Project Summary/Abstract
The purpose of this career enhancement supplement is to provide training to Dr. Katherine McDermott as she
pursues a career as a clinical pain researcher developing and implementing psychological pain interventions for
older adults in community settings. This administrative supplement, in response to NOT-NS-22-087 “Notice of
Special Interest: Encourage Eligible NIH HEAL Initiative Awardees to Apply for Administrative Supplements
to Support Career Enhancement Related to Clinical Research on Pain” and PA-20-272: “Administrative
Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial
Optional)” will complement the parent project, “Addressing the chronic pain epidemic among older adults in
underserved community center; The GetActive+ study,” an R61/R33 funded by NIA/NINDS (PIs: Ana-Maria
Vranceanu and Christine Ritchie). This supplement will provide support to Dr. McDermott as she pursues
critical training in qualitative and community-engaged research methods, as well as professional development.
The first aim of the proposed research will involve qualitative analysis of secondary data from the parent project
implementing a mind-body pain intervention for older adults in a community setting. In this aim, Dr.
McDermott will utilize the socioecological model to evaluate the individual, interpersonal, community, and
systemic factors impacting the experience of chronic pain for older adults in an underserved clinic. She will
gain training in qualitative data analysis, including coding and interpretation of results. This aim will provide
her with the knowledge of the unique needs to be addressed both in this parent intervention and in her future
research implementing pain interventions in community settings. To facilitate community engagement over the
course of the parent project and to provide a thorough foundation of knowledge to support Dr. McDermott’s
future research, she will additionally conduct a narrative literature review of community-engaged research
methods, including best practices for ensuring continued community engagement. She will evaluate methods
and feasibility for establishing a community advisory board for the parent project. Throughout the award period,
Dr. McDermott will complete activities of professional development, including the completion of a K23 career
development award submission. Across all activities, she will achieve her training goals by utilizing mentorship
from the Principal Investigator, Dr. Ana-Maria Vranceanu with support from co-PI Dr. Christine Ritchie, as
well as didactic trainings and experiential engagement with the parent project. The activities supported by this
career enhancement supplement will allow Dr. McDermott to develop into an independent clinical pain
researcher conducting high-impact intervention research with older adults in community settings.
