Jennifer Palmer, PhD

Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Jenny Palmer is a study coordinator with the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research.

Dr. Palmer’s current research assesses the implementation of an advance care planning video education program in two large U.S. nursing home systems. She is also conducting research that examines the intersection of dementia, spiritual care, and palliative care.

Dr. Palmer conducted her undergraduate studies in Psychology at Yale University, her master’s studies in Speech-Language Pathology at Boston University, and her doctoral studies in Health Services Research at Boston University.

After her clinical fellowship in a skilled nursing facility, she worked as a clinical speech-language pathologist on the Stroke Unit at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. She then served as a Research Associate at Tufts Medical Center’s Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies. Most recently, she served as Project Director at the Bedford, MA Veterans Administration Medical Center for a study that developed observational tools to promote nursing home residents’ quality of life; these tools are now being adopted for use across the VA’s nursing homes nationally. Dr. Palmer has volunteered in leadership positions within the Gerontological Society of America’s Emerging Scholars and Professionals Organization.

Publications

  • Published 4/18/2025

    Fitzpatrick AM, Ly SM, Canfield J, So-Armah K, Palmer JA, Hurstak EE. Experiences of Trainees From Underrepresented Groups Within Addiction Medicine Training Programs: A Qualitative Study. Subst Use Addctn J. 2025 Apr 18; 29767342251319610. PMID: 40249028.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/8/2024

    Palmer JA, Engle RL, Hyde J, Petrakis BA, McInnes DK. Addressing spiritual needs of Veterans post-incarceration: a needs assessment. J Health Care Chaplain. 2025; 31(2):97-110. PMID: 39517119.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/22/2024

    Etingen B, Zocchi MS, Higashi RT, Palmer JA, Richardson E, Bixler FR, Patrianakos J, McMahon N, Smith BM, Kale I, Fortney JC, Turvey C, Lipschitz JM, Evans JA, Frisbee KL, Hogan TP. Mental health provider perspectives on a mobile health application to support remote measurement-based care: Challenges and impacts. Psychol Serv. 2025 May; 22(2):243-255. PMID: 39172403.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/27/2023

    Griesemer I, Palmer JA, MacLaren RZ, Harvey KLL, Li M, Garikipati A, Linsky AM, Mohr DC, Gurewich D. Rural Veterans' Experiences with Social Risk Factors: Impacts, Challenges, and Care System Recommendations. J Gen Intern Med. 2024 Apr; 39(5):782-789. PMID: 38010459.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/15/2023

    Palmer JA, Mccullough M, Wormwood J, Soylemez Wiener R, Mesfin N, Still M, Xu CS, Linsky AM. Addressing clinician moral distress: Implications from a mixed methods evaluation during Covid-19. PLoS One. 2023; 18(9):e0291542. PMID: 37713379.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 44 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Websites

Education

  • Boston University School of Public Health, PhD
  • Boston University, MS
  • Yale University, BA

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