Mercedes Bern-Klug, PhD, MSW, is a professor and the director of the University of Iowa School of Social Work. Her research is in long-term care and advanced chronic illness and includes working with family members who share medical decision-making responsibilities with nursing home residents. She is a Fulbright Scholar, Hartford Faculty Scholar, former Alzheimer’s Disease support group leader and an Honoring Your Wishes facilitator, and she serves on the leadership team of the National Nursing Home Social Work Network.