James (Jim) Gerhart

My research lab focuses on how individuals, families and communities manage chronic illnesses such as pain and cancer. Our studies work toward the goal of helping patients, caregivers, and clinicians better understand and manage psychosocial responses to chronic and life-threatening conditions. Given the multiple key players in managing serious illnesses, we take a community systems approach to research. 

Active Projects

• Supportive care for chronic and serious illness. My lab is involved in a number of studies on chronic pain, and cancer. We have also collaborated with the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA) to survey the referral habits of local physicians who treat patients with chronic pain. Given our emphasis on trauma and life-threatening illness we rapidly pivoted activities to understand how communities and regions are responding to the COVID 19 pandemic.
• Assessing healthcare decision making in critical care. These studies involve prospective studies of critical care physicians and surrogate decision makers for patients on life support. We recently received pilot funding to interview surrogates regarding their experiences during the COVID 19 pandemic. Following these interviews, we will provide a targeted intervention to address surrogates’ symptoms of posttraumatic stress.
• Resilience training in healthcare providers. Recent and current studies include the online implementation of ACCEPTS, a resilience training program, for palliative care professionals. Students from my lab have also investigated the relationships between stigma and mental health treatment seeking in medical professionals, and linkages between direct care work burnout and abusive behaviors toward patients.