Allyson K. Palmer, M.D., Ph.D.

What moment or experience in your life influenced your decision to be a clinician?

It was actually during my experience as a Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) student! At the time, I was planning to pursue doctoral training and become a basic science researcher. That summer, I had the opportunity to complete some clinical shadowing and witness collaborative translational science involving clinicians. As I witnessed the immense impact that a clinical perspective imparts on research efforts, it quickly became clear that M.D.-Ph.D. training would be the right pathway for me. I credit my SURF mentor, Richard Weinshilboum, M.D., for encouraging me to become a physician. My clinical training has deeply impacted my trajectory in aging and delirium research, and I remain passionate about the clinical care of older adults.

What motivated you to become a Kern Health Care Delivery Scholar?

My training as a geriatrician and involvement in quality improvement efforts in the acute care setting sparked an interest in healthcare delivery, given that even the best interventions based on excellent science will fail if not implemented well. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in healthcare delivery research that will enable me to design and conduct more effective studies to meaningfully affect patient care and outcomes.

What is your focus and goal as a scholar within the Mayo Clinic Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery?

My research focus as a scholar is to leverage new and unique point-of-care technology to achieve accurate and timely detection of delirium in acute care settings using electroencephalography (EEG). I look forward to making the most of the tailored mentorship and dedicated research time afforded by the program. I hope to use this opportunity to launch my career as a clinician-scientist whose work has the potential to transform patient care.

Tell us about your mentoring team.

  • Molly M. Jeffrey, Ph.D., is my primary mentor. She is the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Honored Investigator in the Science of Health Care Delivery II and the scientific director of research in the Department of Emergency Medicine. Her expertise in health services research and research methodology in the emergency department setting is invaluable to the success of this project.
  • Heidi L. Lindroth, Ph.D., R.N., is a nurse scientist and practicing critical care nurse who is an internationally recognized pillar of the delirium research community. I have been fortunate to collaborate with Dr. Lindroth on several research projects related to delirium and am grateful for her mentorship in clinical delirium research study design and methods.
  • Gen Shinozaki, M.D., is a psychiatrist and delirium researcher at Stanford University who is the developer of the point-of-care EEG technology used in my project. Dr. Shinozaki provides guidance in the technical aspects of the project as well as EEG interpretation in the context of delirium.
  • Fernanda M. Bellolio, M.D., M.S., is the chair of research in the Department of Emergency Medicine as well as an alumna of the Kern Health Care Delivery Scholar Program. Dr. Bellolio has played a crucial role in my development as a delirium researcher and continues to advise on aspects of my project occurring in the emergency department.
  • LaTonya J. Hickson, M.D., also is a Kern Scholar alumna and is the chair of the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Mayo Clinic in Florida. She is an invaluable mentor in my research career development.

How will your research transform or improve patient care, or affect public health?

My research leverages novel point-of-care EEG technology that has the potential to be used as a "cognitive vital sign" at the bedside, allowing for efficient and accurate delirium detection. In addition to detecting delirium that is already present, I also hope to determine whether this technology can be used to predict the future onset of delirium during hospitalization. This would enable healthcare teams to quickly implement delirium prevention interventions for patients who are at the highest risk of delirium. This work has the potential to transform the acute care approach to delirium, which currently affects up to 50% of hospitalized older adults and leads to increased costs of care and adverse health outcomes.

Why did you choose Mayo Clinic to pursue your career?

I have been at Mayo Clinic for some time, having completed my Ph.D. and clinical training here. I have always found the professional environment to be very supportive and collegial. The opportunities to pursue patient-centered research at Mayo Clinic are unmatched, and the colleagues with whom I am fortunate to work are inspirational.

What are three words that describe you?

Driven, adaptable, compassionate.

Outside of work, what is one thing you like to do?

My husband and I love to enjoy live music around Rochester, Winona and the Twin Cities.