Priscilla K. Gazarian

Priscilla Gazarian, PhD, CNS, RN, FAAN, is Professor of Nursing and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, UMass Chan Medical School. She has established herself as a prominent nursing researcher with expertise in healthcare quality, safety, and patient engagement, holding leadership positions in academic administration while maintaining an active research program.

Education:

• BS in Nursing from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA
• MS in Critical Care Nursing from University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA
• PhD in Nursing Science from University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA

Dr. Gazarian's research focuses on the healthcare system's quality and safety, with particular emphasis on the nurse and patient's role in preventable harm. Her harm prevention research centers on patient engagement in healthcare and nurse clinical decision-making. More recently, she has concentrated on advance care planning as a mechanism to prevent harm among seriously ill patients. She is recognized as a qualitative and mixed methods research expert in the nursing field. Her work spans several important areas including healthcare disparities, cultural competence in nursing, nursing education, and the impact of health information technology on patient outcomes. Her research demonstrates a strong commitment to improving healthcare through evidence-based practice and policy.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on advance care planning, particularly for vulnerable populations including persons with dementia and sexual and gender minority individuals. Her research also addresses family engagement in hospital settings, especially in the context of post-COVID visiting policies. There is a clear trajectory toward exploring how health information technology can support patient activation and engagement, as evidenced by her Nurse PATHIT framework development. Her work consistently bridges clinical practice with research methodology, particularly qualitative and mixed methods approaches.

Scientific Awards:

• Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)

Dr. Gazarian has led and collaborated on numerous health services research projects throughout her career, including the STRIDE study on fall prevention in elders. Her research program addresses critical issues in healthcare quality and safety, with a particular focus on preventing harm through improved patient engagement and clinical decision-making. She has secured funding for projects examining documentation burden in nursing and its relationship to clinician burnout, as well as studies on advance care planning implementation in diverse clinical settings. Her work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations with researchers in geriatrics, palliative care, public health, and health informatics. As Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, she plays a key role in shaping nursing education programs and supporting faculty development at the graduate level.

Dr. Gazarian maintains an active research team with collaborators from multiple institutions, with frequent partnerships with researchers at UMass Chan Medical School and other academic health centers. Current projects focus on adapting frameworks for nurse support of patient activation through health information technology, examining healthcare self-management support for stroke patients after discharge, and investigating disparities in advance care planning across diverse populations. Her work demonstrates a consistent commitment to translating research findings into practical applications that improve patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.