Professor of Medicine; Director, Center for Applied Health Research, Texas A&M University
My personal research interests focus on the establishment, translation and implementation of evidence-based health programs for older adults. With over 25 years’ experience in academic medical schools and a leading integrated health care organization, I have made significant contributions to the fields of dementia caregiving, care transitions, and management of chronic diseases. My contributions are unique as my implementation research methods are built on partnerships between healthcare delivery organizations and community-based organizations with the goal of designing projects that are person-and family-centered and focused on outcomes that are meaningful to the multiple stakeholders engaged in promoting the health of older adults. As Director of the Center for Applied Health Research (CAHR), a system level center of the Baylor Scott &White Research Institute, I promote collaborative health care
delivery and population health research across the organization by building research teams composed of clinician scientist, research methodologist, and biostatistician. With a team of clinical data analysts, I facilitate researchers’ access to Baylor Scott & White Health electronic medical record databases. I contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of system wide care innovations on the topics of transitional care and advance care planning.
Experience
2005–present
Vernon D. Holleman-Lewis M. Rampy Centennial Chair in Gerontology, Baylor Scott & White Health
–present
Professor of Medicine, Texas A&M University
1993–2005
Associate professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Education
1993
University of New Orleans, PhD, Applied Developmental Psychology
1991
University of New Orleans, MS, Applied Developmental Psychology
1987
Southeastern Louisiana University, BA, Psychology
Publications
2017
Frequency of Hospital Use Before and After Home-Delivery Mealy by Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County, Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging
2017
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Therapeutic Intervention for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia and Depressive Symptoms, Journal of Applied Gerontology
2016
Increasing the Availability of Physical Activity Programs for Older Adults: Lessons Learned from Texercise Stakeholders, Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
2015
Model Program of Community-Based Supports for Older Adults at Risk of Nursing Facility Placement, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
2015
The Symbiosis of Population Health and Family Caregiving Drives Effective Programs that Support Patients and Families, Generations
2015
EvidenceToPrograms.com: A toolkit to support evidence-based programming for seniors, Frontiers in Public Health
2012
R. Implementing an Evidence-based Caregiver Intervention within an Integrated Healthcare System, Translational Behavioral Medicine
Grants and Contracts
2018
Pragmatic Trial of the Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Dementia Care
Role:
Subcontract PI
Funding Source:
National Institute on Aging
2018
GamePlan4Care: Web-based Delivery System for REACH II
Role:
PI
Funding Source:
National Institute on Aging
2018
SUSTAIN for Better Health and Health Care for Older Adults
Role:
Subcontract PI
Funding Source:
DHHS- Administration for Community Living
2018
Comparative Effectiveness of Health System-based versus Community-based Dementia Care
Role:
Subcontract PI
Funding Source:
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
2017
The Texas Model for Memory Capable Communities
Role:
Subcontract PI
Funding Source:
Texas Alzheimer’s Research Care Consortium
2016
Healthy Aging and Independent Living (HAIL) Initiative
Role:
Evaluation Team PI
Funding Source:
United Way of Tarrant County
2016
Dementia Care Network
Role:
Co-Leader of the Network
Funding Source:
John A. Hartford Foundation
2015
Community-based Care Transitions Program, Empowering Families for Successful Care Transitions
Role:
Director at Scott & White Memorial Hospital
Funding Source:
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
2013
Community Research Center for Senior Health
Role:
PI
Funding Source:
National Institute on Aging
2010
Central Texas Nursing Facility Diversion Program Demonstration Project
Role:
Project Director
Funding Source:
U.S. Administration on Aging
2009
Identifying and Assisting At-Risk Family Caregivers in a Healthcare Setting
Role:
PI
Funding Source:
Johnson & Johnson/Rosalynn Carter Institute Caregivers Program