The Power of Collaborative Research

Carpenter CoLab is a research team aimed at ensuring equitable care and improving health outcomes for people living with serious illness by advancing palliative care science. Comprising experts from diverse fields such as geriatrics, nursing, palliative care, and project management, the CoLab combines their knowledge and skills to drive groundbreaking research in palliative
care.

The team's collective efforts have resulted in the development of innovative interventions supporting nursing home staff, residents, and their care partners to enhance high quality care in nursing homes. CoLab stands as a shining example of how a research team can transform and advance palliative care science, creating an impact on the lives of people living with serious illness, their families, and those that care for them.

Meet the Team

Research Director/Principal Investigator

Joan Carpenter, Phd, CRNP, ACHPN, FPCN

As the Carpenter CoLab PI, I am committed to improving the care of seriously ill older adults through innovative research by building strong relationships among clinicians, researchers, and patients and their care partners. Educated and trained as an advance practice nurse and scientist, I bring broad expertise in geriatrics and palliative care clinical practice and research to the team.

Graduate Research Assistant and Mentee

Elisha Baafi Oduro, RN

I am a third-year, Ph.D. student. My academic and research pursuits are guided by a strong conviction to make the world a better place for individuals and families grappling with serious. This conviction is reflected in my research focus on enhancing access to palliative care and reducing racial and ethnic disparities in palliative care.

Senior Research Coordinator

Jasmine Newman

Jasmine has over 9 years of research experience overseeing project management and operations in clinical research and healthcare environments. She also has expertise in recruiting and training staff for human subject research while ensuring that research and clinical trials adhere to regulatory compliance rules. Her research interests include Palliative Care and Oncology.

Current Mentees & Students

Stacy Gwatura, CRNP, ACHPN, HEC-C

I am a first year PhD student. I have worked as a hospice nurse and palliative nurse practitioner for over 15 years. I earned my BSN at Johns Hopkins university and my MSN at Vanderbilt University. My research interests include palliative care, clinical ethics, and palliative care for individuals with substance use disorder or severe mental illness.

Moses Akwobugi BSN, RN

My name is Moses Akwobugi, a second-year doctoral student, with research focus on palliative care among underserved populations, particularly, African Americans.

Valerie Vetter, PA-C

I am a Physician Assistant specializing in palliative care, with extensive experience supporting patients and families facing serious illness. My current research explores the sexual health experiences of women with gynecologic cancer, including those with malignant fistula. Dr. Carpenter has served as my mentor and has played a pivotal role in strengthening and advancing my research work.

Ntaobasi Udeh, NP

I am an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and a Certified Advanced Palliative and Hospice Care Practitioner. I have worked in the Palliative Care field for 9 years across the healthcare field – Acute Care, Homecare, and now in the Long-Term Care setting. My passion is Geriatric, and minority patients who are dealing with life-limiting health conditions. I am currently a Part-time Ph.D. Student at the University of Maryland School of Nursing with a research Focus on Palliative Care in the Long-Term Care setting.

Melissa McClean MSN, CRNP, ANP-BC, ACHPN

Melissa is a palliative care clinician, educator, researcher, and PhD student, I strive to improve the care of older adults and their families navigating serious illness. With over 10 years of experience in advanced nursing practice in end-of-life care, I am equipped to transform clinical and classroom environments with a focus on primary and specialty-level palliative care

Douglass Gyamfi, BSN

Douglas Gyamfi is a Ghanaian scholar, born and raised in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He is an alumnus of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2020. He is currently a third-year PhD student at the School of Nursing, with scholarly interests centered on healthcare workforce well-being and the development of interventions that improve health outcomes for both healthcare workers and the patients they serve.

His current research focuses on experiences of stress and burnout among long-term care and acute care staff, highlighting the critical intersection between workforce health and patient outcomes

Alex Mora MS, RN

Alex is second-year doctoral student at the University of Maryland, School of Nursing. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Nursing degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. My research interests include women's health, social determinants of health, and the health needs of underserved and migrant communities.

Former Mentees, Students, & Team Members