Carissa K. Coleman, Ph.D.

Professional Background

Carissa Coleman, PhD is a Community Psychologist and Research Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Kansas. She received her doctorate in Community Psychology from Wichita State University in 2010 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in translational research at the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 2013.

Dr. Coleman's work focuses on improving the quality of care and quality of life for older adults through person-centered approaches, implementation science, and community-engaged research. Her research examines communication, dementia care, intervention development, and the implementation of evidence-based practices in real-world healthcare settings, with a particular emphasis on nursing homes and home-based care.
Prior to returning to the University of Kansas in 2018, Dr. Coleman spent five years conducting community research, program evaluation, and technical assistance at the state and federal levels. Her work included evaluations and capacity-building initiatives related to child welfare, trauma-informed care, tribal services, aging, disability services, and community health improvement efforts.

Since returning to the University of Kansas, Dr. Coleman has contributed to multiple federally funded studies focused on dementia care, caregiver communication, and person-centered communication training. Her work has supported the development, testing, and implementation of interventions designed to improve communication between caregivers and people living with dementia, reduce elderspeak, and promote person-centered care across diverse healthcare settings.

Dr. Coleman is currently working on integrating her background in community psychology, implementation science, and person-centered care to support individuals, families, and communities across the lifespan.

• PhD, Community Psychology , Wichita State University , Wichita , KS
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Translational Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas

Research

Overview

Dr. Coleman's research focuses on person-centered care, communication, implementation science, and intervention development in aging and dementia care. Her work seeks to improve the quality of care and quality of life for older adults by developing, testing, and implementing evidence-based communication strategies across healthcare and community settings.

Her research examines interactions among people living with dementia, family caregivers, and healthcare providers, with a particular emphasis on person-centered communication, reducing communication breakdowns, and promoting meaningful engagement. She has contributed to the development and evaluation of interventions designed to reduce elderspeak, improve caregiver communication skills, and support the implementation of person-centered care practices in nursing homes and home-based care settings.

Dr. Coleman has extensive experience leading and supporting multi-site pragmatic trials, implementation studies, and community-engaged research. Her work integrates qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to understand how evidence-based practices can be effectively adopted, implemented, and sustained in real-world settings. Through her research, she aims to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and everyday care practices to improve outcomes for older adults, caregivers, and healthcare organizations.