Education

• PhD Health Services Organization and Research, Virginia Commonwealth University
• MS Health Care Policy and Management, Stony Brook University
• BS Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University

Faculty Bio

Kristin M. MacDonald, PhD, MS, RD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research focuses on experienced compassion at work, well-being, and long-term care workforces. She enjoys teaching courses on person-centered care, health care management and performance, and service learning.

Dr. MacDonald has worked in a variety of healthcare settings, including as a nursing home administrator, adult care home administrator, clinical dietitian, and she operated her own private nutrition counseling practice.  Dr. MacDonald was previously an adjunct instructor for health services and health administration students at Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC, receiving an "Excellence in Service to Students" award in 2017 during her time in this role. As an adult care home administrator, Dr. MacDonald's organization was featured in U.S. News and World Reports’ “Best Nursing Homes” list, receiving a 5-star rating for health inspections, staffing and quality measures.  She also guided this facility through a zero-deficiency state survey in 2012, and her organization received state-level recognition for adoption of person-centered care. 

Dr. MacDonald earned her Doctorate in Health Services Organization and Research from Virginia Commonwealth University, a Master's degree in Health Care Policy and Management from Stony Brook University, and a Bachelor's degree in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University. She is proud to have been selected as a 2023 Tillman Scholar.

Publications

• MacDonald, K. M., Mittler, J., Reina, C., McClelland, L. E., & Atherly, A. (2024). Certified Nursing Assistants' Compassion at Work, Well-being and Turnover Intentions. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 25(5), B11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2024.03.098.
• MacDonald, K. M., Finch, L., Ivey, K., Mathews, J., Bergman, C., & Waters, L. (2024). The Virginia Long-Term Care Clinician Network (VA LTC-CN). Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 25(5), B14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2024.03.106
• Clement, J. P., & MacDonald, K. M. (2022). Is Skilled Nursing Facility Financial Status Related to Readmission Rate Improvement?. Journal of Healthcare Management, 67(2), 89-102. https://doi.org/10.1097/JHM-D-20-00320