Palliative Care Research Faculty

Jane L. Givens M.D., M.S.C.E.
Instructor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Assistant Scientist, Institute for Aging Research
Hebrew SeniorLife

Contact information:

Institute for Aging Research
Hebrew SeniorLife
1200 Centre Street
Boston, MA 02131

Phone: 617-971-5316
Fax: 617-971-5329
Email: JaneGivens@hsl.harvard.edu  

Education:

1987 B.M.,  Boston University; Boston, MA
1997 M.D., University of California San Francisco School of Medicine; San Francisco, CA
2006 M.S.C.E., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Philadelphia, PA

Interests:

Dr. Givens is an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School and an assistant scientist at the Institute for Aging Research. Her main research interest focuses on the area of mental health and quality of life for both patients and families at the end-of-life, with a particular interest on patients with end-stage dementia in the nursing home setting. Dr. Givens' research has examined the influence of patient decision making on the treatment of depression and the effect of depression on the health outcomes of frail older adults.

Dr. Givens' teaching activities include inpatient attending on the geriatric consult and medical service and precepting of geriatric fellows in the long-term care setting.

Keywords:

Palliative care, caregiver stress, dementia, depression, end-of-life

Publications:

1. Givens JL, Mitchell SL. End-of-life concerns and support for euthanasia.
   J Pain Symptom Manage 2008; In press.
2. Givens JL, Sanft T, Marcantonio ER. Functional recovery after hip fracture: The combined effects of depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment and delirium. J Amer Geratr Soc 2008; 56:1075-9.
3. Givens JL, Katz IR, Bellamy S, Holmes WC. Stigma and the acceptability of depression treatments among African Americans and Whites. J Gen Int Med 2007; 22:1292-7.
4. Givens JL, Houston TK, Van Voorhees BW, Ford DE, Cooper LA. Ethnicity and preferences for depression treatment. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2007; 29:182-191.
5. Givens JL, Datto C, Ruchdeschel K, Knott K, Zubritsky C, Oslin D, Nyshadham S, Vanguri P, Barg FK. Older patients' aversion to antidepressants: a qualitative study. J Gen Int Med 2006; 21:146-51.