A new research project will explore how healthcare professionals can build trust with LGBTQ+ older adults during serious illness conversations, with researchers from the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) South West and East of England collaborating on the work.
Dr Korijna Valenti, a faculty member in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been awarded the University of Exeter Scholar Award through the US-UK Fulbright Commission’s educational exchange programme.
Beginning in January 2027, Dr Valenti will undertake a nine-month research project hosted by the University of Exeter, working alongside Professor Vicki Goodwin and Professor Kathryn Almack at the University of Hertfordshire who is an established lead in this area of work.
The research will explore what enables or prevents trust-building between healthcare professionals and LGBTQ+ older adults during conversations about serious illness. Working with researchers from ARC South West and ARC East of England, Dr Valenti will collaborate with researchers, clinicians and community organisations across the South West and London.
The project will consider how intersecting identities and social contexts influence communication, trust and access to equitable care. Its findings will help inform practical communication resources to support more inclusive, person-centred care for older adults in both the UK and the US.
Dr Valenti said:
“Trust is fundamental to high-quality serious illness care, yet too many LGBTQ+ older adults continue to experience barriers to feeling seen, heard, and respected during some of the most important conversations of their lives. The University of Exeter Scholar Award provides an extraordinary opportunity to learn from colleagues and communities across the UK while building lasting international collaborations. I hope this work generates practical strategies that strengthen communication and improve equitable care for older adults in both the United Kingdom and the United States.”
The project will bring together expertise across the two NIHR Applied Research Collaborations, strengthening collaboration between researchers and communities to support more equitable and inclusive care.
Find out more about the US-UK Fulbright Commission and this year’s scholars, including Dr Valenti, on the Fulbright Commission website.