Dena Schulman-Green

Faculty

Dena Schulman-Green Headshot

Dena Schulman-Green

PhD FAAHPM

Associate Professor
Director of the Florence S. Downs PhD Program

1 212 998 5786

433 First Ave
New York, NY 10010
United States

Accepting PhD students

Dena Schulman-Green, MA, EdM, MS, PhD, FAAHPM is Director of the Florence S. Downs PhD Program in Nursing Research and Theory Development and Associate Professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Her 20+ years in clinical nursing research are grounded in an interdisciplinary background of psychology, gerontology, and palliative care. Prof. Schulman-Green’s scholarship centers on self- and family management of serious chronic illness, with an emphasis on early integration of palliative care. She is a lead developer of the internationally recognized Middle Range Theory of Self- and Family Management of Chronic Illness and co-developed the Managing Cancer Care intervention with women and family caregivers facing breast and ovarian cancer. Her funders include the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, and the National Palliative Care Research Center.

Currently, Schulman-Green leads and collaborates on various studies related to cancer, dementia, and palliative care. A recognized expert in qualitative and mixed methods research, she consults widely. Schulman-Green is deeply committed to mentorship, routinely involving PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in her work. She serves on the Leadership Development Committee of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

Prior to joining NYU Meyers, Schulman-Green was first a Research Scientist and later an Associate Professor at Yale School of Nursing, where she also directed the Qualitative and Mixed Methods Core of the Center for Biobehavioral Health. Additionally, she held faculty roles in the Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program and the Interprofessional Palliative Care Education Program at Yale School of Medicine and was instrumental in strengthening Yale’s palliative care research infrastructure.

Among her many honors, Schulman-Green has received the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Research Award, the Suzanne Feetham Nurse Scientist Family Research Award, the Yale School of Nursing’s Annie W. Goodrich Award for Excellence in Teaching, and NYU Meyers’ Dean’s Excellence in Mentoring Award. She has also been recognized among the World’s Top 2% of Scientists by Stanford University/Elsevier and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the New York Academy of Medicine.

Post-doctorate in Breast Cancer & Palliative Care, Yale School of Nursing
PhD in Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston
MS in Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston
EdM in Counseling Psychology, Columbia University
MA in Counseling Psychology, Columbia University
BS in Psychology and Religion, Boston University
Chronic disease
Gerontology
Global Health
Health Disparities
Mixed Methods Research
Oncology
Palliative care
Qualitative Research
Research methods
Serious illness
Self and Family Management
Theoretical and conceptual models
Women's health
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Eastern Nursing Research Society
Gerontological Society of America
Fellow, New York Academy of Medicine (2025)
Dean’s Excellence in Mentoring Award, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing (2025)
World’s Top 2% of Scientists, Stanford University/Elsevier (2024)
Fellow, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (2023)
World’s Top 2% of Scientists, Stanford University/Elsevier (2023)
World’s Top 2% of Scientists, Stanford University/Elsevier (2022)
Suzanne Feetham Nurse Scientist Family Research Award, Eastern Nursing Research Society (2019)
Annie W. Goodrich Award for Excellence in Teaching, Yale School of Nursing (2017)
Poster Award, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (2017)
Poster Award, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (2016)
Success Story Award, Center for Disease Control (2010)
Poster Award, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (2010)
Ellison Medical Foundation Aging New Scholar Award Nominee, University of Massachusetts Boston (2006)
Research Award, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (2004)
Gerontology Dissertation Book Award, University of Massachusetts Boston (2002)
Sigma Phi Omega Honor Society, University of Massachusetts Boston (1999)
Student Paper Award, Massachusetts Gerontology Association (1998)
Margaret Clark Student Paper Award, Association for Anthropology and Gerontology (1998)
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education/AARP Andrus Foundation Graduate Scholarship in Gerontology (1998)
General Scholarship Award, Columbia University (1993)
Inducted into Psi Chi, Psychology Honor Society (1992)
Golden Key Honor Society, Boston University (1992)

Will older persons and their clinicians use a shared decision-making instrument?

Naik, A. D., Schulman-Green, D., McCorkle, R., Bradley, E. H., & Bogardus, S. T. (2005). In Journal of general internal medicine (Vols. 20, Issues 7, pp. 640-643). 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.0114.x
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine experiences of older persons and their clinicians with shared decision making (SDM) and their willingness to use an SDM instrument. DESIGN: Qualitative focus group study. PARTICIPANTS: Four focus groups of 41 older persons and 2 focus groups of 11 clinicians, purposively sampled to encompass a range of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. APPROACH AND MAIN RESULTS: Audiotaped responses were transcribed, coded independently, and analyzed by 3 reviewers using the constant comparative method. Patient participants described using informal facilitators of shared decision making and supported use of an SDM instrument to keep "the doctor and patient on the same page." They envisioned the instrument as "part of the medical record" that could be "referenced at home." Clinician participants described the instrument as a "motivational and educational tool" that could "customize care for individual patients." Some clinician and patient participants expressed reluctance given time constraints and unfamiliarity with the process of setting participatory clinical goals. CONCLUSIONS: Participants indicated that they would use a shared decision-making instrument in their clinical encounters and attributed multiple functions to the instrument, especially as a tool to facilitate agreement with treatment goals and plans.

At the crossroads : making the transition to hospice.

Schulman-Green, D., McCorkle, R., Curry, L., Cherlin, E., Johnson-Hurzeler, R., & Bradley, E. (2004). In Palliative and Supportive Care (Vols. 2, Issues 4, pp. 351-360). 10.1017/s1478951504040477
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OBJECTIVE: Previous studies reveal that many terminally ill patients never receive hospice care. Among those who do receive hospice, many enroll very close to the time of death. Nationally, between 1992 and 1998, the median length of stay at hospice declined 27%, from 26 to 19 days. In our prior study of 206 patients diagnosed with terminal cancer and using hospice, we found that one-third enrolled with hospice within 1 week prior to death. Late hospice enrollment can have deleterious effects on patients and their family members. The aim of the present study was to characterize common experiences of patients and primary family caregivers as they transition to hospice, focusing on caregiver perceptions of factors that might contribute to delays in hospice enrollment. METHODS: We conducted in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 12 caregivers selected from a population of primary family caregivers of patients with terminal cancer who enrolled with hospice in Connecticut between September 2000 and September 2001. Respondents represented different ages, genders, and kinship relationships with patients. Respondents were asked about the patient's care trajectory, how they first learned about hospice, and their experiences as they transitioned to hospice. NUD*IST software was used for qualitative data coding and analysis. RESULTS: Constant comparative analysis identified three themes common to the experience of transitioning to hospice: (1) caregivers' acceptance of the impending death, (2) challenges in negotiating the health care system across the continuum of care, and (3) changing patient-family dynamics. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Identification of these themes from the caregivers' perspective generates hypotheses about potential delays in hospice and may ultimately be useful in the design of interventions that are consistent with caregivers' needs.

Family perceptions of clinicians' outstanding practices in end-of-life care

Cherlin, E., Schulman-Green, D., McCorkle, R., Johnson-Hurzeler, R., & Bradley, E. (2004). In Journal of palliative care (Vols. 20, Issues 2, pp. 113-116). 10.1177/082585970402000208
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How Do Physicians Learn to Provide Palliative Care?

Schulman-Green, D. (2003). In Journal of palliative care (Vols. 19, Issues 4, pp. 246-252). 10.1177/082585970301900405
Abstract
Abstract
Medical interns, residents, and fellows are heavily involved in caring for dying patients and interacting with their families. Due to a lack of formal medical education in the area, these house staff often have a limited knowledge of palliative care. The purpose of this study was to determine how, given inadequate formal education, house staff learn to provide palliative care. Specifically, this study sought to explore the extent to which physicians learn to provide palliative care through formal medical education, from physicians and other hospital staff, and by on-the-job learning. Twenty physicians were interviewed about their medical education and other learning experiences in palliative care. ATLAS/ti software was used for data coding and analysis. Analysis of transcripts indicated that house staff learn little to nothing through formal education, to varying degrees from attending physicians and hospital staff, and mostly on the job and by making mistakes.

Psychosocial issues in palliative care : Physicians' self-perceived role and collaboration with hospital staff

Schulman-Green, D. (2003). In American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Vols. 20, Issue 1, pp. 34-40). 10.1177/104990910302000110
Abstract
Abstract
Psychosocial issues are a major part of palliative treatment, yet, due to inadequate training, physicians are often ill-prepared to address them. Twenty physicians were interviewed about the importance they placed on psychosocial issues and the perceptions they had of their role in addressing them. Several respondents felt psychosocial issues were important because they affect physical issues, enable holistic care, enhance relationships, impact care decisions, and can reduce patient and family stress. Other respondents did not feel psychosocial issues were their responsibility due to time constraints, their focus on physical care, their lack of expertise in this area, the patients' preferences for attending physicians, and a sense on the part of house staff physicians of not yet being "real" doctors. Collaboration with other hospital staff helped overcome some of these obstacles. Since physicians must often provide psychosocial care, improved training in addressing psychosocial issues is indicated.

Physicians' feelings about themselves and their patients [3] (multiple letters)

Kennedy, J. S., Auster, S., Schulman-Green, D., Meier, D. E., Back, A. L., & Morrison, R. S. (2002). In Journal of the American Medical Association (Vols. 287, Issues 9, pp. 1113-1114). 10.1001/jama.287.9.1113
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Physicians' feelings about themselves and their patients.

Schulman-Green, D. (2002). In Journal of the American Medical Association (Vols. 287, Issues 9, p. [d]1114).
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Physicians’ feelings about Themselves and Their patients

Kennedy, J. S., Auster, S., Schulman-Green, D., Meier, D. E., Back, A. L., & Morrison, R. S. (2002). In Journal of the American Medical Association (Vols. 287, Issues 9, pp. 1113-1114). 10.1001/jama.287.9.1113
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Positive aspects of caregiving in different caregiver groups

Hu, M., Schulman-Green, D., Zang, E., & Wu, B. (2002). In Innovation in Aging (Vols. 20, Issues 6, pp. 66-67).
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Deceiving appearances. Communicating with facially inexpressive older adults.

Schulman-Green, D., & Schulman-Green, D. J. (1999). In Journal of gerontological nursing (Vols. 25, Issues 11, pp. 40-43). 10.3928/0098-9134-19991101-11
Abstract
Abstract
The term "facially inexpressive" is introduced to describe individuals who have lost the ability to produce facial expressions as a result of a neuromuscular disorder. Difficulties in communication may be compounded by presentation of this condition in individuals of mature appearance because the expectation of diminished functioning may increase. Practical techniques are offered to circumvent inaccurate and potentially detrimental assumptions both practitioners and laypeople tend to make when communicating with older adults whose conditions prevent the normal yield of social cues. A case study is presented and implications for the wider geriatric population are discussed.