About me
Dr. Whitten earned her master’s degree in social work from Fordham University in 1995. She spent 27 years working in the case management department at Sharon Hospital, where she was an active member of the Ethics Committee and served as Co-Chair of their Palliative Care Committee.
In May 2019, she completed her Doctorate in Social Work from Capella University. Her dissertation, “Moral Distress: Inspiring Organizational Change in One Rural Community Hospital,” explores moral distress among healthcare professionals and strategies for organizational change. Through her research and clinical experience as a medical social worker, Dr. Whitten has developed a professional commitment to educating healthcare professionals about moral distress and equipping them with practical tools to address and reduce its impact in clinical settings.
She holds Advanced Palliative and Hospice Social Work certification, further strengthening her expertise in serious illness care and end-of-life support.
She is a member of the Inaugural 2021 class of Patricia A. Tietjen, MD Teaching Academy at Nuvance Health. In January 2023, Dr. Whitten joined the palliative care team at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.
Dr. Whitten is passionate about providing psychosocial support and counseling to individuals and families facing chronic and life-threatening illnesses, with a focus on compassionate, patient-centered care.
