SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

Michael Baumgardner has graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a Bachelors degree in Biology, the Pontifical Gregorian University with a Master’s in Theology, and the University of San Diego with a Master’s in Nursing. He has obtained professional certifications in nursing as a Clinical Nurse Leader and as a Critical Care Nurse. During his nursing career he has participated in quality improvement projects to reduce falls in inpatient setting and to standardize patient handoff through an electronic medical record to reduce documentation errors. He has extensive work experience in Palliative Care at San Diego Hospice and The Institute of Palliative Care where he provided spiritual care to patients and their families who have had terminal diagnoses. Michael will begin doctoral studies in nursing at the University of San Diego in the Fall of 2014 and anticipates graduation in 2017. His research interest is in exploring the benefit of Palliative Care in transplant patients. The focus of his dissertation will examine Spiritual Well Being and Quality of Life indicators in families of patients who receive Palliative Care as a part of their treatment.