Research Scholars Program

The HPNA Research Scholars Program is intended for individuals who are or will soon be applying for federal awards (e.g., K award) or research funding awards (e.g., R01, R03, or R21).

Doctoral students will be expected to have an approved dissertation proposal.

Priority will be given to applicants who have a demonstrated commitment to an independent palliative care research career in either a full or part-time academic appointment. In the event of multiple equally qualified applicants, priority will be given to HPNA members with a history of service to the organization.

Previous recipients of the HPNA Scholar, AAHPM Scholars Program, the NPCRC Pilot/Exploratory Grants and Career Development Awards, or ACS Palliative Care Pilot/Exploratory Grant Awards are not eligible3 for funding as an HPNA Research Scholar.

The successful applicant will be:

• nearly finished or have completed formal research training (e.g., research fellowship and/or doctoral degree),
• a regular or student HPNA member for at least one calendar year,
• currently conducting research in palliative care,
• have an identified research mentor, and
• have research papers on palliative or end-of-life issues published or in press, preferably with at least one as first author.

A completed application form and required supporting documents should be submitted together, preferably as one PDF document attached to an email, to Heather Coats at heatherc@hpna.org (subject line: Research Scholars Application).

New Research Scholar applications should submit one PDF document, bookmarked in the following order:

• Completed application form
• Brief, 2-page description of a current or planned research project, including topic, study questions, methodologies, populations, and future directions
• Research mentor’s biosketch, not to exceed five pages. View the NIH Biosketch template
• Letter of support from research mentor
• Applicant’s curriculum vitae (CV)

Multiple peer reviewers will rate each application to the Research Scholars Program by indicating their agreement with each of the following statements:

• The applicant is very likely to make an important contribution to our field
• The applicant is very likely to benefit from attending the retreat
• The applicant has had adequate training in research
• The applicant has a qualified and well-matched mentor
• The applicant’s research area is very important to palliative care
• The applicant has a promising publication track record
• There is evidence that the applicant is well positioned to apply for external funding

• Elizabeth Broden, PhD, RN, CCRN, CHPPN “Building a Shared Understanding of Children’s End-of-Life Suffering Among Parents and Nurses”
• Komal Patel Murali, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC “Designing a Health Equity-Focused Hospice Care Transitions Interventions in Home Healthcare for People Living with Dementia”

• Shena Gazaway PhD, RN “Exploring the Acceptability of a Stakeholder-Enhanced Intervention to Improve Palliative Decision Partnership of Chronic Kidney Disease Dyads”
• Melissa Mazor, PhD, MS, RN “The Development and Evaluation of ACCESS: A Community-Care Model to Enhance Supportive and Palliative Care Services for Black Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer”

• Ra chel Wells, PhD, RN

• Na-Ching Chi, PhD, RN “Multimorbidity in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and Association with Pain Symptomology and Health Care Utilization in End-of-Life Care: A Big Data Approach”
• Katherine Doyon, PhD, M.Ed, RN, CHPN® “Communication Intervention to Help Nurses with African American Patients and Family Caregivers by Integrating Spirituality and Culture into Palliative Care”
• Rachel Wells, PhD, RN “Innovative Multiphase Optimization Strategy strategies to refine UPHOLDS (Utilizing Palliative Care for Heart Failure Optimized using Lay Navigators to Decrease Suffering) intervention components”

• Daniel David PhD, RN “PC-CRAFT (Palliative Care: Connecting Residents of Assisted Living and Family through Telehealth): An intervention to support palliative care communication between assisted living residents, caregivers, and providers”
• Tamryn Gray PhD, RN, CNL-BC “Instrument and intervention development to prepare and support family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer”
• Shelli Feder PhD, FNP-BC, APRN, ACHPN® “Identifying factors associated with high-quality end-of-life care among veterans with heart failure in the Veterans Health Administration”

• Jackelyn Boyden, MS, MPH, RN. “Utilize choice-based methods and cognitive interviewing to develop a parent-reported outcomes instrument for home-based pediatric palliative care.”
• Kristin Corey, PhD, RN, AGPCNP-BC. “Expanding our understanding of the post-caregiving experiences of different profiles of former dementia caregivers.”
• Mary Issacson, PhD, RN, CHPN®. “Working with Native American population to develop culturally relevant palliative and end-of-life care interventions.”
• Yasemin Turkmin, PhD, MPH, PMHNP. (2017-18)

• Masako Mayahara, PhD, RN, FPCN. “Developing a digital pain diary application for hospice patients and their caregivers.”
• Rafael Romo, PhD, RN, PHN. (2016-17)
• Jiayun Xu, PhD, RN. “The needs of employed caregivers of advanced cancer patients.” 
• Yasemin Turkmin, PhD, MPH, PMHNP. “Detecting the differences in PC use and outcomes between older AAs and Caucasians with high-risk cancers in the Southeast.” 

• Joan G. Carpenter, MN, CRNP, NP-C, GNP-BC, ACHPN®, PhD. (2015-16)  
• Rafael Romo, PhD, RN, PHN. “Decision-making processes used among older adults with mild cognitive impairment.”
• Esther R. Smith-Howell, PhD, RN. “End-of-life care disparities among African Americans and their families.” 

• Joan G. Carpenter, MN, CRNP, NP-C, GNP-BC, ACHPN®, PhD. “Continuity of palliative care after hospital discharge to nursing home.”
• Christine Fortney, PhD, RN. “Infant symptoms in the NICU effect on parent stress, coping, and decision-making.”
• Hyejin Kim, PhD-c, CRNP.  “Surrogate decision-makers’ experiences of POLST discussions in the nursing home.”  

• Judith Adams, PhD, MSN, RN, FNP.  “Improving communication between ICU staff nurses and family members of seriously ill patients.”
• Stewart Bond, PhD, RN, AOCN. “Delirium in advanced cancer patients, particularly those in the outpatient or home setting.”
• J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, PhD, RN. (2013-14)   
• Jennifer Seaman, BSN, RN. “Ways to integrate palliative care principles in critical care nursing practice.”

• Caitlin Brennan, PhD, APRN. “Measuring patient acuity in the palliative care setting.”
• J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, PhD, RN. “Surrogate decision-making at the end of life.”
• Jay R. Horton, PhD, ACHPN®, FNP-BC. (2012-13)

• Joy Buck, PhD, RN. “Intersection of formal and informal care in complex chronic illness.”
• Jay R. Horton, PhD, ACHPN®, FNP-BC. “Association of treatment intensity and palliative care services.”
• Susan Lysaght Hurley, PhD, GNP-BC, ACHPN®. (2011-12)

• Ab Brody, RN, PhD, GNP-BC. (2010-11)
• Joy Goebel, PhD, RN. “Structures and processes of care, interdisciplinary collaboration.”
• Susan Lysaght Hurley, PhD, GNP-BC, ACHPN®. “The experience of older adults as they negotiate hospice care.”
• Denice Sheehan, PhD, RN. “Adolescents with a parent near the end of life.”