Jennifer LaCoss, M.D.

Dr. Jennifer LaCoss is a Palliative Medicine physician and assistant professor for UT Health San Antonio and the Long School of Medicine in the Department of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Medicine.  Additionally, she is the Medical Director for the Outpatient Palliative Care Clinic at University Hospital, which supports a busy inpatient and outpatient palliative medicine service.  The palliative care service at University Hospital was honored as a recipient of the Circle of Life Award in 2019 from the American Hospital Association, which highlights excellence in delivery of palliative care.

Dr. LaCoss is board certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine.  She received her undergraduate degree from Texas Lutheran University, medical degree from Ross University in 2011, then completed Internal Medicine residency training at University of Oklahoma in Tulsa.  Dr. LaCoss subsequently completed Hospice & Palliative Medicine training at UT Health San Antonio, then joined the Hospice & Palliative Medicine fellowship program as a faculty member.

Prior to starting a career in medicine, Dr. LaCoss obtained a Master of Forensic Science degree and worked as a forensic scientist and DNA analyst providing scientific analysis, support, and expert witness testimony in the criminal justice system for a number of years.  Additionally, Dr. LaCoss is an active committee member for End Violence Against Women International, presenting at a national level on elder abuse.  She has also participated in program development in conjunction with the Bexar County Domestic Violence Task Force on a committee addressing non-lethal strangulation in intimate partner violence.

Special areas of interest include issues addressing violence against women, domestic abuse, elder abuse, and social justice as they pertian to end-of-life issues.  Also, Dr. LaCoss has a strong interest in wellness and compassion and how this is fostered in the medical community at large.