Research Abstract
My interest mental health services research stems from my role as a psychotherapist with older adults. In early investigations I was the site-director for demonstration projects entitled “Uniform Psychogeriatric Evaluation and Treatment” (for depression, anxiety, and/or substance use) and “Partners in Dementia Care” (for dementia). More recently I was PI for studies in geriatric psycho-oncology including a cohort observational study, “Veterans Cancer Rehabilitation Study” and a randomized trial, “Veterans Yoga Rehabilitation Study”. At the present, my funded investigation evaluates medical decision making for unrepresented adults with diminished capacity.
Clinical Innovation, Dissemination, and Recognition. Building upon this expertise I founded, grew, and directed a geriatric mental health treatment clinic with sub-programs in dementia care coordination and in geriatric psycho-oncology. I developed protocols for treating late life PTSD, assessing cancer related worry, and providing survivorship care plans. Our outpatient clinic has been replicated at 4 VA sites, and my survivorship care plan template has been implemented nationally in the VA.
