Mi-Kyung Song, PhD, RN, FAAN

Research Program

Cancer Prevention and Control
Phone Number

404-727-3134
Email Address

mi-kyung.song@emory.edu

Biography

Mi-Kyung Song PhD, RN, FAAN, is a professor in the Office of Academic Advancement and Director of the Center for Nursing Excellence in Palliative Care at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. She is is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Before joining Emory, Dr. Song was a faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Song's area of expertise is in palliative and end-of-life care, particularly end-of-life communication, treatment decision making, and surrogate decision making; symptoms; intervention development and testing; clinical trials. Her clinical background includes critical care and cardiovascular nursing. She has taught nursing ethics at all levels, including a doctoral seminar, Ethics and Law in Healthcare and Research, instrumentation and measurement, theory-based intervention development and testing.

Education

Dr. Song received her PhD in Nursing focused in end-of-life and palliative care from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a minor in biostatistics.

Titles & Roles

Professor, Office of Academic Advancement

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Edith F. Honeycutt Chair in Nursing

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Director, Center for Nursing Excellence in Palliative Care

Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University

Research

Dr. Song's research is focused on improving end-of-life and palliative care for patients with serious multiple chronic illnesses (e.g., patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and post-lung transplant recipients with chronic rejection) and their family members. Specifically, her research areas of interest are end-of-life communication, treatment decision making, surrogate decision making, integration of palliative care, and bioethics. Her methodological areas of interest include intervention development and testing, treatment fidelity, clinical trials, and mixed methods in intervention program of research.

Publications

Title/Journal	Authors	Publication Date
Estimating treatment effects from a randomized controlled trial with mid-trial design changes. Clinical trials (London, England)	S Paul, J Choi, MK Song	04/01/2025
Randomized Clinical Trial of the Four Supports Intervention for Surrogate Decision-Makers in Intensive Care Units. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine	RA Butler, JB Seaman, K Felman, W Stonehouse, R San Pedro, JQ Morse, CH Chang, T Lincoln, CF Reynolds, S Landefeld, MB Happ, MK Song, DC Angus, RM Arnold, DB White	03/01/2025
Scoping review of outpatient dementia care programs in the U.S. from 2011-2023. Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)	MA Kovaleva, F Epps, BM Jennings, MK Song, C Clevenger, PC Griffiths, M Balas, S Oliver, K Simon, A Golden, K Hepburn	02/26/2025
Sexual Satisfaction and Associated Factors Among Older Cancer Survivors. Research in nursing & health	H Lee, MK Higgins, MK Song	02/01/2025
Implementation of An Advance Care Planning Intervention in Dialysis Clinics. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation	MK Song, L Plantinga, M Metzger, N Noorani, J Lea, AV Kshirsagar, M Jhamb, EM Abdel-Rahman, M Laszlo, E Wu, J Englert, A Manatunga, S Benloukil, W Timmons, L Turberville-Trujillo, SE Ward	01/23/2025
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Families Addressing Cancer Together for Parents With Cancer: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effects. Psycho-oncology	ZM Nakamura, AM Deal, JM Yopp, AC Wardell, M Manning, P Pak, A Cassidy, LC Hanson, A Jung, MK Song, CG Valle, C Walker, H Won, EM Park, DL Rosenstein	01/01/2025
Use of the Strong Black Woman Construct in Research: An Integrative Review. ANS. Advances in nursing science	CJ Henry, MK Song	07/01/2024
Pandemic Effects on Stability of End-of-Life Preferences and Patient-Surrogate Dyad Congruence. Journal of pain and symptom management	MK Song, S Paul, J Pelkmans, SE Ward	06/01/2024
Measures of Patient and Surrogate Preparedness for End-of-Life Decision-Making. Journal of pain and symptom management	MK Song, MK Higgins, SE Ward, H Lee, N Noorani, MB Happ	05/01/2024
State of the science of sexual health among older cancer survivors: an integrative review. Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice	H Lee, MK Song	02/13/2024
Effectiveness of an Advance Care Planning Intervention in Adults Receiving Dialysis and Their Families: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA network open	MK Song, A Manatunga, L Plantinga, M Metzger, AV Kshirsagar, J Lea, EM Abdel-Rahman, M Jhamb, E Wu, J Englert, SE Ward	01/02/2024
Relationships Between Strong Black Woman Belief, Coping Behaviors, Perceived Social Support, and Psychological Distress Symptoms for Black Mothers After Stillbirth. Journal of midwifery & women's health	CJ Henry, U Kelly, AL Dunlop, S Paul, RD Chandler, L Christiansen-Lindquist, MK Song	01/01/2024
Place of Death for Young Adults With Chronic Illness. Nursing research	CM Gustafson, M Higgins, KA Wood, MK Song	11/01/2023
Informal Caregiving Networks of Older Adults With Dementia Superimposed on Multimorbidity: A Social Network Analysis Study. Innovation in aging	MK Song, S Paul, MB Happ, J Lea, JL Pirkle, L Turberville-Trujillo	01/01/2023
Families Addressing Cancer Together (FACT): feasibility and acceptability of a web-based psychosocial intervention for parents with cancer. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer	EM Park, AM Deal, HM Heiling, A Jung, JM Yopp, SM Bowers, LC Hanson, MK Song, CG Valle, B Yi, A Cassidy, H Won, DL Rosenstein	10/01/2022
Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Parenting Concerns Questionnaire-Advanced Disease. The American journal of hospice & palliative care	EM Park, M Wang, SM Bowers, AC Muriel, PK Rauch, T Edwards, SM Yi, B Daniel, LC Hanson, MK Song	08/01/2022
Medical Decision-Making Practices for Unrepresented Residents in Nursing Homes. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association	H Kim, M Perkins, TM Pope, P Comer, MK Song	03/01/2022
Characteristics associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons living with dementia and caregiver distress and diminished well-being. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners	MA Kovaleva, M Higgins, MS Dietrich, BM Jennings, MK Song, CK Clevenger, PC Griffiths, K Hepburn	01/12/2022
Talking With Children About Prognosis: The Decisions and Experiences of Mothers With Metastatic Cancer. JCO oncology practice	EM Park, C Jensen, MK Song, JM Yopp, AM Deal, PK Rauch, JA Greer, DL Rosenstein	06/01/2021
The Metabolomic Underpinnings of Symptom Burden in Patients With Multiple Chronic Conditions. Biological research for nursing	EJ Corwin, G Brewster, SB Dunbar, J Wells, V Hertzberg, M Holstad, MK Song, D Jones	04/01/2021
A Narrative Review of Management Strategies for Common Symptoms in Advanced CKD. Kidney international reports	M Metzger, EM Abdel-Rahman, H Boykin, MK Song	04/01/2021
State of the Science of Palliative Care in Solid Organ Transplantation. Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)	C Gustafson, MK Song	12/01/2020
Genetic Predictors of Circulating 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Prognosis after Colorectal Cancer. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology	S Neumeyer, K Butterbach, BL Banbury, SI Berndt, PT Campbell, RT Chlebowski, AT Chan, EL Giovannucci, AD Joshi, S Ogino, M Song, ML McCullough, H Maalmi, JE Manson, LC Sakoda, RE Schoen, ML Slattery, E White, AK Win, JC Figueiredo, JL Hopper, FA Macrae, U Peters, H Brenner, M Hoffmeister, PA Newcomb, J Chang-Claude	06/01/2020
Use of Palliative Care Consultation Services for Infants With Life-Threatening Conditions in a Metropolitan Hospital. Advances in neonatal care : official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses	SN McLaughlin, MK Song, V Hertzberg, AJ Piazza	04/01/2020
Patient and caregiver outcomes at the integrated memory care clinic. Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.)	MA Kovaleva, M Higgins, BM Jennings, MK Song, CK Clevenger, PC Griffiths, K Hepburn	01/01/2020
Nurses' roles and challenges in providing end-of-life care in neonatal intensive care units in South Korea. Applied nursing research : ANR	S Kim, TA Savage, MK Song, C Vincent, CG Park, CE Ferrans, K Kavanaugh	12/01/2019
Can Persons with Dementia Meaningfully Participate in Advance Care Planning Discussions? A Mixed-Methods Study of SPIRIT. Journal of palliative medicine	MK Song, SE Ward, K Hepburn, S Paul, H Kim, RC Shah, DJ Morhardt, L Medders, JJ Lah, CC Clevenger	11/01/2019
Family-clinician communication in the ICU and its relationship to psychological distress of family members: A cross-sectional study. International journal of nursing studies	M Jo, MK Song, GJ Knafl, L Beeber, YS Yoo, M Van Riper	07/01/2019
Control Conditions That Are Neither Usual Care Nor No Treatment in Randomized Trials of Psychoeducational Palliative Care Interventions: A Systematic Review. The American journal of hospice & palliative care	H Kim, EM Park, C Henry, SE Ward, MK Song	04/01/2019
Social Networks of Self-care and Perceived Treatment Burden Among Patients on In-Center Hemodialysis. Kidney medicine	MK Song, S Paul, L Plantinga, C Henry, L Turberville-Trujillo	01/01/2019
Concordance between Goals of Care and Treatment Decisions for Persons with Dementia. Journal of palliative medicine	NC Ernecoff, S Zimmerman, SL Mitchell, MK Song, FC Lin, KL Wessell, LC Hanson	10/01/2018
Perceptions of Family Decision-makers of Nursing Home Residents With Advanced Dementia Regarding the Quality of Communication Around End-of-Life Care. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association	M Toles, MK Song, FC Lin, LC Hanson	10/01/2018
Targeted delivery of a PD-1-blocking scFv by CAR-T cells enhances anti-tumor efficacy in vivo. Nature biotechnology	S Rafiq, OO Yeku, HJ Jackson, TJ Purdon, DG van Leeuwen, DJ Drakes, M Song, MM Miele, Z Li, P Wang, S Yan, J Xiang, X Ma, VE Seshan, RC Hendrickson, C Liu, RJ Brentjens	10/01/2018
Protocol and Fidelity Monitoring Plan for Four Supports. A Multicenter Trial of an Intervention to Support Surrogate Decision Makers in Intensive Care Units. Annals of the American Thoracic Society	JB Seaman, RM Arnold, P Buddadhumaruk, AM Shields, RM Gustafson, K Felman, W Newdick, R SanPedro, S Mackenzie, JQ Morse, CH Chang, MB Happ, MK Song, JM Kahn, CF Reynolds, DC Angus, S Landefeld, DB White	09/01/2018
Medical Decision-Making for Adults Who Lack Decision-Making Capacity and a Surrogate: State of the Science. The American journal of hospice & palliative care	H Kim, MK Song	09/01/2018
One-Year Linear Trajectories of Symptoms, Physical Functioning, Cognitive Functioning, Emotional Well-being, and Spiritual Well-being Among Patients Receiving Dialysis. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation	MK Song, S Paul, SE Ward, CA Gilet, GA Hladik	08/01/2018
SPIRIT advance care planning intervention in early stage dementias: An NIH stage I behavioral intervention development trial. Contemporary clinical trials	MK Song, SE Ward, K Hepburn, S Paul, RC Shah, DJ Morhardt	08/01/2018
Understanding health-related quality of life in adult women with metastatic cancer who have dependent children. Cancer	EM Park, AM Deal, JM Yopp, T Edwards, SJ Resnick, MK Song, ZM Nakamura, DL Rosenstein	06/15/2018
Palliative Nursing Summit: Nurses Leading Change and Transforming Care: The Nurse's Role in Communication and Advance Care Planning. Journal of hospice and palliative nursing : JHPN : the official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association	BA Head, MK Song, C Wiencek, B Nevidjon, D Fraser, P Mazanec	02/01/2018
Psychometric Analysis of the Parenting Concerns Questionnaire in Women With Metastatic Cancer. Journal of pain and symptom management	EM Park, X Tan, EM Stephenson, AM Deal, JM Yopp, DL Rosenstein, T Edwards, MK Song	02/01/2018
SPIRIT trial: A phase III pragmatic trial of an advance care planning intervention in ESRD. Contemporary clinical trials	MK Song, ML Unruh, A Manatunga, LC Plantinga, J Lea, M Jhamb, AV Kshirsagar, SE Ward	01/01/2018
Intensity of Care at the End of Life Among Older Adults in Korea. Journal of palliative care	SH Kim, S Kang, MK Song	01/01/2018
Research Priorities for Palliative Care for Older Adults with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease. Journal of palliative medicine	AM O'Hare, MK Song, M Kurella Tamura, AH Moss	05/01/2017
Inhibition of delta-secretase improves cognitive functions in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Nature communications	Z Zhang, O Obianyo, E Dall, Y Du, H Fu, X Liu, SS Kang, M Song, SP Yu, C Cabrele, M Schubert, X Li, JZ Wang, H Brandstetter, K Ye	03/27/2017
Messages of Hope: Helping Family Members to Overcome Fears and Fatalistic Attitudes Toward Cancer. Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education	JB Hamilton, VC Worthy, AD Moore, NC Best, JM Stewart, MK Song	03/01/2017
Parenting while living with advanced cancer: A qualitative study. Palliative medicine	EM Park, DK Check, MK Song, KE Reeder-Hayes, LC Hanson, JM Yopp, DL Rosenstein, DK Mayer	03/01/2017
Process and impact of an advance care planning intervention evaluated by bereaved surrogate decision-makers of dialysis patients. Palliative medicine	MK Song, M Metzger, SE Ward	03/01/2017
Generating high quality evidence in palliative and end-of-life care. Heart & lung : the journal of critical care	MK Song, MB Happ	01/01/2017
Translation and cultural adaptation of the quality of communication questionnaire for ICU family members in Korea. Heart & lung : the journal of critical care	M Jo, MK Song, M Van Riper, YS Yoo, GJ Knafl, L Beeber	01/01/2017
Effect of the Goals of Care Intervention for Advanced Dementia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA internal medicine	LC Hanson, S Zimmerman, MK Song, FC Lin, C Rosemond, TS Carey, SL Mitchell	01/01/2017
Fidelity to a behavioral intervention to improve goals of care decisions for nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Clinical trials (London, England)	LC Hanson, MK Song, S Zimmerman, R Gilliam, C Rosemond, L Chisholm, FC Lin	12/01/2016
Parenting concerns, quality of life, and psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer. Psycho-oncology	EM Park, AM Deal, DK Check, LC Hanson, KE Reeder-Hayes, DK Mayer, JM Yopp, MK Song, AC Muriel, DL Rosenstein	08/01/2016
Semi-Quantitative Strain Ratio in the Differential Diagnosis of Breast Masses: Measurements Using One Region-of-Interest. Ultrasound in medicine & biology	JH Yoon, MK Song, EK Kim	08/01/2016
Determining Consistency of Surrogate Decisions and End-of-Life Care Received with Patient Goals-of-Care Preferences. Journal of palliative medicine	MK Song, SE Ward, LC Hanson, M Metzger, S Kim	06/01/2016
Provider Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Surrounding Conservative Management for Patients with Advanced CKD. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN	S Parvez, K Abdel-Kader, VS Pankratz, MK Song, M Unruh	05/06/2016
Depressive symptom severity, contributing factors, and self-management among chronic dialysis patients. Hemodialysis international. International Symposium on Home Hemodialysis	MK Song, SE Ward, GA Hladik, JC Bridgman, CA Gilet	04/01/2016
Racial Differences in Outcomes of an Advance Care Planning Intervention for Dialysis Patients and Their Surrogates. Journal of palliative medicine	MK Song, SE Ward, FC Lin, JB Hamilton, LC Hanson, GA Hladik, JP Fine	02/01/2016
A randomized controlled pilot trial to improve advance care planning for LVAD patients and their surrogates. Heart & lung : the journal of critical care	M Metzger, MK Song, S Ward, PP Chang, LC Hanson, FC Lin	01/01/2016
LVAD patients' and surrogates' perspectives on SPIRIT-HF: An advance care planning discussion. Heart & lung : the journal of critical care	M Metzger, MK Song, S Devane-Johnson	01/01/2016
Pain Characteristics after Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy. International journal of medical sciences	JB Choi, K Kang, MK Song, S Seok, YH Kim, JE Kim	01/01/2016
A SMART design to optimize treatment strategies for patient and family caregiver outcomes. Nursing outlook	MK Song, A DeVito Dabbs, SE Ward	01/01/2016
Quality of Life of Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease Receiving Conservative Care without Dialysis. Seminars in dialysis	MK Song	01/01/2016
Advance care planning and end-of-life decision making in dialysis: a randomized controlled trial targeting patients and their surrogates. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation	MK Song, SE Ward, JP Fine, LC Hanson, FC Lin, GA Hladik, JB Hamilton, JC Bridgman	11/01/2015
Making Visible a Theory-Guided Advance Care Planning Intervention. Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing	MK Song, SE Ward	09/01/2015
Assessment effects in educational and psychosocial intervention trials: an important but often-overlooked problem. Research in nursing & health	MK Song, SE Ward	06/01/2015
Conveying uncertainty in prognosis to patients with ESRD. Blood purification	S Parvez, K Abdel-Kader, MK Song, M Unruh	01/01/2015
Patient-reported cognitive functioning and daily functioning in chronic dialysis patients. Hemodialysis international. International Symposium on Home Hemodialysis	MK Song, SE Ward, E Bair, LJ Weiner, JC Bridgman, GA Hladik, CA Gilet	01/01/2015
Decisions about dialysis and other life-sustaining treatments should not be made separately. American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation	MK Song, SE Ward	11/01/2014
The extent of informed decision-making about starting dialysis: does patients' age matter? Journal of nephrology	MK Song, SE Ward	10/01/2014
Management of ethical issues related to care of seriously ill dialysis patients in free-standing facilities. Journal of pain and symptom management	MK Song, LC Hanson, CA Gilet, M Jo, TJ Reed, GA Hladik	09/01/2014
Patient perspectives on informed decision-making surrounding dialysis initiation. Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association	MK Song, FC Lin, CA Gilet, RM Arnold, JC Bridgman, SE Ward	11/01/2013
Disconnect between emergency contacts and surrogate decision-makers in the absence of advance directives. Palliative medicine	MK Song, SE Ward	09/01/2013
Factors associated with the provision of hospice care for children. Journal of pain and symptom management	LC Lindley, BA Mark, SY Daniel Lee, M Domino, MK Song, J Jacobson Vann	04/01/2013
Quality of recipient-caregiver relationship and psychological distress are correlates of self-care agency after lung transplantation. Clinical transplantation	A DeVito Dabbs, L Terhorst, MK Song, DA Shellmer, J Aubrecht, M Connolly, MA Dew	01/01/2013
Clinical trials of health information technology interventions intended for patient use: unique issues and considerations. Clinical trials (London, England)	A DeVito Dabbs, MK Song, B Myers, RP Hawkins, J Aubrecht, A Begey, M Connolly, R Li, JM Pilewski, CA Bermudez, MA Dew	01/01/2013
Composite variables: when and how. Nursing research	MK Song, FC Lin, SE Ward, JP Fine	01/01/2013
Promoting patient and caregiver engagement in self-management of chronic illness. Nursing research and practice	A Devito Dabbs, MK Song, S De Geest, PM Davidson	01/01/2013
Development and pilot testing of a decision aid for surrogates of patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation. Critical care medicine	CE Cox, CL Lewis, LC Hanson, CL Hough, JM Kahn, DB White, MK Song, JA Tulsky, SS Carson	08/01/2012
End-of-life decision-making confidence in surrogates of African-American dialysis patients is overly optimistic. Journal of palliative medicine	MK Song, SE Ward, FC Lin	04/01/2012
Daily burdens of recipients and family caregivers after lung transplant. Progress in transplantation (Aliso Viejo, Calif.)	J Xu, O Adeboyejo, E Wagley, J Aubrecht, MK Song, L Thiry, AD Dabbs	03/01/2012
Psychological symptoms and end-of-life decision making confidencein surrogate decision-makers of dialysis patients. The journal of nephrology social work	MK Song, SE Ward, LC Hanson, FC Lin, JB Hamilton, G Hladik, JP Fine, JC Bridgman, SK Sun, MS Miles	01/01/2012
Characterizing daily life experience of patients on maintenance dialysis. Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association	MK Song, CA Gilet, FC Lin, N MacHardy, AJ DeVitoDabbs, JP Fine, KD Stalberg, E Fuller	11/01/2011
An intervention fidelity framework for technology-based behavioral interventions. Nursing research	A Devito Dabbs, MK Song, R Hawkins, J Aubrecht, K Kovach, L Terhorst, M Connolly, M McNulty, J Callan	01/01/2011
Subject Recruitment and Retention against Quadruple Challenges in an Intervention Trial of End-of-Life Communication. Journal of hospice and palliative nursing : JHPN : the official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association	AM Shields, M Park, SE Ward, MK Song	09/01/2010
Exploring the meaning of chronic rejection after lung transplantation and its impact on clinical management and caregiving. Journal of pain and symptom management	MK Song, AJ Devito Dabbs, SM Studer, RM Arnold, JM Pilewski	08/01/2010
Effects of an intervention to improve communication about end-of-life care among African Americans with chronic kidney disease. Applied nursing research : ANR	MK Song, HS Donovan, BM Piraino, J Choi, J Bernardini, D Verosky, SE Ward	05/01/2010
Development of a tool to assess fidelity to a psycho-educational intervention. Journal of advanced nursing	MK Song, MB Happ, M Sandelowski	03/01/2010
Impact of a disease-management program on symptom burden and health-related quality of life in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and their care partners. Heart & lung : the journal of critical care	KO Lindell, E Olshansky, MK Song, TG Zullo, KF Gibson, N Kaminski, LA Hoffman	01/01/2010
Relationships between psychosocial-spiritual well-being and end-of-life preferences and values in African American dialysis patients. Journal of pain and symptom management	MK Song, LC Hanson	09/01/2009
Randomized controlled trial of SPIRIT: an effective approach to preparing African-American dialysis patients and families for end of life. Research in nursing & health	MK Song, SE Ward, MB Happ, B Piraino, HS Donovan, AM Shields, MC Connolly	06/01/2009
Palliative care referrals after lung transplantation in major transplant centers in the United States. Critical care medicine	MK Song, A De Vito Dabbs, SM Studer, RM Arnold	04/01/2009
Course of illness after the onset of chronic rejection in lung transplant recipients. American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses	MK Song, A De Vito Dabbs, SM Studer, SE Zangle	05/01/2008
Risk profile for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. The Nursing clinics of North America	A De Vito Dabbs, MK Song	03/01/2008
Conceptual challenges in the study of caregiver-care recipient relationships. Nursing research	JH Lingler, PR Sherwood, MH Crighton, MK Song, MB Happ	01/01/2008