Social Worker, Cognitive Neurology
Health and Wellness Program Manager, Ambulatory Neurology
Assistant Instructor (Social Work) Harvard Medical School
Educational History:
BA, Boston University
MSW, Simmons School of Social Work
Clinical Interests/Program Development:
I have created numerous programs to meet the needs of specialized patients groups including DriveWise, DriveAdvise, WellnessWorks for patients with Parkinson’s, and Memoire Writing for those with memory loss.
Brief Narrative:
Lissa Kapust was one of the founding clinicians in the Behavioral Neurology Unit, now known as the Cognitive Neurology Unit (CNU). In 1978, she began as the only clinical social worker but now works with and supervises a number of Master’s level social workers, a Community Resource Specialist, and several trainees. She coordinates social work behavioral health services in the CNU. She has created a number of unique programs offered to patients and families such as the “Legacy Video Project” for patients with ALS, WellnessWorks for patients with Parkinson’s disease which offers a number of wellness-related programs to optimize health and well-being, as well as “DriveWise”, a driving safety assessment program. She created and directs a Post-Master’s CNU Training Fellowship, which has offered advanced training for social workers for over a decade. She has published many articles in professional journals and in the lay press. She has a faculty appointment at Harvard Medical School. Ms. Kapust graduated from Boston University and Simmons School of Social Work. The major focus in her work is guiding patients and family members as they make lifestyle adjustments that optimize health and independence, maximizing, maintaining quality of life. Recognizing that family caregivers are “hidden patients” her interventions include them in treatment planning. Over many decades, her greatest inspiration and teachers have always been her patients and their family members.
Research Interests:
Prediction/assessment of driving ability in neurological populations
Personal Interests/Hobbies:
Cooking, travel, golf, bicycling