Maria I. Lapid, M.D.

The research efforts of geriatric psychiatrist and palliative care specialist Maria I. Lapid, M.D., focus on quality-of-life issues in geriatric, oncologic, and palliative care patients and their caregivers.

Dr. Lapid's clinical practice includes inpatient care of elderly patients with highly complex psychiatric, neurologic, medical and psychosocial issues, including end-of-life considerations. She is also a faculty member of the inpatient palliative care consulting service.

Dr. Lapid is the founding program director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship in Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education. She has board certifications in psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, and board eligibility in hospice and palliative medicine.

Focus areas

• Palliative approach for psychogeriatric patients with dementia. In an ongoing study funded by the Mayo Clinic Program in Professionalism and Ethics and the Saint Marys Hospital Sponsorship Board, Dr. Lapid seeks to systematically integrate a palliative approach in the treatment of patients with dementia in the inpatient geriatric psychiatric unit.
• Individualized interventions for cancer caregivers. Dr. Lapid is leading the development of an innovative psycho-oncology project along with Teresa A. Rummans, M.D., and Matthew M. Clark, Ph.D., L.P. The project, which is funded by the Linse Bock Foundation, is being designed to individualize interventions for cancer caregivers to improve their quality of life.

Significance to patient care

Identifying psychiatric patients with terminal dementia and offering a palliative approach allows physicians to put the needs of the patient first by focusing on relief of suffering, improving quality of life, and making it possible for individuals at the end of life to die with dignity.

In addition to patients, informal caregivers — whether caring for patients who are at the advanced stages of a disease or at the end of life — also deserve attention and support as they are also at risk for stress, burnout and poor well-being. Caregiver-specific interventions are needed to improve their quality of life.

Professional highlights

• Travel Award, 2011 Alliance for Healthy Aging Symposium on Frailty and Healthspan, Netherlands, 2011
• Bronze Mayo Quality Fellow, Mayo Clinic Quality Academy, 2011
• Distinguished Service as a Program Director, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, 2009
• Regional Teaching Award for Region VIII, Association for Academic Psychiatry, 2006
• APA Research Colloquium Scholarship for Junior Investigators, American Psychiatric Association, 2005