It all started with a class assignment: Elizabeth Garcia, a second-year Ph.D. student at the School of Social Work, began a systematic review of randomized controlled trials examining psychosocial interventions that support treatment adherence among adults receiving hemodialysis. Inspired by her experience working with older adults and family exposure to kidney disease, Garcia focused on people living with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) — an area where more research is needed on how psychosocial support across kidney care can strengthen care and treatment adherence.
With the support of professors Dr. Shanna Burke and Dr. Sofia Fernandez, Garcia explores the impact of social workers on the treatment plans for people receiving hemodialysis. She recently presented her ongoing study at the 2026 Society of Social Work Research Conference in Washington, D.C. Now, she’s sharing a closer look at the work and why it matters for people living with kidney disease and care teams who support them in a Q&A with Stempel College.
How do social workers support chronic kidney disease/ESRD patients?
I feel like many people associate social workers with discharge planning in hospital settings or with child welfare work. And they are good in those areas, but we bring so much more to the table.
It’s important to highlight the emotional distress that people living with chronic kidney disease endure. It’s emotionally draining; for some, it’s the first time they are navigating a chronic illness and the treatment plan that comes with it. It uproots their lives; some have to stop working to attend dialysis sessions up to three times a week.
Social workers help serve as a bridge between the individuals going through this journey, their families, and their care team. Having a social worker on the care team helps people better understand their care while also providing emotional support from the early stages of kidney disease through dialysis.
This is an ongoing study. What have you learned so far?
So far, one of the biggest takeaways is that barriers aren’t always medical. Many people may be dealing with depression or anxiety, language and health-literacy gaps, or practical challenges like transportation and work schedules. Along with nutrition guidance, having a social worker on the care team can help address these challenges by connecting patients to resources and providing evidence-informed support to help people manage their care.
How has the School of Social Work assisted you throughout the study?
I’m grateful to Dr. Shanna Burke, who helped me develop my ability to critically evaluate research, helping me to better understand peer-reviewed articles. Due to her help, I was able to better understand literature on chronic kidney disease. Thanks to Dr. Berenice Castillo’s support with quantitative methods, I’ve been able to improve my data analysis skills that will be important when I begin to work on my own data. Dr. Janet Diaz Martinez [from the Department of Dietetics & Nutrition], whose research focus is on chronic kidney disease, has provided me with opportunities to learn and will continue to provide great insight throughout my doctoral journey. I also want to thank Dr. Fernandez, whose mentorship has helped me develop new methodological skills that I hope to use in my CKD journey.
The School of Social Work really wants us to succeed, and I feel fortunate to be around them. Our professors take time out of their days to mentor and assist us, giving us constructive feedback on our work.