معرفی
Dr. Susan DeSanto-Madeya serves as Professor and Weyker Endowed Chair for Palliative Care in the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island. Her scholarship transforms palliative and end-of-life nursing through NIH and foundation-funded research, international consulting, and leadership in professional organizations including the American Academy of Nursing where she holds Fellowship status.
Her educational foundation includes:
- PhD in Nursing from Widener University
- MSN in Nursing from Widener University
- BS in Nursing from East Stroudsburg University
Dr. DeSanto-Madeya's research explores critical dimensions of serious illness care including home hospice medication optimization, goals-of-care alignment through Photovoice interventions, bereavement support for ICU families, and psychosocial experiences of young cancer patients. She prioritizes community-engaged methods and addresses disparities through culturally responsive approaches focused on family caregivers and non-cancer diagnoses like neurological diseases.
Analysis of her 14 publications from 2017-2021 reveals consistent focus on practical interventions improving palliative care delivery. Key trends include medication deprescribing in home settings, digital tools for legacy-making, nurse staffing innovations during crises like COVID-19, and interprofessional terminology standardization. Her work bridges clinical practice, education, and policy across oncology, critical care, and community-based hospice contexts.
Her significant recognitions include:
- Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing
- Sojourns Palliative Care Scholar Leader designation
Dr. DeSanto-Madeya secures substantial external funding including NIH grants for home hospice medication studies and Hillman Foundation support for Photovoice interventions. Her Cambia Health Foundation project developed an interdisciplinary palliative certificate adopted by clinical educators. She actively shapes policy through committee roles with the Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island and Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness/IHI.
Though not directing a formal laboratory, she leads multiple research initiatives through URI's College of Nursing, including international consulting projects across five countries. Her scholarly network spans hospice providers, oncology teams, and critical care specialists focused on improving serious illness care through evidence-based practice transformation.
