Peiyuan Zhang, MSW, PhD Candidate, is a gerontological social worker and healthcare services researcher, whose overall mission is to improve access to and quality of end-of-life care.
Previous Education
MSW, Washington University in St. Louis
BSW, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Research Experience
She has expertise in implementation science and is dedicated to improving quality of advance care planning implementation. She has closely worked with multiple cross-institutional NIH/NIA-funded R01 projects focusing on palliative care and advance care planning in different healthcare settings. She has a strong track record of 16 publications (6-first authored) in top academic journals in palliative medicine and gerontology (e.g., Alzheimer's & Dementia, Journal of Palliative Medicine, and Journal of Applied Gerontology), over 20 presentations at international and national conferences, and multiple grants and fellowships. Her current work endeavors to: 1) develop, evaluate, and disseminate community-based education about advance care planning in rural areas to increase health literacy and access to end-of-life care; and 2) design advance care planning interventions in nursing homes to improve the quality of end-of-life care among residents with dementia.
Significant Accomplishments
Peiyuan received multiple internal and external grants during her time in UMSSW’s PhD program and scored an NIH/NIA F99/R00 grant application. In 2021, she was selected as Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGESW) Pre-Dissertation Fellow. She is also a peer review for multiple geriatrics and palliative care journals such as BMC Palliative Care, BMJ Public Health, and Journal of Palliative Care, etc.
Peiyuan is defending her dissertation in May 2025 and joining the University of Alabama School of Social Work as a tenure-track assistant professor in August 2025.
Teaching Experience
In Fall 2024, Peiyuan was an independent instructor of SOWK645: Human Behavior and Social Environment. In Fall 2023, she supported Dr. Sarah Dababnah in SOWK645 as a teaching assistant.
Selected Publications
Saylor, M., Hanna, V., Zhang, P., Thai, G., Green, C., Cagle, J.G., & Wolff J. (2024). Advance care planning in adults ages 80 years and older with impaired cognition: Using actual conversations to examine best practices. Alzheimer's & Dementia. In press.
Zhang P., Nketsiah E., & Hyunjin N. (2024). Service provider perspectives on advance care planning use in rural dementia patients and caregivers: A qualitative study. Journal of Gerontological Social Work. 67 (6), 825-840.
Cagle, J. G., Carrion, I., Becker, T.D., & Zhang P. (2024) Spanish translation and dissemination of empower materials to addressed barriers to pain management at the end of life. Palliative Medicine Reports, 5(1), 162–170. https://doi-org. /10.1089/pmr.2023.0090
Yang X., Zhang P., Jing S., Cheng Y., Cavaletto A. (2024). Logotherapy-based interventions for Chinese family caregivers of older adults with dementia through online groups: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Gerontological Social Work. Online first. http://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2024.2326689
Zhang P., Clem S., Rose R., Cagle J.G. (2023). Exposure to a loved one’s death and advance care planning: Moderating effects of age. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Online First. https//doi.org/10.1177/10499091231188689.
Zhang, P., & Cagle, J. G. (2023). Previous experience in medical decision making and advance care planning conversations: Findings from a nationwide cross-sectional survey. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Online First. https//doi.org/10.1177/10499091231174621.
Zhang, P., Sun, F., & Hirsch, J. (2023). Perceived barriers and social cultural factors associated with advance care planning conversations among Chinese American older adults. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42(10), 2110–2118. https//doi.org/10.1177/07334648231176142
Zhang, P., & Cagle, J. G. (2023). When living wills go missing: Associations with hospice use and hospital death using national longitudinal data. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42(5), 1108-1112. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648221146774