Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Lauren Van Scoy's current and ongoing research activities use qualitative and mixed methodology to evaluate innovative communication tools in variety of areas, including advance care planning and engaging patients and their families in discussions about end-of-life issues. She has expertise in mixed methods and qualitative research and is the co-founder and co-director of Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute's Qualitative and Mixed Methods Core, along with Dr. Heather Stuckey, MEd, DEd.
Dr. Van Scoy’s research has been funded by the National Institute of Health, including projects related to the rigorous assessment of communication quality using a methodology she co-developed with collaborator Allison Scott, PhD (University of Kentucky).
She is the director of Project Talk, a research program that studies the impact of innovative conversational tools, including an end-of-life conversation game ("Hello") and an novel graphic ICU communication tool (Let's Talk).
Most recently, she partnered with the Hospice Foundation of America to lead a national community-engagement project to evaluate and disseminate the "Hello" across 27 states and more than 1,200 people living in underserved communities.
Dr. Van Scoy serves as a methodology consultant for a wide variety of mixed-method projects and topics. She has served as a qualitative and mixed-methods consultant on a variety of projects, including large, randomized controlled trials, pharmacological drug trials and education projects. In addition to her NIH funding, Dr. Van Scoy's work has been supported by the Parker B. Francis Foundation, Society for Critical Care Medicine, John and Wauna Harman Foundation, Penn State's Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences and others.
Teaching and educational interests
Dr. Lauren Van Scoy co-directed the Medical Ethics and Professionalism Course for medical and physician assistant students at Penn State College of Medicine students from 2017 to 2020. She has also been the co-director of Mixed Methods (PHS 538) for public health sciences programs at the College of Medicine since 2019.
In addition to her teaching, Dr. Van Scoy served as the faculty mentor to winners of Penn State College of Medicine's Graduate Medical Education Innovation Award in 2014 and 2018, and to the winner of the college's K. Danner Clouser Student Research Award in 2015.
Clinical interests
Dr. Lauren Van Scoy is a pulmonary and critical care physician at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. She has a clinical interest in acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, clinical ethics, communication and end-of-life decision-making.
Professional information
Member, Mixed Methods International Research Association, 2020 to present
Member, Society for Critical Care Medicine, 2017 to present
Board-certified in Critical Care Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2014 to 2024
Board-certified in Pulmonary Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2012 to 2022
Board-certified in Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2010 to 2020
Member, American Thoracic Society, 2008 to present
Member, American College of Chest Physicians, 2007 to present
Dr. Lauren Van Scoy also holds a joint appointment in the Department of Humanities, Penn State College of Medicine.
Education/Academic qualification
Chief Resident and Fellow, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Drexel University College of Medicine
… → May 2013
Chief Resident, Internal Medicine, Residency, Drexel University College of Medicine
… → May 2010
Internal Medicine, Residency, Drexel University College of Medicine
… → May 2009
MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
… → May 2006
Biology, BS, Emory University
… → May 2001
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Using a conversation game to engage Native American Washoe tribe members in advance care planning: preparation for a clinical trial
Van Scoy, L. (PI)
National Institute of Nursing Research
9/15/25 → 8/31/28
Project: Research project
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I: Penn State Institutional Career Development Core
Van Scoy, L. (PI), Sciamanna, C. (CoPI) & Thiboutot, D. (CoPI)
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
9/15/16 → 6/30/26
Project: Research project
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Communication quality during family meetings in the intensive care unit: how does quality impact health outcomes?
Van Scoy, L. (PI) & Scott, A. M. (CoPI)
National Institute of Nursing Research
8/16/23 → 5/31/26
Project: Research project
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Association between communication quality during ICU Family Meetings and Patient Health Outcomes
Van Scoy, L. (PI) & Scott, A. M. (CoPI)
National Institute of Nursing Research
8/16/22 → 7/31/24
Project: Research project
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Engaging underserved communities in end-of-life conversations: a cluster, randomized controlled trial
Van Scoy, L. (PI)
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
9/17/20 → 12/31/24
Project: Research project
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503: QUALITY OF COMMUNICATION IN FAMILY MEETINGS PREDICTS POST-MEETING ICU LENGTH OF STAY
Scott, A., Chinchilli, V., Costigan, H., Deng, D., Groznik, M., Huang, Y., Kimbel, K., Kitko, L., Ribott, M., VanDyke, E., Wasserman, E., White, D. & Van Scoy, L., Mar 2026, In: Critical care medicine. 54, 3SResearch output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Adapting patient priorities care for older adults with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A qualitative inquiry
Garg, T., Negron-Candelario, S., Miller, H., Demirsoy, S., West, K., Calo, W., Tinetti, M. & Van Scoy, L. J., Apr 2026, In: Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations. 44, 4, 110996.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
A Simulation-Based, Qualitative Assessment of Decision Making Among Critical Care Transport Crews
Johnson, D., Costigan, H., Bordner, C., Flamm, A. & Van Scoy, L., Mar 1 2026, In: Air Medical Journal. 45, 2, p. 117-120 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Qualitative evaluation of a coaching and leadership program for early-stage researchers in KL2 and T32 training programs
Van Scoy, L. J., Vandyke, E., Boltz, M. L., Fallon, D., Petrie, J. & Rábago, D., Apr 22 2026, In: Journal of Clinical and Translational Science. 10, 1, e83.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Using the consolidated framework for implementation research to evaluate a model of community-engaged research in advance care planning
the Project Talk Trial workgroup, Mar 2026, In: PloS one. 21, 3 March, e0343235.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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Charles Swartz Award for Excellence in Clinical Medicine and Patient Care
Van Scoy, L. (Recipient), 2006
Prize
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Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching
Hussein, R. (Recipient), Stredny, E. (Recipient), Whitley, M. (Recipient), Mnatsakanyan, N. (Recipient), Raimundo, N. (Recipient), Zarnescu, D. (Recipient), Adams, N. (Recipient), Lanza, M. (Recipient), Kowalczyk, A. (Recipient), Travelute, C. (Recipient), Marco, C. (Recipient), Tondt, J. (Recipient), Anderson, A. (Recipient), Heron, C. (Recipient), Newman, R. (Recipient), Richard, D. (Recipient), Scartozzi, C. (Recipient), Dellasega, C. (Recipient), Akhtar, N. (Recipient), Albano-Aluquin, S. (Recipient), Chisty, A. (Recipient), Crook, T. (Recipient), Federici, E. H. (Recipient), Ingram, D. (Recipient), Lakshmanan, P. (Recipient), Mathew, A. (Recipient), Narayana, S. (Recipient), Prokop, A. (Recipient), Razjouyan, H. (Recipient), Tariq, A. (Recipient), Thompson, B. (Recipient), Thompson, E. (Recipient), Trivedi, N. (Recipient), Van Scoy, L. (Recipient), Wong, J. (Recipient), Allie, S. R. (Recipient), Browning, K. (Recipient), Evey, L. (Recipient), McLaughlin, P. (Recipient), Mamarabadi, M. (Recipient), Shankar, L. (Recipient), Bowie, E. (Recipient), Petfield, J. (Recipient), Whitaker, M. (Recipient), Aynardi, J. (Recipient), Allen, N. (Recipient), Cunningham, B. (Recipient), Gandhi, C. (Recipient), Jairath, B. (Recipient), Lutzkanin, K. M. (Recipient), Kerris, E. (Recipient), Nelson, A. (Recipient), Shook, J. (Recipient), Proctor, E. A. (Recipient), Raup-Konsavage, W. (Recipient), Romanoski, N. (Recipient), Graziane, J. (Recipient), Llorente, A. (Recipient), Nutting, S. (Recipient), Pinto, C. (Recipient), Yingst, J. (Recipient), Zhou, S. (Recipient), Mahase, S. (Recipient), Brian, P. (Recipient), Goldman, E. (Recipient), Maffie, J. (Recipient), Brahmbhatt, R. (Recipient), Fahy, A. (Recipient), Gish, J. (Recipient), Reed, M. F. (Recipient) & Tomasko, J. (Recipient), 2024
Prize
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Outstanding Collaborative Research Team
Aird, K. (Recipient), Baker, M. (Recipient), Hempel, N. (Recipient), Hossler, C. (Recipient), Kesterson, J. (Recipient), Moldovan, G.-L. (Recipient), Newell, J. (Recipient), Phaeton, R. (Recipient), Rosenberg, J. (Recipient), Walter, V. (Recipient), Warrick, J. (Recipient), Badzek, L. (Recipient), Foy, A. (Recipient), Green, M. (Recipient), Levi, B. (Recipient) & Van Scoy, L. (Recipient), 2020
Prize