Human Animal Bond Research Institute Archive — Page 1 of 1

A therapy dog sits between handler Nancy Padfield, wearing a volunteer vest, and Mary Jo Gilmer, PhD, wearing a white lab coat, in a clinical setting.

May 2, 2019

Therapy animals’ impact on children with cancer studied

The sight of a dog in a therapy vest trotting down a hospital hallway or being petted by a child lying in a hospital bed is familiar to many, yet the scientific research showing the impact of therapy animals is largely anecdotal, says Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Professor Mary Jo Gilmer, PhD. Her work is changing that.

By Nancy Wise