BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:icalendar-ruby
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
X-WR-CALNAME:PhD Dissertation Defense: Susan McLaren
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Eastern Time (US & Canada)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260719T010044Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_48809245265740
DTSTART:20250305T173000Z
DTEND:20250305T190000Z
DESCRIPTION:Dissertation Title: Exploring how Medical Legal Partnerships (M
 LPs) utilize a social ecological approach to addressing social determinant
 s of health \n\nStudent Concentration: Health Services Policy & Research\n
 \nDissertation Chair: Dr. Ashli Owen Smith\n\nDissertation Abstract: \n\nM
 edical-Legal Partnerships (MLPs) have emerged as an innovative model for a
 ddressing adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) through interdiscip
 linary collaboration between healthcare and legal professionals. This diss
 ertation employs a three-pronged approach to assess the impact of MLPs on 
 SDOH through the Social Ecological Model (SEM)\, interprofessional educati
 on\, and healthcare utilization outcomes. \n\nFirst\, a systematic review 
 examines how current MLP research aligns with SEM\, identifying gaps and o
 pportunities for program development and evaluation. The findings reveal t
 hat while MLPs conceptually address SDOH at multiple levels\, there is a s
 carcity of empirical research quantifying their outcomes within the SEM fr
 amework.\n\nSecond\, the dissertation evaluates the effectiveness of inter
 disciplinary education and training (IDET) within MLPs in fostering interp
 rofessional collaboration (IPC) among healthcare professionals and legal p
 ractitioners. Using survey data from fourth-year medical students\, the st
 udy assesses shifts in knowledge\, attitudes\, and referral practices foll
 owing participation in MLP-directed IDET. The results suggest that while s
 tudents enter with a strong understanding of SDOH\, experiential learning 
 enhances their inclination to refer patients to legal services.\n\nThird\,
  a retrospective observational study assesses the impact of MLP services o
 n healthcare utilization and costs. By analyzing administrative claims dat
 a\, the study explores the relationship between legal services and emergen
 cy department (ED) visits\, inpatient stays\, and overall healthcare expen
 ditures. While findings indicate a trend toward improved healthcare access
  and utilization\, statistical significance remains limited\, highlighting
  the complexity of measuring MLP effectiveness.\n\nThis research underscor
 es the potential of MLPs to mitigate adverse SDOH through direct services\
 , education\, and systemic advocacy. It also highlights the need for more 
 rigorous\, empirically driven studies to measure MLP impact across the SEM
 . Future research should incorporate matched comparison groups\, longitudi
 nal analyses\, and enhanced data integration to better quantify the role o
 f MLPs in improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare disparities.
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:PhD Dissertation Defense: Susan McLaren
URL;VALUE=URI:https://calendar.gsu.edu/event/phd-dissertation-defense-susan
 -mclaren
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR