Centers

The Center for the Psychosocial Study of Health and Illness is engaged in a wide variety of research, service, and training activities. Studies carried out at the Center employ both qualitative and quantitative research methods and share a common applied public health focus; they are designed with public health policy and practice implications that inform the development of services and programs for patients and their family members or caretakers.

The Center actively collaborates with scholars at other institutions, both nationally and abroad, as well as with community-based organizations. It also hosts researchers from other institutions and countries, and supports pre- and post-doctoral fellows. In addition, Dr. Siegel has served as a national research mentor for the John A. Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholars Program and on several national research and service advisory boards.

Populations that have been studied or that are under consideration to study include, among others, those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, HCV infection, and heart disease. Medically-underserved and hard-to-reach population groups are represented in these study samples. The Center’s research team also has an active research program of on coping with chronic disease, aging, palliative care, end-of-life issues, family caregiving, cross-cultural variations in the illness experience, HIV prevention and stressful life events.