Faculty

Dr. Susan McDonald

Social Work Program Director
Assistant Professor

Professional Education

• Ph.D. - Social Work, Fordham University, New York, NY - 2001
• MSW - Social Work, Marywood University, Scranton, PA - 1993
• BA - Criminal Justice, King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PA – 1987

Courses Taught at Alvernia

• Social Work Practice III
• Methods of Social Research
• The Process of Aging

Additional Teaching Experiences

• 2007 - Adjunct Professor, Marywood University, Scranton, PA; Department of Sociology 
• 2004 - 2007 Assistant Professor, Kutztown University of PA; Department of Criminal Justice & Social Work.
• 1998 - 2004 Assistant Professor, DeSales University, Center Valley; Department of Social Sciences.
• 1987-1998 Adjunct Professor, Marywood University, Scranton, PA.

Professional Positions

• 2008 - Hospice Social Worker, Southern Care Hospice, Dickson City, PA. Provide assessment and supportive services to terminally ill patients in their families in their homes and in Skilled Nursing Facilities. Serve as a participating member on an interdisciplinary team.
• 2007-2008 - Director of Children's Bereavement Program, Diakon Hospice Saint John. Created a Children's Bereavement Curriculum. Provided grief counseling to children in the schools and in the community. Presented educational programs to school personnel on grief in the classroom. Assisted in grant writing for Children's Bereavement program. Created pilot program "Evergreen Elders" connecting senior citizens in the community with grieving children.
• 2001 - Present - Therapist, private practice. On a part time basis providing Narrative Therapy to individuals, couples, and families in private counseling and education practice.
• 1996 - 1998 - Hospice Social Worker, Visiting Nurse Association, Wilkes-Barre, PA. Provided assessment and supportive services to terminally ill patients and their families.  Participated on an Interdisciplinary Team. Served on the Visiting Nurse Association's Ethics Committee. Provided bereavement support to hospice families. 
• 1994 - 1996 - Hospice Social Worker, Olsten Kimberly Quality Care, Clarks Summit, PA. Provided assessment and supportive services to terminally ill patients and their families. Participated on an Interdisciplinary Team. Facilitated Bereavement Support Groups to the Community as well as provided ongoing bereavement services to hospice families.
• 1993 - 1994 - Out-Patient Therapist, Community Counseling, Wilkes-Barre, PA.. Provided psychotherapy to individuals in a community mental health agency.
• 1993 - 1994 - Crisis Intervention Worker, Wyoming Valley West School District, Kingston, PA. Provided crisis intervention to students K-12 in a public school setting. Created a Bereavement Support Group for Middle School students and co-facilitated the group with the school nurse. The Bereavement Group is still provided to students in need of bereavement support.
• 1987 - 1993 - Certified Addiction Counselor, Wyoming Valley Alcohol & Drug Services, Wilkes-Barre, PA. Provided out-patient counseling to individuals, couples, and families.  Developed an Intensive Out-Patient Program for Chemically Addicted Clients and their Families. Provided drug and alcohol counseling in a Inpatient Adolescent Psychiatric Unit. Co-facilitated the first dual diagnosis out-patient group with a mental health therapist.

Publications

• McDonald, S. & Duong Tran, P. (2007, September). Recognizing the Role of Values in Health Care Settings, Taking a Narrative Approach in Ehtical Health Promotion.  Abstract of Workshop given at the International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Health Care Promotion.  Ghent University, Belgium.
• McDonald, S. (2006, December). Narrative Therapy with Older Adults: A Creative Synergetic Approach Project and Practice Report.  Abstract of workshop given at the 5th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health.  Hong Kong, China.
• Hackman, R. & McDonald, S. (2006, February).  Story-Telling as a social reform activity for older adults.  Abstract of workshop given at CSWE Gero-Ed. Forum.  Chicago, Ill.
• McDonald, S. Physicians' Attitudes about social workers: Do they enhance or discourage collaboration in the communication of a terminal prognosis?  Social Work Abstracts.  September 2001.
• Involved with the reviewing process for Becoming a Effective Policy Advocate, 4th edition by Bruce Jannson, a quote from my review was used in Wadsworth's advertising program.

Presentations

• NASW - PA, Fall 2008 Fall Conference.
• The International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Health Care Promotion. Ghent, Belgium. September 2007.
• The 13th Annual International Groupwork Symposium. Jersey City, NJ, June 2007.
• The 5th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health. Hong Kong. December 2006. The 12th Annual International Groupwork Symposium. St. John's College, York, England.
• The National Council on the Aging and the American Society on Aging. Anaheim, CA. March 2006.
• The Council on Social Work Gerontological Education Forum. Chicago, Ill. February, 2006.
• The Center for Child and Family Well-Being 3rd Annual Conference. Bryn Mawr, PA. 2005.
• Story-Telling: Narrative Therapy with Older Adults. NASW, PA Chapter. March 2005.
• Story-Telling and Endings in Life: Narrative Therapy with Older Adults. NASW, PA Chapter, Brandywine Division. June 2004.
• The Client as the Expert in Narrative Therapy. NASW, PA Chapter. March 2004
• Narrative Approaches in Social Work. Selected as taped video for continuing education credits for social workers. NASW, PA Chapter. March 2003.
• Journaling Workshop, Barnes and Noble, Wilkes-Barre, PA. January 2003.
• Coordinated the National Association of Social Workers, PA Chapter and the Poor Peoples' Economic Rights Hearings with the PA House of Respresentatives Democratic Policy Committee at Marywood University, Scranton. July 2002.
• Discussion on the Crisis in the Catholic Church. King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PA. April 2002.
• "Physicians' Attitudes Toward Social Workers - Do They Enhance or Discourage Collarboration in the Communication of a Terminal Prognosis?" NASW, PA Chapter. March 2002
• Psychosocial Issues and Communications with Terminally Ill Patients. Arden Hills Hospital, NY. April 2001.
• Pyshosocial Issues in End-Of-Life Care. Workshop for Physicians at the Veterans' Administration Hospital, Wilkes-Barre, PA. January 2000.

Professional Memberships