Palliative Care Education in Assisted Living (PCEAL) Lab
Research Team
Dr. Debra Dobbs - Principal Investigator
Dr. Dobbs has research interests in palliative, hospice and end-of-life care, and
palliative care education in assisted living with a specific focus on providers of
persons living with dementia. As the Director of the Center for Hospice, Palliative
and End-of-Life Studies, she has research partnerships with hospice organizations
in Florida. Dr. Dobbs is also involved in disaster preparedness research and music
and mindfulness studies in assisted living and other community-based settings for
persons living with dementia and their caregivers.
Dr. Hongdao Meng - Biostatistician
Dr. Meng’s research focuses on examining the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness
of integrative health interventions to improve outcomes among middle-aged and older
adults in the community. His interdisciplinary training in medicine, public health,
and health economics enables him to tackle research questions centered around the
issue of how to achieve health in mind, body, and spirit over the life course.
Dr. William Haley - Intervention and Fidelity Treatment
Dr. Haley’s research focuses on stress, coping, and adaptation in older adults and their family members. Most of his research has examined the experiences of family caregivers who often face potentially overwhelming chronic strain.
Ms. Carlyn Vogel - Project Manager
Carlyn Vogel is a doctoral candidate in the School of Aging Studies responsible for
IRB preparations, recruitment of ALs, the consent process, and data management and
entry. Ms. Vogel’s dissertation focuses on perceptions of quality of care within assisted
living community workforce.
Ms. Jessica Yauk - Data Programmer and Analyst
Jessica is a doctoral student in the School of Aging Studies responsible for data
analysis. Ms. Yauk’s research focuses on various aspects of long-term care, quality
of life, and end of life.
Ms. Rosa Diaz -webmaster
Rosa Diaz is a Fiscal & Business Analyst for the School of Aging Studies responsible
for design of web content for the online modules of PCEAL. Ms. Diaz also assists with
tracking the usage of online modules for the intervention.
Past Affiliated Members
Dr. Dany Fanfan, University of Florida, College of Nursing
Dr. Harleah Buck - Fidelity monitor, University of Iowa College of Nursing
Dr. Susan McMillan, Measurement Expert, USF College of Nursing
Dr. Kathryn Hyer - Fidelity Monitor, Past Professor and Director of Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging
Laura Hanson, MD - Consultant, Palliative Care Specialist, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill College of Medicine
Dr. Katherine Lin - Research Study Nurse, USF College of Medicine
Dr. Maureen Templeman - Data entry lead, Missouri State University, Gerontology Program