UPMC Hillman Cancer Center

Contact Information

Research Keywords

Palliative care; supportive oncology care; informed consent; surrogate decision making; clinician-patient communication; language barriers

Research Summary

My primary research interest is in the integration of palliative care services in oncology, with a particular focus on developing new models to improve provision of “primary” palliative care within oncology practices. Secondary research interests include surrogate decision making, informed consent, and the impact of language and cultural barriers on patient-clinician communication.

Selected Publications

• Vater LB, Donohue JM, Arnold R, White DB, Chu E, Schenker Y. What are cancer centers advertising to the public?: a content analysis. Ann Intern Med. 2014 Jun 17;160(12):813-20. PubMed Link
• Schenker Y, Park SY, Maciasz R, Arnold RM. Do patients with advanced cancer and unmet palliative care needs have an interest in receiving palliative care services? J Palliat Med. 2014 Jun;17(6):667-72. PubMed Link
• Schenker Y, Crowley-Matoka M, Dohan D, Rabow MW, Smith CB, White DB, Chu E, Tiver GA, Einhorn S, Arnold RM. Oncologist factors that influence referral to subspecialty palliative care clinics. J Oncol Pract. 2014 Mar;10(2):e37-44. PubMed Link
• Maciasz RM, Arnold RM, Chu E, Park SY, White DB, Vater LB, Schenker Y. Does it matter what you call it? A randomized trial of language used to describe palliative care services. Support Care Cancer. 2013 Dec;21(12):3411-9. PubMed Link
• Schenker Y, White DB, Crowley-Matoka M, Dohan D, Tiver GA, Arnold RM. 'It hurts to know... and it helps': exploring how surrogates in the ICU cope with prognostic information. J Palliat Med. 2013 Mar;16(3):243-9. PubMed Link
• Schenker Y, Tiver GA, Hong SY, White DB. Discussion of treatment trials in intensive care. J Crit Care. 2013 Oct;28(5):862-9. PubMed Link
• Schenker Y, Crowley-Matoka M, Dohan D, Tiver GA, Arnold RM, White DB. I don't want to be the one saying 'we should just let him die': intrapersonal tensions experienced by surrogate decision makers in the ICU. J Gen Intern Med. 2012 Dec;27(12):1657-65. PubMed Link
• Schenker Y, Tiver GA, Hong SY, White DB. Association between physicians' beliefs and the option of comfort care for critically ill patients. Intensive Care Med. 2012 Oct;38(10):1607-15. PubMed Link
• Schenker Y, Fernandez A, Kerr K, O'Riordan D, Pantilat SZ. Interpretation for discussions about end-of-life issues: results from a National Survey of Health Care Interpreters. J Palliat Med. 2012 Sep;15(9):1019-26. PubMed Link
• Schenker Y, Barnato A. Expanding support for 'upstream' surrogate decision making in the hospital. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Mar;174(3):377-9. PubMed Link

See all pubs (Pubmed)

Collaborations

Current Internal Collaborators

Robert Arnold, MD
Professor of Medicine

Nathan Bahary, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Member - Cancer Therapeutics Program (CTP)

Edward Chu, MD
Chief of Hematology/Oncology; Stanley M. Marks-OHA Chair in Hematology/Oncology Leadership; Professor of Medicine
Co-Leader - Cancer Therapeutics Program (CTP)

Peter Ellis, MD
Clinical Professor of Medicine

Margaret Rosenzweig, PhD
Professor of Acute/Tertiary Care
Member - Biobehavioral Oncology Program (BOP)