Overview
At ImPaCT, we work to improve care for people facing serious illness, especially in communities that are often overlooked. We do this through research, strong community partnerships, and education. Our goal is to develop innovative, culturally responsive solutions that better support patients and families as they navigate the challenges of serious illness—both in healthcare settings and in the community.
About ImPaCT Dementia
ImPaCT-Dementia is a research study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, that partners with Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese), Spanish, and Vietnamese-speaking communities to improve care and support for older adults living with dementia and their families.
About ImPaCT Cancer
ImPaCT-Cancer is a research study, funded by the American Cancer Society, that partners with Spanish-,
Vietnamese-, and Somali-speaking communities to improve care and support for adults with cancer and
their families.
Presentations
We share our work through presentations to healthcare professionals, researchers, and community partners. These talks focus on what we are learning from our research and how it can help improve care for patients and families from diverse cultural and language backgrounds.
Presentations:
- Cultural and Linguistic Challenges in Palliative Care: Rashmi Sharma NW GWEC Geriatrics Healthcare Series Link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/qRFLUgYmFzEsi=WGy48cXqQZ88Lqux
- Strategies for Equitable Care for Patients with Serious Illness and Preferred Language Other Than English
Rashmi Sharma
King’s College London CSI Open Seminar
Link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/F85aRfpcekQ?si=oP7mDp6Xyp3yYpQ8
- Navigating Shared Decision Making and Barriers to Equitable Care for Patients with Serious Illness
Rashmi Sharma
Cambia Research Grand Rounds
Link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/V9idPTEF9UI?si=dlvoF_MeVVLkLSit
- Race and Ethnic Differences in End-of-Life Care – Geripal Podcast
Rashmi Sharma and Zhimeng Jia
Link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/JdnszTIs89I?si=TBNoQUZh63OdkSBf
Publications
Our publications share findings from the ImPaCT research program and related work on improving care for people with serious illness from diverse cultural and language backgrounds.
- Understanding the Role of Caseworker-Cultural Mediators in Addressing Healthcare Inequities for
Patients with Limited-English Proficiency: A Qualitative Study.
Sharma RK, Cowan A, Gill H, Miyagawa LA. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Apr;38(5):1190-1199. doi:
10.1007/s11606-022-07816-7.
View in PubMed: Understanding the Role of Caseworker-Cultural Mediators in Addressing Healthcare
Inequities for Patients with Limited-English Proficiency: a Qualitative Study – PMC
- End-of-life healthcare utilization and palliative care use among older adults with limited English
proficiency.
Abedini NC, Downey L, Engelberg RA, Curtis JR, Sharma RK. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2022 Oct;70(10):2847-
2857. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17913.
View in PubMed: End-of-life healthcare utilization and palliative care use among older adults with
limited English proficiency – PubMed
- What a Hug Does: A Qualitative Study of Chinese Immigrant Families; Experiences with Inpatient
Palliative Care Specialists.
Jia Z, Kurahashi A, Mahtani R, Fan S, Li L, Yeh IM, Leiter RE, Sanders JJ, Tulsky JA, Sharma RK. Palliat Med
Rep. 2025 Oct 24;6(1):494-502. doi: 10.1177/26892820251388866.
View in PubMed: What a Hug Does: A Qualitative Study of Chinese Immigrant Families’ Experiences with
Inpatient Palliative Care Specialists – PMC
- Palliative Care Delivery in the Last Year of Life among Ethnically South Asian Canadians in Ontario,
Canada.
Ambady L, Jia Z, Kurahashi AM, Qureshi F, Govindarajan A, Sharma RK, Quinn KL. J Immigr Minor Health.
2026 Feb 2. doi: 10.1007/s10903-026-01853-8.
View in PubMed: Palliative Care Delivery in the Last Year of Life among Ethnically South Asian Canadians
in Ontario, Canada – PubMed