Kathy Sabo joined the MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing faculty in 2008. She has expertise in adult and population health and teaches in the Prelicensure program, Master of Science – leadership in nursing program, and the Institute’s interprofessional education courses.
Dr. Sabo is the Director of the Ruth Sleeper Nursing Center for Clinical Education and Wellness, a student-led clinical learning environment that provides free health resources to community clients. She engages in interprofessional activities at the Impact Practice Center, such as the faculty lead for various client wellness groups. Dr. Sabo is member of the MGH Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing Center for Climate Change, Climate Health, and Justice Steering Committee.
Dr. Sabo’s research focuses on exploring the role of healthcare providers in supporting health promoting self-care among populations. Dr. Sabo’s research is grounded in a theoretical framework, the Health Promoting Self-Care for Older Adults (HPSOA) model, that she developed to guide providers in facilitating health promotion with older adults. The HPSOA model has been utilized to explore loneliness in community dwelling older adults and teens. Dr. Sabo has expertise with the caregiver population and developed an instrument, Caring for the Caregiver Survey for Healthcare Providers, that measures provider knowledge, attitudes, and practices with supporting older informal caregivers. Dr. Sabo shares her caregiver expertise as a faculty representative and member of the stroke research team for the Institute’s Impact Practice Center Tedy’s Team Center of Excellence for Stroke Recovery.
As a nurse educator, Dr. Sabo utilizes research findings to develop student-led health promotion initiatives in urban residential facilities, school-based settings, and community agencies. Dr. Sabo is the Project Director of $3.1 million HRSA grant to establish a nurse led mobile health service program to address the impacts of the social determinants of health and the health consequences of climate change. Dr. Sabo also served as Principal Investigator of an outcomes research project assessing a student-led behavioral health service can promote mental health in community dwelling individuals. Both projects align with Dr. Sabo’s program of research.
- BA, Biology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
- MSN, Family and Community Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
- PhD, Nursing, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA
- Health promotion across the lifespan
- Caregiver health
- Clinical education
- Community engagement
Dr. Sabo has published numerous papers - some titles are highlighted below. You can view a complete listing of Dr. Sabo's publications on Google Scholar or in her CV.
Facilitating Health-Promoting Self-Care in Older Adults: A Theory Synthesis.
Psychometric Testing of the Caring for the Caregiver Survey for Healthcare Providers.
Occupational heat stress: An overview for nurse practitioners.
Implementing a Telehealth Supportive Counseling Center with PMHNP Students.
In addition, Dr. Sabo regularly presents at conferences and industry events. Please see her CV for a complete list of presentations.
Interprofessional Wellness Groups: A Model for Success at the NEXUS Virtual Summit 2022.
Loneliness and unmet needs of older adults living in publicly supported housing at the MGH Institute of Health Professions Scholarship Day.
Caregiver self-care needs and practices: an integrative review at the Eastern Nursing Research Society 33rd Annual Virtual Scientific Session.
