Master of Social Work

Kristine's Career Journey

Kristine Dusik (she/her) graduated in May 2018 and currently works at Kendal Crosslands Communities as a Licensed Social Worker, serving as the Associate Director of Social Services. In her role, she supports individuals aged 65 and older within a Life Plan Community by providing transitional, psychosocial, and trauma-informed care, as well as both short-term and long-term support tailored to individual care goals while promoting independence, autonomy, and dignity throughout each stage of care. Her daily work involves engaging closely with older adults, often discussing their life histories, families, accomplishments, and challenges, while completing psychosocial, trauma, cognitive, and mood assessments, meeting one-on-one with residents to develop care plans, and applying critical thinking in complex situations and crisis intervention. She also supports families through transitions in care, advocates for residents’ needs, facilitates support groups, participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, and coordinates discharge planning to ensure residents have the necessary resources for success. Her MSW education provided a strong foundation in human development across the lifespan with a focus on aging, death, and dying, as well as systems theory, strength-based approaches, and therapeutic and critical thinking skills; her field placement aligned with her interest in working with older adults, and she also completed a graduate certificate in Gerontology and later obtained a Certified Grief Informed Professional certification. A particularly impactful course was Social Work in End of Life Care with Dr. Lavery, which solidified her passion for working with the aging population. She manages stress by exercising daily to clear her mind and prioritize her well-being, and she values spending time with family on weekends as a source of joy and balance, recognizing the importance of self-care in a helping profession. She advises current students to pursue areas of social work that genuinely interest them, emphasizing that doing meaningful work enhances fulfillment and impact. Reflecting on her experience, she notes that confidence develops through practice rather than perfection, and that growth comes from being open to learning, asking questions, and building relationships rather than always having the answers. One of her favorite memories from the MSW program was taking Organization and Communities with Dr. Chen, a class she initially found intimidating but ultimately came to love, particularly through reading Gang Leader for a Day, which challenged her thinking and helped her realize the broader impact social workers can have at the community and organizational levels.