Bethany Sewell

Bethany Sewell is a program manager at the PAIR Center, supporting Dr. Kate Courtright’s portfolio and overseeing the implementation of the Palliative Connect, NEEDS-PC, and COMPASS-PC trials. She also serves as engagement co-lead for COMPASS-PC and NEEDS-PC, working closely with the Stakeholder Advisory Committees and the Patient and Caregiver Advisory Committee to guide engagement efforts for these PCORI- and NIH-funded trials. In this role, Bethany partners with patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders to ensure their voices are central to the research process—helping the investigative team design proposals, shape study approaches, and select quality measures that reflect the questions, interventions, and outcomes that matter most to the populations served.

Bethany’s professional foundation as a clinical social worker continues to inform her work and underscores her commitment to improving palliative care delivery for seriously ill patients. With decades of experience in interdisciplinary settings across acute care, rehabilitation, and long-term care, she has helped patients and families navigate complex health systems, explore their care preferences, and amplify their voices in the care planning process. Her goal has always been to support high-quality, person-centered care that leads to outcomes reflecting what matters most to patients. She has dedicated her career to improving the lives of individuals with advanced illnesses by bridging clinical care, research, and stakeholder engagement.

Prior to joining PAIR, Bethany served as the Director of Clinical Research for a large post-acute and long-term care organization, where she provided leadership and oversight for all research-related activities within the organization. She also served as corporate project manager for several NIH- and PCORI-funded pragmatic trials.

Bethany holds a Master of Clinical Social Work from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College. She resides in Downingtown, PA with her husband. After raising two boys, she has a surprising knowledge of sports, the Marvel Universe, and Pixar movies. In her spare time, Bethany loves to cook, stroll through local farmers’ markets, exercise, and share meals with family and friends.