My UMSOP Story – Arlen Gaines, PhD ’25, MSW, LCSW-C

Image: Mary Lynn McPherson, PharmD, PhD, BCPS with Arlen Gaines, PhD ’25, MSW, LCSW-C at graduation.

Could you describe your career path up until now — What has been most meaningful to you? And what do you consider to be most impactful?

I have had a fulfilling 20-year career caring for individuals with serious illness and at the end of life. After many years as a hospice social worker, I transitioned into leadership, serving as the director of social services on a hospice team. In this role, I have provided leadership to social workers, chaplains, and volunteers and have led a bereavement program. Throughout this time, my clinical interest has focused on person and family-centered care, and ensuring that hospice, palliative care, and bereavement care are inclusive of all individuals, including adults and children with developmental disabilities. After working with countless families of individuals with disabilities and recognizing a gap in the literature, I created a parallel path as an author. Along with a colleague who is a special educator and social worker, we published a children’s book series about complex topics, inclusive of children with developmental disabilities, including I Have a Question about Death and I Have a Question about Cancer, to help support children and families in times of transition.

Working with patients and their families, and hearing their stories, challenges, hopes, and values, is a privilege that keeps me grounded and in touch with what matters most. And the cherry on top is that we get to do this sacred work as an interprofessional team, which brings me great joy.

What interested you in pursuing your PhD in Palliative Care?

I had long dreamed of pursuing a PhD, although I hadn’t considered a PhD in Palliative Care, as the program did not exist in the US. Thanks to the visionary leadership of Dr. Mary Lynn McPherson, this program came to fruition, and I immediately applied. I was eager to elevate my leadership skills and engage in research on how our field can best support children with developmental disabilities in their grief, as this area was practically non-existent in the academic and scholarly literature.

What drew you to attend the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s PhD program?

Coincidentally, I am a proud graduate of the MSW program at University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), and am a Maryland resident. To return to UMB in this inaugural PhD in Palliative Care program was an unexpected bonus. I’m honored to have received both degrees from UMB and am grateful that this university has been at the forefront of innovation with the PhD in Palliative Care program.

What was your experience like in the Palliative Care PhD program?

The power of interprofessional education is unparalleled. I have been blown away by the expertise, compassion, support, and myriad perspectives of our interprofessional student cohort. In addition to learning nuanced research skills, I immersed myself in the rich culture of learning alongside other disciplines. My social work practice has been elevated because of learning alongside my colleagues – it has been truly invigorating.

I have described my experience in this program as being in an airplane, flying above the clouds. I have moved outside my comfort zone to see beyond the horizon, as my perspective has deeply broadened. I have such an appreciation for the past founders of our field, the present opportunities and challenges, and the potential for continued impact in the field of palliative care. I bring a deeper, evidence-based approach to my work because of this program, and have dared to think boldly, with the encouragement of our course managers.

What were some of the highlights of the program for you?

The first two years of this program were filled with an intensity and invigoration I could not have imagined. Our student cohort has been very close and supportive, and we had engaging, lively conversations through Blackboard and in group projects. The second two years were incredibly meaningful, as I had the opportunity to engage in grounded theory research on the grief and bereavement experiences of children with intellectual disabilities. I am deeply grateful to my exceptional dissertation chair, Dr. John Cagle, and to my insightful and supportive committee, who provided thoughtful guidance throughout the process. It was a privilege to have Judy Lentz, PhD ’25, as my partner on this doctoral journey, and I have been honored to be alongside her as the first two graduates of this program.

How do you plan to apply your knowledge, skills, and experience from this program into practice?

My application of this program into practice has already started throughout my doctoral journey. I have been publishing papers throughout the program, presenting at conferences, bringing evidence-based practice more deeply into my work, and feel more confident as a leader. I plan to transition into system-wide palliative care leadership and research, and I hope to continue serving as an ambassador for this program.

What is your advice to prospective students who might be considering this program?

Sometimes prospective students ask me how many hours a week it takes to be in the PhD program in palliative care. My answer is that it’s not about the hours, it’s about the lifestyle. Being in this program is a lifestyle commitment – the more you engage and dive in headfirst, the greater the return will be. I would also recommend ensuring you have a strong support system, as it truly takes a village to complete a PhD.

Anything you would like to add?

Another gift of this program has been the thesis by publication design. It’s an incredible honor to publish and contribute to the evidence base as you go – another wonderful attribute of this innovative program.