Professional Journey

Dr. Hayley was called to care for older adults while working in a nursing home as a college student. She went on to complete medical school, Internal Medicine residency training at theUniversity of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, and Fellowships in Geriatrics and Clinical Medical Ethics at the University of Chicago, where she remained for 20 years as a faculty member. She then moved back to Kansas City as a Professor of Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where she could be near and support her aging parents. Now a Professor Emeritus, she continues to teach and mentor. 

Patient Care: Dr Hayley has touched the lives of thousands of older adults and their families as a Geriatrician who has focused her career on caring for the very oldest of patients with complex medical and social issues. While her clinical experience has varied from consultative to primary care in long-term care and assisted living facilities, her great love has been caring for patients in the outpatient clinic and house calls. 

Teaching and Leadership: In addition, Dr. Hayley is an educator who is passionate about teaching others about the care of older adults. Her career in academic medicine has been devoted to teaching Geriatrics to residents, fellows, students in various disciplines, patients, and community members. She was Section Leader for Geriatrics from 2013 to 2021 and was Program and Associate Director for Geriatrics at the University of Kansas for over a dozen years.

Dr. Hayley is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine and has been in Hospice and Palliative Medicine for almost 20 years. Her expertise converges in Geriatric Palliative Care, which focuses on an individualized approach for those with advanced age or disease in their final years.

Research and Published Work: Dr. Hayley has successfully developed, disseminated, and evaluated Geriatrics clinical and educational programs and has been a leader in local, regional, and National educational and clinical programs focused on optimal care of the older adult. She has presented at national conferences and dozens of her peer-reviewed research papers have been published in high-impact academic journals. Her work is still actively cited in scientific publications.