Kimberly VanHaitsma
Professor and Director of the Program for Person-Centered Living Systems of Care, Penn State College of Nursing
Dr. VanHaitsma is a Clinical Geropsychologist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology. She is Professor in the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and Director of the Program for Person Centered Living Systems of Care (PPCLSC) located in the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence. She also serves as a Faculty Affiliate in the Center for Healthy Aging; and Adjunct Research Scientist at the Polisher Research Institute, Abramson Senior Care. Dr. VanHaitsma has been the Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on more than 35 grants as well as consultant on additional grants awarded from federal, state and foundation sources. Over her career, she has published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, many of which are co-published with former students. Dr. VanHaitsma’s areas of research include development and testing of various mental health education and intervention approaches; innovative methodological and measurement development; and testing intervention and implementation strategies that facilitate the uptake of evidence-based, person-centered preference-informed care practices targeting older adults with multiple chronic care conditions. (For a summary of work specific to preference based living activities, see www.preferencebasedliving.com.)