Caring about the family caregiver: A mentored journey building on the legacy of Janice Kiecolt-Glaser's pioneering research on caregivers' immune health

Abstract

Dr. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser has had enormous impact on understanding immune and health risks for stressed and burdened caregivers of a family member living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia (ADRD). Her scientific and educational influence continues through the generativity to which she was committed during her career, mentoring multiple graduate and postdoctoral mentees over many years. This celebratory essay serves to underscore the pearls of wisdom offered by Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser that influenced this former mentees' scientific and career choices. The purpose is two-fold. First, to pass along “pearls of wisdom” imparted by Dr. Kiecolt-Glaser that may be useful to burgeoning scientists, especially those in psychoneuro-immunology or -endocrinology, who have not been exposed to these pearls. Second, to provide mentors, who may be uncertain about their own generative influence, with an exemplar of the power and endurance of wise advice.