A licensed clinical social worker, Dawn Joosten-Hagye is a clinical associate professor of social work and the vice chair of the Department of Adult Mental Health and Wellness at the University of Southern California. She has worked as a medical social worker for Providence Health Services since 2001 and specializes in working with older and disabled adults with chronic and life threatening illnesses. Dr. Joosten-Hagye has worked in acute, subacute, transitional, skilled nursing, and palliative care settings. She earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in social work at California State University, Long Beach, and the University of California, Los Angeles, respectively.