Mimi Mahon
Associate Professor
Unit: School of Nursing
Mail Stop: 3C4
Office Location: Robinson A 356
Phone: 703-993-1932
Email: mmahon@gmu.edu
Dr. Mahon is an Advanced Practice Nurse in palliative care and ethics. She reached that point following 20 years as a pediatric nurse (during which time she focused primarily on the care of children who were dying and their families). In 1999, she transferred her clinical focus into the adult world, working in palliative care across clinical settings, though primarily in intensive care units. She also co-chaired the hospital ethics committee, and was a Senior Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics. Dr. Mahon came to George Mason in 2005 because of the wealth of palliative care resources on the campus and in the area.
Dr. Mahon’s
research has covered a range of areas, including children’s concept of
death, the effects of trauma on children’s understanding of death, families’ experiences
when a child dies, and teachers’ experiences with and beliefs about bereaved
children. Since coming to George Mason, she continued in certain areas of child
bereavement research. In collaboration with an organization serving maternally
bereaved children, on whose board she serves (www.mommyslight.org), Dr. Mahon
is studying Funeral Directors’ practices with bereaved children. Also with
Mommy’s Light, and with several pediatricians, she is developing a study
of pediatricians’ beliefs about and practices with bereaved children. Dr.
Mahon is also collaborating with Carlos Gomez, MD, and Jennifer Telford (CHHS
Nursing Faculty) to study the symptoms experiences by seriously ill patients.
In addition, she is working with Jim McCauley, PhD, Professor, Sociology and
Anthropology and Communication, to explore oncology nurses’ beliefs about
caring for patients with cancer. Dr. Mahon is also working with Gary Kreps, PhD,
Chair of the Department of Communication, and Eileen P. and Steve A. Mandell
Term Professor of Health Communication to study severely ill patient’s
experiences of health care.
Recent publications:
Chapters
Mahon, M. M. (2006) Ethical issues in end of life care. In V. D. Lachman, Ed. Applied Ethics in Nursing. New York: Springer.
Mahon, M. M. (2006). Palliative care for children and families. M Craft-Rosenberg & M Krajicek, Eds., "Nursing Excellence for Children and Families.”
Lynn-McHale, D. J. & Mahon, M.M. (2005). Withholding/withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. In D.J. Lynn-McHale & K.K. Carson, Eds. AACN Procedure manual for critical care (5th ed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
Mahon, M. M. (2005) Organ donation after cardiac death. In D.J. Lynn-McHale & K.K. Carson, Eds. AACN Procedure manual for critical care (5th ed.). Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
Books
L.L. Hayman, M.M. Mahon & J.R. Turner, Editors. (2002). Health and Behavior in Childhood and Adolescence. New York: Springer. *An AJN Book of the Year, 2003.
L.L. Hayman, M.M. Mahon & J.R. Turner, Editors. (2002).Chronic illness in children: An evidence-based approach. New York: Springer. *Selected by "Nurse Practitioner" as a Best Book of the Year, 2002.
Articles
David Casarett, M. D., Jennifer Kapo, M.D., and Arthur Caplan, Ph.D. (2005). "Appropriate Use of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration — Fundamental Principles and Recommendations." New England Journal of Medicine 353(24): 2606-2612. Report for the ANH panel convened by the U of PA Center for Bioethics: http://bioethics.upenn.edu/nutrition/
Mahon, M. (2006). Technology in hospice. Is it a contradiction? Home Healthcare Nurse, 24, 527-31.
Web Publications
Mahon, M. (2005, 2006, 2007). Child and family bereavement. When a mother dies. Information for Children and teens; fathers/guardians; mothers who are dying; pediatricians; guidance counselors; red flags and yellow flags of children’s bereavement. Mommy’s Light Lives On. http://www.mommyslight.org/bs/ct.htm
Educational Background:
Post-Masters, Palliative Care—Ursuline College
Post-Masters, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – University of Pennsylvania
PhD – University of Pennsylvania
MSN, Nursing of Children – University of Pennsylvania
BSN – Loyola University Chicago