Dr. Dillon is an Assistant Professor in the Center on Aging with a faculty appointment in the Department of Public Health Services. Dr. Dillon received her PhD in sociology from the University of California, San Diego, and was trained in health services research as a post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University’s Clinical Excellence Research Center and Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute. Prior to joining UConn, Dr. Dillon was an Assistant Scientist and health services researcher at Sutter Health, a large healthcare system in the California Bay Area. She uses mixed methods and qualitative research to evaluate how to improve serious illness care and experience for patients and families, especially in the areas of hospice and palliative care, and psychosocial care. Her research also commonly focuses on access to and delivery of mental health care and the psychosocial well-being of patients, families, clinicians and other healthcare workers. She works closely with the Center on Aging team focused on evaluation of innovations in Connecticut Department of Social Services programs for older adults and people with disabilities.

Dr. Dillon's research focuses on older adults, serious illness, hospice and palliative care, multiple chronic conditions, patient and family experience of illness, shared decision making, mental health, and the psychosocial well-being of patients, family members, other caregivers, and health care workers.

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