Research Summary
My research in dementia advance care planning focuses on the LEAD Guide(Life-Planning in Early Alzheimer’s and Other Dementia), which is being used in an ACP intervention studies. As Co-I of the Utah Geriatrics Education Consortium (UGEC), I have led the development and evaluation of: ADRD online training modules for LTSS, multiple dementia caregiver conferences, and educational “Fireside Chats” with focused on the 4Ms of Age-Friendly Health Care (visit https://utahgwep.org for more info).
Education
- Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Taylor University, Upland, IN
- Doctor of Philosophy, Gerontology, University of Kentucky, Lexington. Project: "The Impact of Caregiver Executive Skills on Reports of Spousal Daily Functioning"
- Post-doctoral fellowship, Neuropsychology and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ
Biography
Kara Dassel, PhD, FGSA, FAGHE, FAHSE is an professor and Assistant Dean of the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program in the College of Nursing at the University of Utah. Dassel earned her doctoral degree in Gerontology from the University of Kentucky and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in the Neuropsychology and Neuroimaging Laboratory at Barrow Neurological Institute. She is a Fellow in the Gerontological Society of America, the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education, and the Academy of Health Science Educators. Her research interests focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), end-of-life care planning, and caregiver health outcomes. With funding from the National Alzheimer’s Association and the National Institute on Aging, she and her research team are conducting an online advance care planning interventions for persons with ADRD and their family members. Dassel is a member of the editorial boards of The Gerontologist, Educational Gerontology, and the Journal of the Academy of Health Science Educators. On a community level, Dassel has served on the professional advisory board of State Chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association since 2015.
Career Highlights
Assistant Dean, Gerontology Interdisciplianry Program (2022-present)
Program Director, Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program (2013-2017)
Co-I of the Utah Geriatric Education Consortium (UGEC) since 2015
Fellow Status in the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), and UofU Academy of Health Science Educators (AHSE)
PI on an NIA R01, Alzheimer's Association Research Grantt, Teaching and Learning Technologies Online Program Development Grant, Center on Aging Pilot Grant, Burton Foundation Grant
Editorial board member on The Gerontologist and Educational Gerontology
Board Member of State Chapters of the Alzheimer's Association since 2015