Kathleen Hanley, MD

My research as with my clinical work and teaching, is guided by my belief that research should be in the service of patient care. At the core of my research is figuring out how to train and enable clinicians to be better doctors “in the room” with their patients and to enable clinicians to be nimble in practicing medicine that patients need.

My research is largely focused on medical education, specifically in the areas of substance use disorders and using simulation to assess and improve clinical skills and the clinical micro-system.  I have worked with a team to develop and implement NYUGSOM’s nationally recognized Unannounced Standardized Patient (USP) program. Through this program we send USPs into residency clinics to evaluate doctors’ communication skills and the clinical microsystem.

My other area of research involves studying methods to promote research and clinical work related to substance use, an issue that continues to increase in importance in our society. 

As the Curriculum Director for the National Institute on Drug Abuse funded SARET program, now in its 15^th year of funding, I have led innovative work creating evidence based educational strategies and assessments across disciplines and levels of learners and influenced a new generation of health care professionals on how to communicate, treat and research the critical area of substance use disorder.