School of Social Work

Education

• Ph.D., Social Work, Simmons College, Boston, MA
• MSW, Clinical Social Work, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
• MS, Applied Educational Psychology - School Counseling, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
• BA, Sociology/Social Work, Seattle University, Seattle, WA

Biography

Stephanie P. Wladkowski, PhD, LMSW, ACHP-SW, has several years of clinical practice as a social worker in hospice and palliative care working with families in end of life. Prior to her work in hospice, she provided individual psychotherapy in a community behavioral health agency, college counseling center, and worked in a residential treatment center for adults with eating disorders.

Dr. Wladkowski’s main research interest has focused on live discharge from hospice, or when individuals stop receiving hospice care due to no longer meeting the eligibility requirements. She continues to advance knowledge in this under researched area through exploring the impact of live discharge on individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their caregivers, the policy implications, and the psychosocial practice opportunities. Dr. Wladkowski also researches the opportunities and barriers within doctoral education, including the gendered and cultural experiences of pregnancy and parenthood.

Dr. Wladkowski has presented her research and social work practice issues in end-of-life care nationally and internationally. Dr. Wladkowski is cares deeply about teaching and mentoring new clinicians and strives to create a collaborative learning environment. She is passionate about the social work profession and continues to promote the field of aging and advocate for the role of professional social work across interdisciplinary health care teams.

Publications

• Wladkowski, S. P. & Mirick, R. G. (In Press). Supports for pregnant and newly parenting doctoral students in health care professions. Journal of Social Work Education.
• Wladkowski, S. P. & Mirick, R. G. (In Press). Mentorship and doctoral education for pregnant and parenting doctoral students. NASPA: Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education.
• Mirick, R. G., Davis, A., & Wladkowski, S. P. (In Press). Social work dissertation committee chairs’ perceptions of their role. Journal of Social Work Education
• Wladkowski, S. P. & Wallace, C. L. (2019). Current practices of live discharge from hospice: Social work perspectives. Health & Social Work, 44(1), 30-38. Doi: 10.1093/hsw/hly040
• Mirick, R. G. & Wladkowski, S. P. (2018). Pregnancy, motherhood, and academic career goals: Doctoral students’ perspectives. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 33(2), 253-269. Doi: 10.1177/0886109917753835
• Wladkowski, S. P. (2017). Dementia caregivers and live discharge from hospice: What happens when hospice leaves? Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 60(2), 138-154. Doi:  10.1080/01634372.2016.1272075
• Davis, A., Wladkowski, S. P., & Mirick, R. G. (2017). Lessons learned for successful dissertation completion from social work doctoral students. Journal of Teaching in Social Work. Doi: 10.1080/08841233.3017.1295124
• Wladkowski, S. P. (2016). Live discharge from hospice and the grief experiences of dementia caregivers. Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, 12(1-2), 47-62. Doi: 10.1080/15524256.2016.1156600.Putnam, M. & Wladkowski, S. P. (2014). Aging and functional disability. In B. Berkman & D. Kaplan (Eds), The Oxford Handbook of Social Work in Health & Aging (2^nd Edition).  New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
• Copeland, P., Dean, R., & Wladkowski, S. (2011). The power dynamics of supervision: Ethical dilemmas. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 81(1), 26-40.

Courses

• SWRK 120: Introduction to Social Work Services and Professional Roles
• SWRK 450: Social Work Practice with Women and Girls
• SWRK 488/489: Field Experience I/II
• SWRK 436/536: Introduction to End-of-Life Care
• SWRK 623/AGIN 523 Applied Psychosocial Aspects of Aging
• SWRK 624: Working with Aging People

Professional

Certifications

• Licensed Masters of Social Work (LMSW), State of Michigan
• Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

Memberships

• Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
• Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
• Association of Gerontological Social Work (AGESW)
• Social Work Hospice and Palliative Care Network (SWHPN)
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)