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Who We Are

We are researchers based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Our focus is on improving care and outcomes for people living with dementia and their family caregivers.

This work took place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.

Headshot of Dr. Laura Hanson

Laura C. Hanson, MD, MPH

Professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine

Medical Director, UNC Palliative Care & Hospice Program

Dr. Hanson is a geriatrician and a palliative medicine physician, with clinical expertise in the care of medically complex older adults and patients of all ages living with serious illness. In addition to her clinical work, she leads a program of research to improve the quality of health care for people with dementia and other life-altering serious illnesses. Dr. Hanson led the development of the Comfort First training and Goals of Care decision aid.

Headshot of Dr. Christine Kistler

Christine E. Kistler, MD, MASc

Associate Professor, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina

Dr. Kistler is a family medicine physician with added certifications in geriatrics and palliative medicine. Her area of research is complex medical decision-making around the care of older adults, particularly enhancing the appropriateness of their care. Her research has focused primarily on decisions involving cancer control and prevention, infection control and prevention, and advance care planning for older adults with dementia. Dr. Kistler's work spans inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings.

Headshot of Dr. Mark Toles

Mark Toles, PhD, RN, FAAN

Associate Professor, Department of Nursing

Dr. Toles is an associate professor with expertise in nursing care of older adults, the quality of care in nursing homes, and transitional care of older adults as they transfer between settings and providers of healthcare. His prior studies have used epidemiological and case study approaches to describe health outcomes and services for transitioning older adults.

In his current research, Dr. Toles continues to develop and test "Connect-Home," a transitional care intervention for older adults as they transition from skilled nursing facilities to home. Dr. Toles is also a co-investigator in studies of comfort care of older adults in nursing homes and cardiac rehabilitation for adults transferring from hospital-based to home-based care. Dr. Toles contributed to the Comfort First and the Goals of Care programs.

Headshot of Kathryn Wessell

Kathryn Wessell, MPH

Project Manager/Research Associate

Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research

Kathryn Wessell is project manager with a focus on palliative care, aging, and health services research. Ms. Wessell contributed to the Goals of Care program and has expertise in advance care planning and dementia education initiatives.