Joan Carpenter is an expert in geriatric palliative care, specializing in post-acute and long-term care settings. She is an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, a health scientist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and a nurse practitioner with Coastal Hospice and Palliative Care. Her research focuses on the implementation and evaluation of non-pharmacologic palliative care interventions to improve the quality of life, reduce symptom burden, and enhance decision-making for people living with serious illness and their care partners.