Daniel Gardner, PhD, LCSW
Director, Research Core & Associate Professor
Daniel.gardner@hunter.cuny.edu
Phone: 212-396-7527
Dr. Daniel Gardner, Associate Professor at Silberman SSW and the CUNY Graduate Center since 2012, is a recognized leader in social work and aging with over 35 years of clinical, administrative, and research experience in health and mental health. Dr. Gardner specializes in direct and policy practice with individuals, families, and groups living with chronic and advanced illness. Dr. Gardner received his PhD in Social Welfare from Columbia University, an MSW from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University. For the past 20 years, he has taught clinical practice, social welfare policy, and research methods to masters and doctoral students, social workers, and allied health professionals.
Dr. Gardner’s research examines the intersections of aging and health, with particular focus on the biopsychosocial/spiritual needs of older adults with serious illness from traditionally marginalized communities. He has substantial experience in conducting community-based qualitative and mixed methods research and program evaluation. His current research explores barriers and facilitators to palliative care and pain management among diverse community-dwelling elders in East and Central Harlem. Dr. Gardner’s research has been funded by grants from the National Institute of Aging, the National Institute of Medical and General Medical Sciences, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the American Cancer Society, the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, and the John A. Hartford Foundation.
Dr. Gardner was a Faculty Research Fellow (2012-2018) and Interim Director of Hunter’s Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging (2016-2018), a Hartford Doctoral Fellow (2002-2004) and Hartford Faculty Scholar (2006-2007) in Geriatric Social Work, and National Chair of the Hartford Gerontological Social Work Leaders (2009-2015). He is a founding Board member of the Social Work in Hospice & Palliative Care Network (SWHPN), and a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.