A smiling woman yellow sweater

Lauren Elyse Catlett, PhD, RN, CNL

Postdoctoral Fellow/Research Associate in nursing
Department
Nursing Research
Office
McLeod 4027

Biography

With a background in aging services, long-term care, and hospice, Catlett’s research centers on the care of older adults with a focus on palliative care and advance care planning. Catlett also does research and publishes on topics related to health equity for older adults of diverse racial backgrounds and gender identities, adopting a community-oriented approach to aging research that integrates quantitative, qualitative, and participatory methods.

Catlett also has a background in art and design to their nursing philosophy, practice, and scholarship, and has designed and published books on arts and aging, including Shared Doings and Sayings (2010), a book of stories and artwork by people living with dementia, and Little Star (2016), a memoir of a transgender woman in hospice care.

Catlett's dissertation, "Shaping affirming futures with elders of all gender experiences (SAFEage)," used an innovative human-centered design approach to co-design an advance care planning resource with older adults of diverse gender identities. Catlett’s work has earned funding from the American Psychological Foundation and the UVA School of Nursing Compassionate Care Research program.

Education

  • PhD, University of Virginia School of Nursing, 2025
  • MSN, University of Virginia School of Nursing, 2016
  • BA, University of Virginia College of Arts and Sciences, 2010

Certifications

  • Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL)

Research Focus

Care of older adults, aging, palliative care, end-of-life care, arts in healthcare, participatory research

Publications

Advance Online Publications

Catlett, L., Simmons, A., LeBaron, V., Williams, I. C., Barker, G. M., Burton, C., King, T. & Acquaviva, K. D. (2025). Co-designing an advance care planning resource with transgender and gender diverse adults. Design for Health, 1–20. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/24735132.2025.2561340

Catlett, L., Simmons, A., Williams, I.C., LeBaron, V., Burton, C., Barker, G.M. & Acquaviva, K.D. (2025). Multilevel factors affecting health equity for transgender and gender-diverse older adults. Qualitative Health Research, 10497323251342162. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323251342162

Catlett, L. & Johnson, L.A. (2023). Disparities in advance directive documentation for rural-dwelling persons with lung cancer. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091231178523

Online Journals

Catlett, L. (2024). Healthcare needs and assets of gender diverse older adults: A systematic integrative review. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 56(1), 119–141. doi: 10.1111/jnu.12810. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12810

Catlett, L. & Johnson, L.A. (2024). Disparities in advance directive documentation for rural-dwelling persons with lung cancer. The American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 41(3), 318–323. doi: 10.1177/10499091231178523. https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091231178523

Catlett, L., Acquaviva, K.D., Campbell, L.C., Ducar, D., Page, E.H., Patton, J. & Campbell, C. (2023). End-of-life care for transgender older adults. Global Qualitative Nursing Research, 10. doi: 10.1177/23333936231161128. https://doi.org/10.1177/23333936231161128

Catlett, L. & Campbell, C. (2021). Advance care planning and end-of-life care literacy initiatives in African American faith communities: A systematic integrative review. The American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 38(6), 719–730. doi: 10.1177/1049909120979164. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909120979164

Journal Articles

Bybee, S.G., Catlett, L., Fleming, N., & Scout, N.F. N. (2025). A critical call to action for transformative cancer care in transgender, non-binary, and intersex populations. Future Oncology. 21 (13), 1537-1539. https://doi.org/10.1080/14796694.2025.2497746

Catlett, L., Acquaviva, K. D., Campbell, L. C., Ducar, D., Page, E. H., Patton, J. & Campbell, C. (2023). End-of-life care for transgender older adults. Global Qualitative Nursing Research. 10 (), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/23333936231161128

Catlett, L., & Campbell, C. (2021). Advance care planning and end of life care literacy initiatives in African American faith communities: A systematic iIntegrative review. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 38(6), 719-730. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909120979164

Campbell, C., & Catlett, L. (2019). Silent illumination: A case study exploring the spiritual needs of a transgender-identified elder receiving hospice care. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 21(6), 467-474. https://doi.org/10.1097/njh.0000000000000596