Sefcik completed her PhD in Nursing (2017) at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) School of Nursing where she was a Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Fellow (F31), a 2012-2014 National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence Patricia G. Archbold Scholar and a Jonas Hartford Scholar. She also completed a Master of Bioethics degree simultaneously at the Penn School of Medicine. Sefcik’s dissertation topic was informed from her nursing practice in long term care and was titled “A Multi-Methods Observational Study of Persistent Vocalizations in Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia". One of her dissertation papers, titled “Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia and Persistent Vocalisations: Observations of Surrounding Context”, was selected for the 2020 International Journal of Older People Nursing Award for Outstanding Methodological Innovation in Gerontological Nursing Research.
Sefcik is a recipient of a 3-year K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Nursing Research. Her project is titled, “A Person-Centered Environmental and Sensory Intervention for Nursing Home Residents with Dementia who Exhibit Persistent Vocalizations”. This project aims to test the acceptability and feasibility of using a person-centered nature-based intervention in the nursing home setting.
Working with several interdisciplinary research teams to date, Sefcik has several publications on topics important to the field of gerontology including: behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, care of persons living with dementia and their caregivers, innovative interventions to support frail older adults and post-acute care decision-making. Sefcik is a nationally recognized expert, author, presenter and researcher.
Professional Society
Gerontological Society of America – Co-convener, Nursing Care of the Older Adults Special Interest Group
Eastern Nursing Research Society – Co-Chair of the Aging Research Interest Group
Selected Publications
Sefcik, J. S., Hirschman, K. B., Petrovsky, D. V., Hodgson, N. A., & Naylor, M. D. (2021). Satisfaction With Outdoor Activities Among Northeastern U.S. Newly Enrolled Long-Term Services and Supports Recipients. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 40(6), 590–597. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464820933774
McPhillips, M. V., Petrovsky, D. V., Brewster, G. S., Li, J., Gooneratne, N. S., Hodgson, N. A., & Sefcik, J. S. (2021). Recruiting Persons with Dementia and Caregivers in a Clinical Trial: Dyads Perceptions. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 01939459211008563.
Sefcik, J. S., Madrigal, C., Heid, A. R., Molony, S. L., Van Haitsma, K., Best, I., ... & Kolanowski, A. (2020). Person-Centered Care Plans for Nursing Home Residents With Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 46(11), 17-27.
Sefcik, J. S., Ersek, M., Libonati, J., Hartnett, S., Hodgson, N., & Cacchione, P. (2020). Heart rate of nursing home residents with advanced dementia and persistent vocalizations. Health and Technology, 10(3), 827-831. doi: 10.1007/s12553-019-00397-2
Sefcik, J. S., Ersek, M., Libonati, J., Hartnett, S., Hodgson, N., & Cacchione, P. (2020). Heart rate of nursing home residents with advanced dementia and persistent vocalizations. Health and Technology, 10(3), 827-831. doi: 10.1007/s12553-019-00397-2
Sefcik, J. S., Kondo, M. C., Klusaritz, H., Sarantschin, E., Solomon, S., Roepke, A., South, E., & Jacoby, S. F. (2019). Perceptions of Nature and Access to Green Space in Four Urban Neighborhoods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13), 2313. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16132313
Visit Google Scholar Profile of Justine Sefcik:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7TG6oFoAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra
Grant participation:
NIH/NINR K23 Awardee (K23NR018673) - “A Person-Centered Environmental and Sensory Intervention for Nursing Home Residents with Dementia who Exhibit Persistent Vocalizations”
Cell2Soceity Pilot Grant – “Exploring Outdoor Activity Engagement among Community-Dwelling Older Adults and those in Assisted Living”
Research Interests
Dementia Care, Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, Nursing Homes, Nature-based Interventions, Multi-methods Research, Qualitative Description
Postdoctoral Fellow, Research, 9/2019 to 8/2020
Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions
Philadelphia, PA
Postdoctoral Fellow, Nursing Research, 9/2017 to 8/2019
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Philadelphia, PA
MBE/PhD, Bioethics/Nursing Research, 2010 to 2017
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
Philadelphia, PA
BS/MS, Nursing Administration, 2007
State University of New York Institute of Technology
Utica, NY
AS, Nursing, 2003
State University of New York Delhi
Delhi, NY
BA, Art, 2001
State University of New York College at Oneonta
Oneonta, NY