Susanny Beltran - UCF College of Health Professions and Sciences

Credentials

Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago
MSW, Master of Social Work, Florida International University
BA, Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, Florida International University

Affiliations

Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work (AGE-SW Fellow)
Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
Southern Gerontological Society (SGS)
Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)

Research

Areas of Specialty

End-of-life care
Health literacy and health promotion
Health care disparities among racial/ethnic minority older adults
Qualitative research
Gerontology education

Research Lab Affiliations

Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training

Research Grants

KinesiologySocial Work

Investigators from Novices, a Transdisciplinary Research Education Program to Increase Diversity (INTREPID) in Aging Research

PI: Nicole Dawson Loughran

PI: Susanny Beltran

PI: Jeffrey Stout

Amount: $1,855,813 | Timeframe: 05/01/2023 - 01/01/2028

Funding Type: Extramural Research

Funding Agency: National Institute on Aging, NIA

Social Work

Adapting the Advance Dementia Prognostic Tool for high-Medicaid Nursing Homes (ADePT-NH)

PI: Susanny Beltran

Amount: $98,883 | Timeframe: 03/01/2023 - 02/01/2025

Funding Type: Extramural Research

Funding Agency: Florida Department of Health

Social Work Researchers to Study How Animal Robots Can Help Older Adults 

Written By: Grayson Keglovic | September 26, 2025
A new study will explore how a robotic seal may ease loneliness and spark meaningful connections for older adults living with dementia.

7 UCF Health Professions Faculty Inducted to National Academies of Practice

Written By: Grayson Keglovic | March 24, 2025
Seven faculty members in the College of Health Professions and Sciences were inducted into the NAP for exemplary interprofessional research, practice and scholarship.

UCF Honored Nationally for Interprofessional Health Education Excellence

Written By: Heather Lovett | October 17, 2024
UCF’s Academic Health Sciences Center is recognized by the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions, which focuses on critical issues affecting health professions.

UCF Class Spotlight: Macro Level Roles and Interventions in Social Work

Written By: UCF School of Social Work | January 23, 2023
Students gain hands-on experience while learning the importance of social work in supporting survivors of human trafficking.

Advance Care Planning a Bridge to Hospice Among Latino Communities

Written By: Holly Vossel | October 17, 2022
Early access to advance care planning can be a vehicle for greater health equity among underserved Latino communities, recent research has shown. Providers have a ways to go when it...

Biography