Highlights
- 1World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2021
- 2
- 3
Publications
Funding
Active
7 grants- MPIR01NR022612-01A1Empowering Parents of Critically Ill Children: A Multi-Site Evaluation of the EMPOWER-PICU InterventionNINR · 2026–2031 · via NIH RePORTER
- PIR35CA197730-12Behavioral and Psychosocial Effects on Study Outcomes in End-Stage Cancer Treatment (BEST End-Stage Cancer Study)National Cancer Institute · 2015–2029· 3 renewals
- MPIR01NR021159-01A1Bridge to Better End-of-Life Care for Black Patients with Cancer: Connecting Healthcare Chaplains with Spiritual Care Providers in Faith CommunitiesNational Institute of Nursing Research · 2024–2029
- PIR21AG077144-02The Living Memory Home: Reducing Grief and Improving Relationships between Home-based Patients with ADRD and Their Family CaregiversNational Institute on Aging · 2023–2027
- PIR01NR019831-04A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial of EMPOWER for Family Surrogates of Critically Ill PatientsNational Institute of Nursing Research · 2022–2027
- MPIR21MD017652-02Pilot Trial of a "Divine Intervention" to Improve End-of-Life Cancer Care for Black PatientsNational Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities · 2023–2026
- MPIT32AG049666-06A1The Weill Cornell Medicine Research Training Program in Behavioral GeriatricsNational Institute on Aging · 2016–2026· 2 renewals
Completed grants (23)
- MPIR37CA246703-03Planning Advance Care Together (PACT) to Improve Engagement in Advance Care Planning among Advanced Cancer PatientsNational Cancer Institute · 2020–2025 · via Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center· 3 renewals
- MPIR21MD017704-02Communicating the gist of prognosis: An intervention to improve prognostic understanding in advanced lymphomaNational Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities · 2022–2025 · via Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- MPIR21MH121886-01Automated Detection of Suicide Attempt Risk among Bereaved IndividualsNational Institute of Mental Health · 2020–2022
- PIR21NR018693-02Communicating the Gist of Prognosis: Giving Information Simply and Transparently ("GIST") in Advanced CancerNational Institute of Nursing Research · 2019–2022
- Sub-PIR01NR017034-04Identifying barriers, facilitators and outcomes of Advanced Care Planning conversations with Medicare patientsNational Institute of Nursing Research · 2017–2022 · via The Brigham & Women's Hospital INC
- KPK07CA207580-02Culturally Competent Communication Intervention to Improve Latinos' Engagement in Advance Care PlanningNational Cancer Institute · 2017–2022
- Co-IR21CA224874-02A communication-based intervention for advanced cancer patient-caregiver dyads to increase engagement in advance care planning and reduce caregiver burdenNational Cancer Institute · 2018–2021
- PIR21CA218313-02Enhancing & Mobilizing the Potential for Wellness & Emotional Resilience (EMPOWER) in Caregivers of ICU Cancer PatientsNational Cancer Institute · 2017–2021
- Co-IR01MD007652-05Latino vs Non-Latino White Disparities in Advance Care Planning and End-of-Life CareNational Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities · 2014–2021
- PIWCMC Seed Grant 183939-01“Getting Information Simply and Transparently (GIST) to Improve End-of-Life Outcomes” ProgramWeill Cornell Medical College · 2018–2020
- Co-I132386-PEP-18-052-01-PCSM1Dyadic communication intervention to increase patient advance care planning.American Cancer Society · 2018–2020 · via Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Co-IVNSNY 190579-01Examining the Relationships between Dementia, Race, Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status and Late Referral to and Live Discharge from Hospice.Visiting Nurse Service of New York · 2018–2019No publications yet
- PIACS 17040601-01Enhancing and Mobilizing Caregivers' Potential for Wellness & ResilienceAmerican Cancer Society · 2017–2019
- Co-IR03AG053284-02 EWOFIdentifying Correlates of Symptom Burden Experienced by Home Hospice Patients and its Association With Patient and CaregiverNational Institute on Aging · 2016–2019
- PICA 191712-01CA Amendment No. 1 for Denise Gelfand (Original Agreement WRG# 18760)American Cancer Society · 2018–2018Contract
- Sub-PI52125Advancing Health, Religion, and Spirituality Research From Public Health to End of LifeJohn Tempelton Foundation · 2016–2018 · via Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Sub-PIR01CA168387-05Impact of a Novel Cancer Communication Intervention on Caregiver BereavementNational Cancer Institute · 2014–2017 · via University of Rochester
- Sub-PIR21MH095378-02 EWAn Investigation of the Clinical Utility of a Prolonged Grief Disorder DiagnosisNational Institute of Mental Health · 2014–2016 · via Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
- PIR01CA106370-09 EWBlack-White Differences in Advanced Cancer Communication, Acceptance, and CareNational Cancer Institute · 2014–2016
- Sub-PIR01CA164021-03Explaining Variations in End-of-Life Care IntensityNational Cancer Institute · 2014–2015 · via Harvard University
- PIR01MH063892-02Psychiatric Disorder in Dying Patients & Their SurvivorsNIMH · 2002–2006 · via NIH RePORTER
- PIR01MH056529-03TRAUMATIC GRIEF IN LATER-LIFE: CRITERIA, RISKS, OUTCOMESNIMH · 1999–2003 · via NIH RePORTER
Clinical research
Active
3 studies- PIBeta testing the SIMPATICO web applicationWeill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
- PIPerformance Status, Treatments, & Outcomes among Inpatients with CancerWeill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2024)
- PINCT05587517A Clinical Trial of Interventions to Support Family Surrogates of Critically Ill PatientsPHASE2 · Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2022)Grief; Trauma; Psychotherapy; Critical Care
Completed & closed trials (7)
- PIThe Living Memory Home: Reducing Grief and Improving Relationships between Home-based Patients with ADRD and Their Family CaregiversWeill Medical College of Cornell University · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)
- PIGiving Information Simply and Transparently (GIST)_x000D_Weill Medical College of Cornell University · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2025)
- PINCT04547985Naltrexone Treatment for Prolonged Grief Disorder: A Pilot StudyPHASE4 · Weill Medical College of Cornell University · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2024)Prolonged Grief Disorder
- PINCT04179305Giving Information Systematically and Transparently in Lung and GI Cancer Phase 2NA · Weill Medical College of Cornell University · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2024)Critical Illness; Oncology; Communication
- PIExpectations and Reality in Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with Decompensated CirrhosisWeill Medical College of Cornell University · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2023)
- PINCT03276559Enhancing & Mobilizing the POtential for Wellness & Emotional Resilience Among Surrogate Decision-Makers of ICU PatientsNA · Weill Medical College of Cornell University · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2023)Critical Illness; Communication Disabilities
- PINCT04208009A Media Communication Intervention to Increase Engagement in Advance Care Planning Among Advanced Cancer PatientsNA · Weill Medical College of Cornell University · IRB STUDY CLOSURE (as of 2023)Advance Care Planning Animated Videos
News mentions
- Reminiscing May Ease Grief When Caring for Persons with DementiaApril 22, 2026
Weill Cornell Medicine and University of Southern California investigators have developed and tested the web-based platform, Living Memory Home for Dementia Care Pairs (LMH-4-DCP), which can help reduce grief and improve relationships.
- Awards & Honors: October 2025October 21, 2025
Awards, honors and achievements for the month of October.
- Dr. Holly Prigerson Receives NCI Award to Improve End-Stage Cancer CareOctober 25, 2022
Dr. Holly G. Prigerson, the Irving Sherwood Wright Professor in Geriatrics and co-director of the Cornell Center for Research on End-of-Life Care at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been awarded a National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award to study psychosocial influences on, and outcomes of, end-stage cancer care.
- Keeping your Memory Alive: Living Memory Home Helps People Stay Connected with their Deceased Loved OnesMay 10, 2021
When a loved one dies, memories of that person become particularly valuable in connecting the mourners with the deceased. A new Weill Cornell Medicine online application, called Living Memory Home, offers a virtual and personal memorial space that allows mourners to deposit their memories and feelings about their loss and honor their loved one.
- How Doctors Can Comfort Bereaved Families During COVID-19July 10, 2020
Researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have published guidance on how physicians working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic can compassionately inform family members of the painful news that their loved one has died.
Mentoring
MD · 9
- CLCourtney LeeMD mentee · Class of 2026
- CLCharlotte LaPlanteMD-PhD Program · Class of 2025
- CAChase AlstonMD mentee · Class of 2025
- JPJin PyonMD mentee · Class of 2023
- JGJames GangMD mentee · Class of 2022
- EGEliza GentzlerMD mentee · Class of 2019
- JLJason LambdenMD mentee · Class of 2019
- ASAmanda SuMD mentee · Class of 2018
- PCPeter ChamberlinMD mentee · Class of 2018
Postdoc · 1
- ELElizabeth LuthPostdoc mentee · 2018–2019