care, particularly during their sickest times. My training and experience have provided expertise in advanced symptom management, guiding challenging conversations regarding transitions in health and end-of-life care.

What is the most important thing your patients should expect from their professional relationship with you? What do you expect from them?
Patients can expect me to listen with patience, communicate honestly and advocate for them. I expect patients to communicate honestly and hope they feel comfortable asking and discussing any questions or concerns they have regarding their health.

How do you spend your valuable personal time when you are not caring for patients?
I love spending time with family and friends, reading, cheering on NY sports teams (go Giants!), exploring new places and trying new restaurants.

Why did you choose your specialty and what is its greatest reward?
Palliative medicine is a culmination of many personal and professional experiences, as it allows me to work through complex medical illnesses and symptoms to see how they affect everyday life. I can spend time with patients and discuss their life goals within a larger picture of health to help deliver patient-centered care at any stage of disease.

The most rewarding aspect of palliative medicine is the privilege of caring for and supporting patients and families, often during the most vulnerable times of their health journey.