Academics

Van Scoy named Fellow, will advance end of life planning research

Dr. Lauren Van Scoy, assistant professor of medicine and humanities, has been named a Parker B. Francis Fellow.

The Parker B. Francis Fellowship Program provides career development support to M.D. and Ph.D. scientists embarking on careers in clinical, laboratory or translational science related to Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. Funding is awarded for three years to fellows working with experienced mentors in diverse areas of research related to lung disease.

Van Scoy will receive $156,000 over three years for her research project “Evaluating the impact of a conversation game on advance care planning activities.”

“Despite known health benefits of advance care planning, approximately 75 percent of adults do not participate in important advance care planning activities like completing an advance directive or discussing end-of-life wishes with family members,” Van Scoy said. “While advance directives are key, many experts believe that the most valuable part of the process is having candid conversations about the values and priorities that inform treatment choices. Studies show that a significant barrier to these conversations is people’s perceptions of the unpleasantness of the topic.”

Van Scoy is studying the use of a game designed to encourage these discussions and move people to action in documenting their care preferences.

Van Scoy’s mentor is Dr. Michael Green.

Last Updated July 30, 2015