About
Project Title/Research Interests: Understanding Health Inequities in Chronic Illness: An Examination of End-of-Life Care in Heart Failure and Caregiver Perspectives in Dementia
Background:
Ms. McCleskey obtained a bachelor’s degree in art history from Rice University in 2005 and a master’s of science degree in gerontology from the University of Southern California in 2009. Since 2011, she has been a Research Associate at Vital Research in Los Angeles. For her doctoral training, Ms. McCleskey is interested in pursuing research on end-of-life care, addressing questions such as who utilizes end-of-life care and why, how doctors communicate with patients about death and dying, and what services are most effective at improving patient outcomes. She is particularly interested in the possibility of collaborating with VA researchers working in this area. Her long-term career goals involve integrating science and practice to optimize the quality of life and health care outcomes of terminally ill patients.