Faculty Directory

Karen Bullock

Louise McMahon Ahearn Endowed Professor

Biography

Karen Bullock, PhD, LICSW, APHSW-C, FGSA, is the Louise McMahon AhearnÌýEndowed Professor in the Boston College School of Social Work and in Global Public Health. She is a LicensedÌýIndependentÌýClinical Social Worker (LICSW) with mental health practice experience and expertise in health disparities, health equity, serious illness care, aging and gerontology, hospice, palliative and end-of-life care decision-making.ÌýShe has served as Principal Investigator and/or Co-Investigator for over $65 million in federal grant funding focused on equity and inclusion, workforce development, aging, and health care decision-making.

As of July 1, 2026, Professor Bullock is serving a three-year term as . She is a John A. Hartford Faculty Scholar and has served on several national boards and committees, including the Social Work Hospice & Palliative Care Network (SWHPN) as vice-chair, American Cancer Society (ACS) Oncology Social Work Research Peer Review Committee, past chair, and a member of the Duke University REACH Equity Center Steering Committee. She is currently Co-Chair of the , affiliate faculty at the Ìýand the , and holds an appointmentÌýin theÌýDepartment of Supportive Oncology at Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI).

Notably,Ìýshe was the first social worker to be selected to serve as a Visiting Professor in Palliative Care at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine,ÌýDivision of General Internal Medicine, in 2019; and in 2024, Professor Bullock was the recipient of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) Richard Payne Outstanding Achievement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award.ÌýIn addition, she was elected a member of the Board of Directors for the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) andÌýappointed co-chair of the SSWR Research Capacity Development Committee (RCDC).

Recent Publications

ÌýRuth, T. R., Amburose, R., & Bullock, K. (2026). Empirical foundations and methodological pathways for social worker-led emotional intelligence interventions in healthcare. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 16, 76–88.

Chen, J., Afezolli, D., Ahmed, E., Bullock, K….Gelfman, L. (2026). Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Navigating Outpatient Opioid Prescribing. Journal of Palliative Medicine.

Tabata-Kelly M, Sheu C, Bulger AL, Ruan M, Bullock K, Gray TF, Healy BJ, Wichmann L, Bernacki RE. . Racially and Ethnically Marginalized Patients’ Perspectives on Nurse-Led Serious Illness Conversations. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2026;0(0).

O’Donnell, A., Otis-Green, S., Glajchen, M., Kwak, J., Leff, V., Altilio, T., Bullock, K., Curd, J., Latimer, A., Onderdonk, C. and Rusch, R., (2026). Shaping the Future: Recommendations from a Palliative Social Work Summit—A National Call to Action. Palliative Medicine Reports, 7, p.26892820261446764.Ìý

Wallace, C. L., Coccia, K., McMorrow, L., Dant, D., Hendricks-Ferguson, V. L., Wray, R., Bullock, K., Bennett, A. V., White, P., & Subramaniam, D. S. (2026). Psychometric Testing of the Hospice Perceptions Instrument (HPI) for Patients and Families in the United States. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, S0885-3924(26)00776-1. Advance online publication.

Ruth, T., Amburose, R., & Bullock, K. (2026). Emotional Intelligence in Health Contexts: A 'Social Work Gene' Model Analysis.ÌýSocial Work in Public Health, 1–14. Advance online publication.Ìý

Murali, K. P., Wang, G., Torres, D., Moreines, L. T., Brody, A. A., Bullock, K., & Estrada, L. V. (2026). A Multidimensional Narrative Review of Disparities in Hospice Care Use.ÌýThe American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 10499091261428463. Advance online publication.

Pantilat, S. Z., Bischoff, K. E., Fazzalaro, K., Root, M. C., Bogetz, J. F., Thienprayoon, R., Bullock, K.… O'Riordan, D. L. (2026). If You Want to Go Far, Go Together: Lessons Learned from Quality Improvement Collaboratives in Palliative Care. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 10966218261436569. Advance online publication.

Bulova, J., Rak, K., Bullock, K., Ejem, D., Butler, R., Gautier, W. C., ... & White, D. B. (2026). Black Surrogate Decision Makers’ Perspectives on the ATS-SCCM Statement on Shared Decision Making in ICUs.

Bullock, K., Rhodes, R. L., Hasan, M., & Johnson, K. S. (2025). A Strategic Path Forward for Hospice and Palliative Care Must Focus on Equity: A Response to Byock.ÌýPalliative Medicine Reports, 6(1):389-390.Ìý

Moss, K. O., Tan, A., Brody, A. A., Bullock, K., Wright, K. D., Johnson, K., & Happ, M. B. (2025). A Peer Support Intervention for Black Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia: A Feasibility Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society,

Edwards, R. L., Reville, B., Bowman, B., Bullock, K., Jaramillo, C., Merel, S. E., & Zehm, A. (2025). Best Teaching Practices in Primary Palliative Care Education for Health Professions Students in the United States: An Integrative Review.ÌýJournal of Palliative Medicine, 10.1177/10966218251400055. Advance online publication.Ìý

Hirsch J, Cadet T, Wells K, Thompson B, Bullock K, Nedjat-Haiem FR. Perspectives of Advance Care Planning for Latinos During COVID-19. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®. 2025;0(0). doi:

Mehta, A., Bullock, K., Gustin, J. L., Hadler, R. A., Nelson, J. E., Rosa, W. E., Seaman, J. B., Varner-Perez, S. E., & White, D. B. (2025). Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Intensive Care Unit Consultation.ÌýJournal of Palliative Medicine, . Advance online publication.

Eche-Ugwu, I. J., Aronowitz, T., Broden, E. G., Merz, A., White-Hammond, G. E., Umaretiya, P. J., Bullock, K., Brock, K., Johnston, E. E., Wolfe, J., & Feraco, A. M. (2025). Psychosocial Experiences of African American Parents of Children With Cancer.ÌýPediatrics,Ìý155(6), e2024070319.Ìý

Johnson, K. S., Bullock, K., Smith, C. B., Ejem, D. B., Barrett, N. J., Preston, A., Bethea, K., Hasan, M., & Rhodes, R. L. (2025). Evaluation of Reporting of Race and Ethnicity in Hospice and Palliative Care Research.ÌýJournal of Palliative Medicine, 10.1089/jpm.2023.0694. Advance online publication.Ìý

Murali, K. P., Gogineni, S., Bullock, K., McDonald, M., Sadarangani, T., Schulman-Green, D., & Brody, A. A. (2025). Interventions and Predictors of Transition to Hospice for People Living with Dementia: An Integrative Review.Ìý.

Eche-Ugwu, I.J.,ÌýAronowitz, T., White-Hammond, G.E., Umaretiya, P.J., Bullock, K.,… Feraco, A.M. (2025).ÌýEnabling Inclusive Psychosocial Research Strategies Among African American Parents of Children with Cancer.Ìý

Eche-Ugwu, I. J., Aronowitz, T., Broden, E. G., Merz, A., Vernadakis, A., Bullock, K., Wolfe, J., & Feraco, A. M. (2025). Uncovering Structurally Differential Care: Pediatric Oncology Nurses' Perspectives Caring for African American Families.ÌýJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, S0885-3924(25)00042-9.Ìý

Tabata-Kelly, M., Hu, X., Dill, M. J., Alberti, P. M., Bullock, K., Crown, W., ... & Perloff, J. (2024). Physician engagement in addressing health-related social needs and burnout.Ìý.

Borowsky, H. M., Schofield, C. L., Du, T., Margo, J., Williams, K. K. A., Sloan, D., Bullock, K., & Sanders, J. J. (2024). Race Dialogues and Potential Application in Clinical Environments: A Scoping Review.ÌýJournal of Internal Medicine. Advance online publication.Ìý

Bullock, K. (2024). Racial Inequities in Maternal Health.Ìý.

Bullock, K. (2024). Unprecedented challenges: Cancer care amid pandemics, disasters and other traumatic events. In Hedlund, S., Miller, B., Christ, G., & Messner, C. (Eds.),ÌýHandbook of oncology and palliative social work: Psychosocial care for people coping with cancer.Ìý(pp. 57-68). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Csikai, E. L., & Bullock, K. (2024). The Growth of Social Work in Palliative and End-of-life Care in the United States: How Did We Get Here?ÌýPalliative Care and Social Practice, 18, 26323524241263625.Ìý

Ruth, T.R., Bullock, K., O’Conner, K., & Anderson, G. (2024). Emotional Intelligence and Clinician Empathy: An Interdisciplinary Model for Understanding and Addressing Clinician Disruptive Behavior.ÌýInternational Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 14(1), 182-192.

Wallace, C. L., Subramaniam, D. S., Wray, R., Bullock, K., Dant, D., Coccia, K., Bennett, A. V., White, P., & Hendricks-Ferguson, V. L. (2024). Development of a Hospice Perceptions Instrument for Diverse Patients and Families: Establishing Content and Face Validity.ÌýThe American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care, 0(0), 1-8.Ìý.

Selected Publications

Moss, K.A., Boon, J.T., Penate, E., & Bullock, K. (2026). Cultural Perspectives Impacting Dementia Care Nearing the End of Life. In Doka, K. J., & Tucci, A. S. (Eds.). Hospice Foundation of America. Washington, DC.

Rhodes, R. L., Barrett, N.J., Bullock, K., & Johnson, K. S. (2023). Response to Anandarajah G et al., Trust as a Central Factor in Hospice Enrollment Disparities Among Ethnic and Racial Minority Patients: A Qualitative Study of Interrelated and Compounding Factors Impacting Trust (DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0090)."ÌýJournal of Palliative Medicine, 26(10), pp. 1315–1316.Ìý

Bullock, K., & Bullock-Johnson, R. (2023). Cultural humility: Necessary but insufficient for equitable access to care. In Doka, K.J., Jennings, B., Kirk, T.W., & Tucci, A.S. (Eds.),ÌýEnd-of-Life Ethics in a Changing WorldÌý(pp. 73-85). Washington, DC:ÌýHospice Foundation of America Press.

Zehm, A., Smith, S., Schaefer, K. G., Jonas, D., Bullock, K., Edwards, R. L., Reville, B., Jaramillo, C., Webb, A. C., Rydberg, J., & Merel, S. E. (2023). Development of Objectives to Inform a National Standardized Primary Palliative Care Curriculum for Health Professions Students.ÌýJournal of Palliative Medicine,Ìý

Silvers, A., Sinclair, S., Curseen, K., Chambers, B., Bullock, K., & Bowman, B. (2022). How Medicare advantage could address pain inequities for Black patients living with serious illness.ÌýHealth Affairs Forefront.Ìý

Rhodes, R. L., Barrett, N. J., Ejem, D. B., Sloan, D. H., Bullock, K., Bethea, K., Durant, R. W., Anderson, G. T., Hasan, M., Travitz, G., Thompson, A., & Johnson, K. S. (2022). A Review of Race and Ethnicity in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Research: Representation Matters.ÌýJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, 64(5), e289–e299.Ìý

Barrett, N.J., Bullock, K., & Johnson, K.S. (2022). Unmet Needs in Health Disparities Research—It’s Not Just About Patients.ÌýJAMA Internal Medicine, 182(9), 995–996.Ìý

Rhodes, R., Ejem, D., Barrett, N., Smith, C., Bullock, K., Bethea, K., Hasan, M., & Johnson, K. (2022). Association and causation without adequate representation: An evaluation of the reporting of race and ethnicity of study participants in hospice and palliative medicine research (GP751).ÌýJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, 63(6), 1140.Ìý

Bullock, K., Gray, T. F., Tucker, R., & Quest, T. E. (2022). Race Roundtable Series: Structural Racism in Palliative Care.ÌýJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, S0885-3924(22)00038-0.Ìý

Curseen, K., & Bullock, K. (2022). Response to Fitzgerald Jones et al., Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about delivering antiracist care to Black Americans.ÌýJournal of Palliative Medicine.Ìý

Bullock, K. & Makaroun, L.K. (2022). Drivers of racial/ethnic differences in perceived endâ€�ofâ€�life care quality: More questions than answers.ÌýJournal of the American Geriatrics Society.Ìý

Bullock-Johnson, R., & Bullock, K. (2022). Advance directives and the influence of cultural dynamics. In Altilio, T. & Otis-Green, S. (Eds.),ÌýOxford textbook of palliative social workÌý(pp. 580-587). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Jones, T., Nedjat-Haiem, F., & Bullock, K. (2022). Health equity in palliative care. In Altilio, T. & Otis-Green, S. (Eds.),ÌýOxford textbook of palliative social workÌý(pp. 14-25). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Maschi, T., Morgen, K., Bullock, K., Kaye, A., & Hintenach, A.M. (2021). Aging in prison and the social mirror: Reflections and insights on care and justice.ÌýJustice and Human Rights in Social Work, 1(2), 137-154.Ìý

Cadet, T., Burke, S., Naseh, M., Grudzien, A., Kozak, R., Lupardus, J., Bullock, K, & Davis, C. (2021). Examining the family support role of older Hispanics, African Americans, and Non-Hispanic Whites and their breast cancer screening behaviors.ÌýJournal of Social Work in Public Health, 1(1), 1-16.Ìý

Starr, L.T., Bullock, K., Washington, K.T., Aryal,S., Parker-Oliver, D., & Demiris, G. (2021). Anxiety, depression, quality-of-life, caregiver burden, and perception of caregiver-centered community among Black and White hospice family caregivers.ÌýJournal of Palliative Medicine.Ìý

Bullock-Johnson, R., & Bullock, K. (2020). Exploring mental health treatment and prevention among homeless older adults. London, England (UK):Ìý

Blogs and Podcasts

. Karen Bullock discusses a letter co-authored with Ramona Rhodes, Marisette Hasan, and Kimberly S. Johnson in response to Ira Byock's white paper on a path forward in hospice and palliative care.

Bullock, K., & Newman, S. (2025, April 25). .ÌýHealth Equity Blog.Ìý

VERIGERI Podcast (2025, April 7).ÌýRefining serious illness conversations: A patient-centered approach. Expert Panelist, Karen Bullock PhD, LICSW, FGSA, APHSW-C.Ìý.

Selected Grants

Bullock, K. (Co-Investigator). The ASCENT Consortium: A New Resource to Support Palliative Care Science Across the Lifespan (Multi-PI). Health DisparitiesÌýResearch and Community Engagement Core, Lived Experience Action Panel (LEAP) - NIA, NCI, NICHD, NIMH, NINR. University of Colorado Sub-Award/ 1 U54 AG 093 230-01 – total award $64,000,000

Johnson, K.S. (Principal Investigator) & Bullock, K. (Co-Investigator). Measuring Readiness to REduce Disparities and Improve QUality In Primary Care (EQUIP) – National Institute of Minority Health Disparities (NIMHD). Duke University Sub-Award/ 5 RO1 MDO18270-02 – total award $681,623

Bullock, K. (Principal Investigator) & Stansbury, K.L. (Co-Investigator). Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training, funded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Paraprofessional Track. Grant number M01HP312740100 – funded $1,191,882

Hall, J.K. (Principal Investigator) & Bullock, K. (Co-Investigator, Mentor). Behavioral Health Education Scholars Education and Training Initiative. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Grant number M01HP31322 – funded $1,914,957

Hall, J.K. (Principal Investigator) & Bullock, K. (Co-Investigator, Mentor). Behavioral Health Education Scholars Education and Training Initiative, funded by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration Grant number GO2HP27948 – funded $1,086,448

Pennell, J. (Principal Investigator) & Bullock, K. (Co-Investigator). Fostering Youth Educational Success, a grant under Child Welfare—Education System Collaborations. To increase educational suitability. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau – funded $248,988

Bullock, K. (Principal Investigator) & Hickey, E. (Co-PI). Healthy Aging: Mind & Body - To recruit & train racially diverse social work interns to work with older adults using an interdisciplinary, social work and psychiatry, community outreach model. North Central Area Agency on Aging – funded $375,000

Fried, T., MD (Principal Investigator) & Bullock, K. (Co-Investigator). Treatment Goals at End of Life. To investigate race as a factor in explaining end-of-life care decisions across racial groups. National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ Yale University – Diversity Supplement – funded $151,065

Bullock, K. (Principal Investigator). Preference for Utilization of Medical Treatment among African Americans. To examine factors influencing use of end-of-life treatment. John A. Hartford Foundation/ Gerontological Society of America – funded $100,000

Bullock, K. (Principal Investigator). Family Support and Mentoring Enrichment (FAME) Programs. To reduce and prevent juvenile delinquency among adjudicated youth in rural areas using family support, education and community programming, focused on grandparents raising grandchildren. Community Partnership with Truth in Youth Family Services of Leland, NC. Funded by the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, Delinquency Prevention – funded $355,000

Selected Honors and Awards

2024:ÌýÌý— Inducted October 2024 for makingÌýimportant contributions to the profession of social work through service, teaching, writing, research, mentoring, program development, and administration.

2024:Ìý

2021:Ìý

2021:Ìý

2020: Alumni Distinguished Outstanding Graduate Faculty – Nominee, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, NC State University.

2020: Social Work Hospice & Palliative Care Network (SWHPN) Career Achievement Award for a national or international impact at least 15 years of advancing the development or improvement of psychosocial palliative care.

2012: Best Article Award, Routledge Journals, article published in theÌýJournal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care.Ìý.

Selected Appointments

2019-2024:ÌýÌý(NCORED), ChairÌý

2021-present: Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). Affiliate Faculty and Advisory Council Member. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.Ìý

2020-present: National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) .

2021-2024:Ìý, MemberÌý

2022-2023: North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) Taskforce on Healthy Aging.

2020-2022: North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) Serious Illness Care Taskforce.

2018-2022: National Association of Social Work Deans and Directors (NADD), Board of Directors, Treasurer

2007-2022: Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy. University of Connecticut, Affiliate Faculty.Ìý

2020-2021: Social Work in Hospice & Palliative Care Network Board Member –Chair Elect

2019-2021: Fellow, University Global Partnership Network – Research curricular development on aging and social determinants of health with the University of Wollongong, Australia

2014-2020: American Cancer Society (ACS): Appointed to serve on the Peer Review Committee for Oncology Social Work Training Grants, Chair 2018-2020

2012-2013: Council on Social Work Education, Delegate. University of Havana, Cuba

2012-2013: Fellow, Leadership for a Diverse Campus – NSF ADVANCE Leadership Program

EDITORIAL BOARDS:

2018-present: Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare – Editorial Board

2007-present: Health & Social Work - Consulting Editor

2006-present: International Aging and Human Development – Editorial Board

2006-present: Journal of Aging & Health – Consulting Editor

2003-present: Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care – Editorial Board, Practice Innovations – Section Editor, 2018- present

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