The Department of Medicine

Annette M. Mendola, PhD

Associate Professor
Chief, Division of Clinical Ethics
Division of Clinical Ethics

Research Focus

Major interests focus on enhancement of and access to ethical care. Collaborating with faculty from the UT College of Nursing, Dr. Mendola is investigating ethical and cultural issues in access to concurrent care (i.e. hospice care concurrent with life-prolonging measures) for pediatric patients at end-of-life.

Education

Graduate School
MA in Philosophy, concentration in Medical Ethics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Postgraduate School
PhD in Philosophy, concentration in Medical Ethics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Professional Affiliations

American Society for Bioethics and Humanities
Association for Practical and Professional Ethics

Current Publications

Mendola A, Tyson A.
"The rest of the story": Social determinants of comfort care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2026 Mar;71(3):e281-e286. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2025.09.006.

Sharp WS, Svynarenko R, Fornehed MLC, Cozad MJ, Keim-Malpass J, Mack JW, Hinds PS, Mooney-Doyle K, Mendola A, Lindley LC.
Conceptualizing the value of pediatric concurrent hospice care. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2023 Feb 1;25(1):31-38. doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000918. Epub 2022 Oct 27.

Lindley LC, Svynarenko R, Mooney-Doyle K, Mendola A, Naumann WC, Harris R.
A national study of healthcare service patterns at the end of life among children with cardiac disease. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2023 Jan-Feb 01;38(1):44-51. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000875. Epub 2021 Dec 21.

Current Presentations

Tyson A, Burbano L, Yunsan C, Mendola A. Strangers in a strange land: Ethics and immigration/citizenship status. Presented at Ethics Case Rounds; 2024 Aug - 22; Knoxville.

Brewton A, Paudel AM, Fortner KB, Zite NB, Mendola A. The Dobbs Decision and effect on prenatal genetic testing in a ‘trigger state’ Presented at 7th Annual Reproductive Ethics Conference ; 2023 January - 12; Galveston.