Membership in CHAI is open to all faculty, staff, and students at the University of Minnesota or beyond that have academic or professional interests in aging. Members are asked to participate in the various activities CHAI offers via its Research, Education, and Equity and Community Engagement Cores on a regular basis as well as the Annual Assembly. If you are interested in joining or would like to learn more, please contact us at chai@umn.edu.

Mustafa al’Absi, Ph.D., L.P., FAPS, Professor; Max & Mary LaDue Pickworth Chair, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Psychobiology of stress, pain, & addiction

Andrew Alberth, MS, MPH, PhD Candidate; Department of Gerontology, Manning College of Nursnig & Health Sciences, University of Massacusettes Boston

• Primary Research Interests: Social determinants of health and aging, AD/ADRD, Policy and Program Interventions, Underrepresented Groups

Elle Albers, MPH, Research Coordinator, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Caregiver support, residential care, and technology aids

Omobolanle Agboola, PhD Student, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Nursing Informatics, Patient-centered care

Keith A. Anderson, PhD, MSW, Chair & Professor, Department of Social Work, School of Applied Sciences, The University of Mississippi

• Primary Research Interests: Family caregiving, home and community-based interventions for older adults, quality of life in later life

Lynda Lahti Anderson, Ph.D., Researcher, Institute on Community Integration, University Center for Excellence in Disabilities

• Primary Research Interests: Health disparities for individuals with ASD/IDD, underrepresented groups

Edgar Arriaga, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering

• Primary Research Interests: Aging and its related diseases, metabolic dysfunction, drug response, and cancer

Karen Ashe, MD, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Neurology; Founding Director, N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care; Edmund Wallace and Anne Marie Tulloch Chairs in Neurology and Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Genetics of human prion diseases; transgenic models of prion and Alzheimer’s diseases; and the molecular basis of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease

Robin Austin, Ph.D., DNP, DC, RN-BC, FAMIA, FNAP, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Health informatics, patient-centered health 

Gina Baas, Associate Director of Education and Engagement, Center for Transportation Studies, National Association of Counties

• Primary Research Interests: Transportation, public sector

Zachary Baker, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Technological tools and psychosocial resources that help caregivers and persons with dementia to thrive during and after the dementia caregiving process

Lauren Bangerter, Ph.D., Scientific Director, Health, Economics, and Aging Research, MedStar Health Research Institute

• Primary Research Interests: Psychosocial interventions for older adults with physical and cognitive decline, complex care

Alessandro Bartolomucci, Ph.D., Professor and Ancel Keys Biomedical Scholar in Physiology and Metabolism, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Center for Neurobehavioral Development

• Primary Research Interests: Metabolic physiology, stress physiology and social determinants of health and aging

Bjorn Berg, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Health care operations, evaluating quality measures, and measuring outcomes

Rozina Bhimani, Ph.D., DNP, APRN-CNP, CNE, CRRN, Associate Professor, Adult and Gerontological Health Cooperative, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Symptom science including measurement, management and interventions in movement disorders

Robyn Birkeland, Ph.D., Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Dementia and its effects on families

Anne Blaes, MD,  Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation; Director, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation; Director of Cancer Survivorship Services and Translational Research and Co-Leader SPECS, Masonic Cancer Center (MCC); University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Quality of life, cardiac complications of chemotherapy, and the late effects of cancer therapy in cancer survivors

Lynn Blewett, Ph.D., Director, State Health Access Data Assistance Center; Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Health care policy and access, programs to increase access and coverage

Donna Bliss, Ph.D., RN, FGSA, FAAN, Professor and School of Nursing Foundation Professor of Nursing Research, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Assessment, prevention, and promotion of symptom and self-management of chronic conditions in adults and older adults; health disparities; health literacy; and use of mobile and web-based health interventions/apps and technology for promoting health self-management

Kalisha Bonds Johnson, Ph.D., RN, PMHNP-BC, Assistant Professor, Tenure track, Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff  School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Caregiving experiences of African American dementia dyads, decision-making processes regarding healthcare services for African American persons living with dementia

Patrick Brady, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, MN Obesity Prevention Training Program, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota

Mary Butler, Ph.D., Co-Director, Minnesota Evidence-Based Practice Center; Associate Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, Graduate Faculty, Center on Aging, Gerontology Minor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Role within CHAI: Education Core Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Scientific evidence standards, research design and systematic review methodology, evidence-informed health care, and complex patients and complex interventions

Christina Camell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences

• Primary Research Interests: Immune-metabolic interactions, cellular and molecular changes within tissue resident immune cells that drive metabolic impairments in tissues

Caitlin Carroll, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Health economics and health policy, with a particular interest in the productivity of health care providers

Christina Cauble, MBA, LNHA, HSE, Geriatric Education Specialist, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health; Adjunct Faculty, College of Continuing and Professional Studies, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: ​​Retirement communities, nursing care, assisted living, and aging services in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors

Frank Cerra, MD, University of Minnesota Retirees Association President (former Dean of the University of Minnesota of Medical School and former Senior Vice President of Health Sciences and Services, Academic Health Center)

• Primary Research Interests: General surgery, surgical critical care, surgical nutrition, bioartificial liver, cytokines and lymphocytes

Kuei-Min Chen, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor, College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Affiliated Professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Director, Center for Long-term Care Research, Founding Director, Master Program of Long-term Care in Aging

• Primary Research Interests: Developing and applying various complementary/alternative therapies to promote the health of older populations

Sherry Chesak, Ph.D., M.S., RN, Clinical Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Mindfulness-based interventions that promote resilience and decrease stress in professional and family caregivers, best practices for supporting the transition of new nurses into practice

Linda Chlan, Ph.D., RN, Associate Dean for Nursing, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic

• Primary Research Interests: Nonpharmacological interventions to reduce mechanical ventilation-induced anxiety in critically ill patients, self-management of sedative therapy by patients receiving ventilatory support, post-ICU outcomes and quality of life

Timothy Church, Ph.D., M.S., Professor Emeritus, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Member, Masonic Cancer Center

• Primary Research Interests: Clinical trials and epidemiological studies related to screening for and prevention of cancer, as well as the development of biostatistical and epidemiologic methods

Quinton D. Cotton, Ph.D., MSSA, Robert L. Kane Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: The interface between community and health systems and factors that hold potential for reducing health disparities

Dori Cross, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Organizational changes that improve care coordination and transitions of care for complex patient populations

Erjia Cui, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Wearable devices, physical activity, biobank data, functional data analysis

Marti DeLiema, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development

• Roles within CHAI: Associate Director of Education, Chair of the Financial Decision-Making and Aging SIG
• Primary Research Interests: Financial scams, fraud, and elder financial exploitation

Janette Dill, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Health Policy & Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Health care workforce, racial and gender disparities among direct care workers, employment behavior and intentions of direct care workers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Xiao Dong, Ph.D., Principal Investigator at The Dong Lab and an Assistant Professor, Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences

• Primary Research Interests: Somatic mutations and the biology of aging

Natalie F. Douglas, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Lead Collaborator at Practical Implementation Collaborative and a Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Central Michigan University

• Primary Research Interests: Evidence based, person-centered practices in communication and quality of life interventions for people living with dementia, aphasia, and other communication disorders

Bryan Dowd, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Financing and delivery of health insurance, and health care services

Wei (Denise) Duan-Porter, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Department of Medicine; Physician, Minneapolis VA Health Care System; Core Investigator, Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research

• Primary Research Interests: Physical function and disability in adults with multiple chronic conditions, psychosocial determinants of health, impact on health outcomes and healthcare utilization, evidence synthesis, and evidence-based practice

Lucy Dunne, Ph.D., Professor, Director, Apparel Design Program; Co-director, Wearable Technology Lab, University of Minnesota College of Design, Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel

• Primary Research Interests: Wearable technology, functional clothing 

Lynn Eberly, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor, Division of Biostatistics; Affiliate Professor, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Member, Masonic Cancer Center (MCC)

• Primary Research Interests: Robust and reproducible study design, statistical analysis and machine learning, and equity of health outcomes in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease and ataxias

Milton Eder, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Improving health outcomes, patient engagement, and patient safety

Angela Ekwonye, MS, Ph.D., CPH, Associate Professor, Public Health Department, St. Catherine University

• Primary Research Interests: Mental health promotion and prevention, mechanisms and factors of resiliency underlying the health of vulnerable and diverse populations in the face of social and economic adversity

Najla El Jurdi, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Improving patients’ post-transplant toxicities, outcomes and long term effects

Jennifer L. Ellis, MS, HS-BCP, Gerontology – Aging Services Professional Program Director, Instructor – Superior & Ashland Campuses, Northwood Technical College

• Primary Research Interests: Career ladders and gerontology education

Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor, Director of Community & Research Engagement, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University

• Primary Research Interests: Health disparities in dementia and family caregiving

Chanee Fabius, PhD, MA, Assistant Professor, Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Disparities in LTSS for older adult and family caregivers, home care delivery for vulnerable older adult populations, home care workforce

Shekinah Fashaw-Walters, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Role within CHAI: Equity in LTSS SIG co-chair, Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Racism & access to care

Deborah Ferrington, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, Doheny Eye Institute

• Primary Research Interests: Age-related macular degeneration, immunoproteasome and cellular stress response, proteasome function in the aging retina

Beth Fields, PhD, OTR/L, BCG, Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Primary Research Interests: Family caregiving, chronic conditions, health services and policy

Noelle L. Fields, Ph.D., LCSW, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington

• Primary Research Interests: Interventions for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia family caregivers, transportation and older adults

Howard Fink, MD, Director, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, and Core Investigator, Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research Minneapolis VA Health Care System; Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Osteoporosis epidemiology, chronic disease in older adults, systematic literature reviews, and dementia

Jessica Finlay, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Geography and Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder

• Primary Research Interests: Aging in place and cognitive health

Jason D. Flatt, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, Department of Social & Behavioral Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Primary Research Interests: Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease) and related caregiving among minority populations, including sexual and gender minorities, racial/ethnic minorities, and those traditionally underrepresented in research; research recruitment, engagement and retention strategies; community based participatory research approaches; and health services research with a focus on promoting equity in healthcare

Robbin Frazier, Associate Director of Equity and Community Engagement, Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Role within CHAI: Associate Director of Equity and Community Engagement
• rimary Research Interests: Health equity, social determinants of health, and community engagement

Linda Frizzell, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: American Indian health systems, improvement of quality of life, health and wellness equity

Helen Fu, Ph.D., MSN, FNP, RN, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Population & Public Health Informatics at Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health and Regenstrief Institute

Heather Fuller, Ph.D., Professor, Human Development and Family Science, North Dakota State University

• Primary Research Interests: Social Relationships (including family, friends and community) and successful aging: interventions to support aging in place

Joseph Gaugler, Ph.D., Director, Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation; Robert L. Kane Endowed Chair in Long-Term Care and Aging and Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Role within CHAI: Director, Leader of AD/ADRD Special Interest Group
• Primary Research Interests: Alzheimer’s disease, long-term care, family caregiving, intervention science

Zan Gao, Ph.D., Professor and Department Head, Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, University of Tennessee Knoxville

• Primary Research Interests: Physical activity epidemiology, physical activity and health promotion, health disparities, emerging technology applications, and digital health

Joan Griffin, Ph.D., Professor of Health Services Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; Division of Health Care Policy and Research (HCPR), Department of Health Sciences Research; Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Scientific Director for Care Experiences Program, Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery

• Primary Research Interests: Social and behavioral determinants of health, and promoting health care practices that can improve patient and family health and quality of life

Weihua Guan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Statistical genetics, identification of genes involved in complex diseases and traits, and developing statistical and analytical methods for the genetic data with new high-throughput technologies

Arjun Gupta, MBBS, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Symptom Control, Supportive Care, Health Services Research

Allison Gustavson, PT, DPT, Ph.D.,  Core Investigator, Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Healthcare System; Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Role within CHAI: Chair of the Rural Aging SIG, Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Aging in place, implementation science, learning health systems, and home based care following hospitalization

KJ Hansmann, MD, MPH, Clinical Instructor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Wisconsin Madison

Theresa Harvath, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, Associate Director of Clinical Science and Practice, Clinical Professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Gerontological nursing, nurse education, Alzheimer’s disease family caregiving

Mary O. Hearst, MPH, Ph.D., Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Intervention participation related to reducing the effects of racism and social inequities on health

Laura Hemmy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Role within CHAI: Chair of the Transportation in Aging SIG, Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Predictors of health and disease with advancing age and assessment strategies for clinical characterization and outcome measurement

Carrie Henning-Smith, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Rural Health Research Center; Associate Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Rural health, health equity

Amy Hewitt, Ph.D., Director, Institute on Community Integration; Director, Research and Training Center on Community Living; Director Minnesota LEND, University Center for Excellence in Disabilities

• Primary Research Interests: Community living, autism, outcome measurement, direct support workforce development, person centered planning/thinking, and positive behavior support

Shernan Holtan, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Personalized immune monitoring, inflammation resolution, role of wound healing-associated growth factors in graft-versus-host disease, and strength training and late effects related to transplantation

Peter Huckfeldt, Ph.D., Vernon E. Weckwerth Professor in Healthcare Administration Leadership, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Organization and payment of health care providers, the structure of health insurance, and the effects of delivery interventions targeting more vulnerable populations

Adriana Hughes, Ph.D., Clinical Neuropsychologist, Minneapolis VA Health Care System; Investigator, Geriatric Research Education & Clinical Center (GRECC); Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Improving earlier detection and monitoring of cognitive and functional instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) decline in normal aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)/ADRD

Kristen Jacklin, Ph.D., Executive Director, Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team; Professor, Department of Family Medicine and BioBehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth

• Primary Research Interests: Chronic disease care for Indigenous peoples, investigations concerning aging; cognitive health and dementia; diabetes; and Indigenous health/medical education

Subin Jang, MPH, Research Analyst and Study Coordinator, University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital

Elma Johnson, MPH, Project Support Coordinator, Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Aging and dementia caregiving

Terrianne Jones, PhD, OTR/L,  Associate Professor & Capstone Director, Program in Occupational Therapy, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the area of Leadership Development, Occupational Therapy Assessment and Intervention of Functional Cognition in Older Adults

Eric Jutkowitz, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Value and quality of care delivered to vulnerable populations, and the role of the informal and formal long-term care system

Claire Kamp Dush, Ph.D., Professor, Sociology, Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Family functioning, including marriage and cohabitation, and intersection with human development

Pinar Karaca-Mandic, Ph.D., Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Department of Finance, C. Arthur Williams Jr. Professor of Healthcare Risk Management, Founding Director of the Business Advancement Center for Health (BACH), Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Medical technologies, clinical guidelines and response to evidence on safety and effectiveness, healthcare and role of health insurance marketplace, and social determinants of health factors

Manda L Keller-Ross, Ph.D., DPT, Assistant Professor, Division of Physical Therapy, Division of Rehabilitation Science, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Factors that contribute to the greater cardiovascular risk in women after menopause, and exercise intolerance in those with cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders

Arshia Khan, Ph.D., Professor, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Computer Science, University of Minnesota Duluth

• Primary Research Interests: Developing robotic therapies aimed at sustaining or enhancing the quality of life for elderly individuals and those with dementia; exploring the intersection of music and dementia; investigating the unique challenges faced by women with dementia; introducing robotics to tribal communities; and analyzing wearable and spatial sensor data for dementia.

Laura Kirk, Ph.D., RN, Clinical Associate Professor, Adult and Geological Health Cooperative, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognitive impairment, and vascular nursing

Krystal Kittle, Ph.D., Visiting Research Assistant Professor, Public Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Primary Research Interests: Healthcare experiences of LGBTQIA+ middle-aged and older adults, and the role of discrimination, sociodemographics, social resources in their health, and healthcare experiences

Catherine Kotz, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Obesity, body weight regulation, and orexin’s effects on learning and memory during aging

Emily Kringle, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Director, Disability and WELLness (DWELL) Laboratory, Affiliate Faculty, Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program, School of Kinesiology, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Health promotion, neurorehabilitation, social support

Robert Krueger, Ph.D., Professor, Psychology, University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts

• Primary Research Interests: Psychopathology, behavior genetics, clinical, personality, and quantitative psychology, and personality disorders

Kanokwan Kulprachakarn, Ph.D., Lecturer, School of Health Sciences Research and Research Center for Non-infectious Diseases and Environmental Health, Research Institute for Health Sciences (RIHES), Chiang Mai University

• Primary Research Interests: Biochemistry of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) i.e. cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes of mellitus, chronic venous disease, association between metabolic syndrome from exposure to air pollution, research on geriatric health related to NCDs, effect of food supplements on non-communicable diseases patients, biochemical property of herbal extract in cell culture: in vitro model

Kamakshi Lakshminarayan, MBBS, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Stroke prevention, interventions to improve long-term outcomes in stroke survivors, improving the quality of stroke care, and the neuro-epidemiology of stroke

Heidi Laures, Senior Program Coordinator, Mayo Clinic

• Primary Research Interests: Chronic pain

Fang Lei, PhD, MSN, MPH, RN, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Cancer prevention and care, cross-cultural research, health disparity research

Jordan Lewis, Ph.D., MSW, Professor, Associate Director, Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team; University of Minnesota Medical School 

• Primary Research Interests: American Indian/Alaska Native dementia caregiving, generativity

Danni Li, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Biomarkers for diagnosis including for Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, and cancers

Ling Li, Ph.D., Professor, Associate Department Head, Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology; VFW Endowed Chair in Pharmacotherapy for the Elderly; Faculty, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, MS and Ph.D. Programs in Pharmacology, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy

• Primary Research Interests: Pathogenic and therapeutic connections between lipid metabolism and Alzheimer’s disease using transgenic and knockout mouse models

Minghui Sam Li, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Health Outcomes and Policy Research, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy

• Primary Research Interests: Health disparities, health policy, prescription drugs

Heidi Lindroth, Ph.D., RN, Nurse Scientist, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic

• Primary Research Interests: Delirium, aging, cognition, neuroscience, neuroimaging, biomarkers, resiliency, and self-management

Lacey Loomer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Health Care Management, Department of Economics and Health Care Management, Labovitz School of Business and Economics, University of Minnesota Duluth

• Role within CHAI: Education Core Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Long-term services and supports, rural health care, and Medicare payment policy

Katie Louwagie, DNP, Project Specialist, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: FLTC, caregiving, and dementia

Walter Low, Ph.D., Professor and Associate Head for Research, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Neural progenitor/stem cell therapies, gene therapies, neuroprotective therapies, and medical devices for treating a variety of neurological conditions

Dawn Lowe, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Rehabilitation Science, Division of Physical Therapy; Director of Graduate Studies, Ph.D. Program in Rehabilitation Science, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle deterioration that occur with age, injury, and disease

Russell Luepker, MD, MS, Professor Emeritus, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Aging, chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease, youth

Stephanie Malinoff, Program Director, Roadway Safety Institute; Director of Outreach Services, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Roadway and rural safety and transportation

Jenna Marquard, Ph.D., Professor, School of Nursing

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Human factors engineering and health informatics

Arlene Mathison, Director of Digital Information and Library Services, University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies

• Primary Research Interests: Communication, information management tools, and publication distribution and promotion

Riley McCarten, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology; Medical Director, Fairview Memory Clinic; Associate Director, N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care; Medical Director, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Minneapolis VA Medical Center; Co-lead, Alzheimer’s Disease Project, Minnesota Precision Medicine Collaborative

• Primary Research Interests: Early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Teresa McCarthy, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Dementia and long-term care settings

Catherine A McCarthy, PhD, MPH, MSB, HEC-C, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus

• Primary Research Interests: Epidemiology of age-related conditions, rural health and bioethics

Siobhan McMahon, Ph.D., GNP-BC, Associate Professor, Adult and Gerontological Health Cooperative, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Role within CHAI: Aging Work Group; UMN Consortium on Aging 
• Primary Research Interests: Falls prevention and physical activity

Juraj Mesik, Research Associate, Auditory Perception and Cognition Lab, Psychology, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Effects of aging, cognition, and hearing loss on cortical processing of speech; Speech-in-noise perception; Sensory adaptation; Electroencephalography (EEG); Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Martin Michalowski, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Population Health and Systems Cooperative, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: AI, data integration, data modeling, machine learning, clinical decision support, and knowledge representation

Lauren Mitchell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Psychology, Emmanuel College

• Primary Research Interests: Adult mental and physical health, personality and identity, and healthy adaptation

Rajean Moone, Ph.D., Associate Director of Education, Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation; Faculty Director and Professor, Long-Term Care Administration, University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies and School of Public Health

• Role within CHAI: Associate Director of Education, Leader of the LGBTQ Aging SIG and Nursing Home/Senior Care SIG
• Primary Research Interests: Long-term care, LGBTQ aging, and gerontology

Emily Mroz, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Yale School of Medicine

• Primary Research Interests: Navigation of family caregiving, adaptation to bereavement, health communication and decision-making in serious illness contexts

Christine Mueller, Ph.D., RN, FGSA, FAAN, Katherine R. & C. Walton Lillehei Chair in Nursing Leadership, Adult and Gerontological Health Cooperative, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Role within CHAI: Education Core Committee Member 
• Primary Research Interests: Quality in nursing homes and factors that impact quality; and nurse staffing

Anne Murray, MD, Geriatrics and Senior Care, Hennepin Healthcare

• Primary Research Interests: Cognitive impairment in patients with diabetes and heart disease

Tenzin Namdul, TMD, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director, Tibetan Healing Initiative Program, University of Minnesota Earl. E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Factors associated with cognitive and physical resilience and its impact on neurodegenerative diseases in older adults

Heather Nelson, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health; Program Leader – SPECS, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Environmental exposures and genetic traits that increase cancer susceptibility and impact patient outcomes

Peggy Nelson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, Associate Dean for Social Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Audiology, hearing aid signal processing, hearing loss, psychoacoustics, speech perception

Hannah Neprash, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Health economics, financial and non-financial incentives, and health care payment and delivery systems

Laura Niedernhofer, Ph.D., Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, Director, Institute of Biology and Aging Metabolism, University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences

• Primary Research Interests: Aging biology, chronic disease risk, and DNA damage and repair

Manka Nkimbeng, Ph.D., MPH, RN, Assistant Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Causes of health inequities in minorities and improving health outcomes for older adults

Huong Nguyen, PhD, MSW, MA, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Buddhism-based psychosocial interventions, family dementia caregiver interventions, good end-of-life care

Kristi Oeding, Au.D./Ph.D., CCC-A, Assistant Professor/Audiologist, Minnesota State University, Mankato

• Primary Research Interests: Hearing evaluations, hearing aids, tinnitus, hyperacusis, misophonic management and implementing best practices for clinical care in the classroom and clinic

Melissa L. O’Connor, Ph.D., Associate Professor, North Dakota State University

• Primary Research Interests: Cognitive and functional aspects of aging, attitudes toward dementia

Christine M. Olney, PhD, RN, Nurse Scientist, Minneapolis Adaptive Design & Engineering (MADE) Program, Minneapolis VA

• Primary Research Interests: Prevention of pressure injury, primarily focused on Veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI)

Andrew J. Oxenham, Ph.D., Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Beverly and Richard Fink Professor of the Liberal Arts, Departments of Psychology and Otolaryngology; Director, Auditory Perception and Cognition Lab; Director, Center for Applied and Translational Sensory Science, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Auditory and speech perception throughout the lifespan, hearing loss, hearing aids, and cochlear implants, auditory cognitive neuroscience

Maria Quiñones-Cordero, PhD, Associate Director of Center Activities, Elaine C. Hubbard Center for Nursing, Faculty Diversity Officer, Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Implementing community-engaged approaches for cultural adaptation of interventions for Latino dementia caregivers. Secondary focus on cognition, inflammation, and mental health in aging caregivers.

James Pacala, MD, MS, Professor and Head, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Models of care delivery to geriatric populations and health services

Jim Pankow, Ph.D., Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic conditions of aging

Jacqueline Palmer, PT, DPT, PhD, Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy Division, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: balance, mobility, fall prevention, biomechanics, mobile neuroimaging (EEG), cerebrovascular health (transcranial Doppler ultrasound), aerobic exercise

Helen Parsons, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Benefits, risks, and results of healthcare interventions

Kate Perepezko, Ph.D., MSPH, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Pittsburgh

• Primary Research Interests: Caregiving, neurodegenerative diseases, and intervention design and implementation

Debbie Pestka, PharmD, Ph.D., Research Scientist, College of Pharmacy

• Primary Research Interests: Health systems, primary care, and delivery of care

Colleen Peterson, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan Transportation Institute

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Safety and mobility throughout life course and driving behavior and interventions

Kevin Peterson, MD, MPH, Professor, Department of Family and Community Health; Director, Center for Excellence in Primary Care; Affiliate Faculty, Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota Office of Academic Clinical Affairs

• Primary Research Interests: Diabetes, chronic disease management, practice-based research, bioinformatics, and clinical trials in primary care

Anna Prizment, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Cancer prevention and survival of cancer patients and the role of inflammation and immune response

Edward Ratner, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Bioethics, home care, interprofessional education, end of life care, and ALS

Paul Robbins, Ph.D., Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences

• Primary Research Interests: Age-related chronic diseases and increasing lifespan and healthspan

Evan Roberts, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Sociology, Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Population health, health systems, and work, family, and time

Glenn Roisman, Ph.D., Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Robert Holmes Beck Chair of Ideas in Education, University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development

• Primary Research Interests: Social, cognitive, and biological development across the lifespan

Benjamin Rosenstein, MD, MA, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

• Primary Research Interests: Primary and specialty care for older adults and health and aging policy initiatives

Alex Rothman, Ph.D., Distinguished University Teaching Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts

• Primary Research Interests: Application of social psychological theory to illness prevention and health promotion

Jonathan Sachs, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering

• Primary Research Interests: Experimental biophysics and malfunction in inflammatory diseases like neurodegenerative diseases

Tina Sadarangani, ANP-C GNP-BC PhD RN, Assistant Professor, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, Division of Health and Behavior Section for Health Equity

• Primary Research Interests: Adult Day Services, dementia care, ethnically diverse populations

Kate Schaefers, Ph.D., LP, Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Minnesota College of Continuing and Professional Studies

• Role within CHAI: Member of the Age-Friendly University Council 
• Primary Research Interests: Psychology, counseling, and career transitions

Teresa Schicker, MPA, Minnesota Northstar GWEP Research Program Manager

• Role within CHAI: Member of the Age-Friendly University Council 
• Primary Research Interests: Aging and geriatric workforce enhancement

Sanaz Sedaghat, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Cognitive aging and age-related memory loss

Amanda A. Sesker, PhD, Post-Doctoral Associate, University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth

• Primary Research Interests: Lifespan development, stress mechanisms, cognitive aging, and personality

Kerry Sheets, MD, Geriatrics Faculty, Hennepin Healthcare 

• Primary Research Interests: Complex chronic disease management, dementia, HIV, and functional impairment

Kyle Shelton, Ph.D., Director, Center for Transportation Studies

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member, Co-leader of Transportation in Aging Special Interest Group
• Primary Research Interests: Urban communities and transportation

Nathan Shippee, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Patient complexity in chronic disease management

Tetyana Shippee, Ph.D., Associate Director of Research, Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation; Professor, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Role within CHAI: Associate Director of Research
• Primary Research Interests: Aging, long-term care, and racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities

Stephen Shuman, DDS, MS, Professor, Department of Developmental and Surgical Sciences, Director, Oral Health Services for Older Adults Program, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry

• Primary Research Interests: Adult dental care and practice economics, cost-efficiency in health care

Tricia Skarphol, MA, Research Project Manager, University of Minnesota School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Health disparities in long-term services and supports 

Lyn Steffen, Ph.D., MPH, Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health

• Primary Research Interests: Nutrition and cardiovascular epidemiology

Marc Swiontkowski, MD, Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: Tibial fractures, internal fracture fixation, and femoral neck fractures

Kristine Talley, Ph.D., RN, GNP-BC, Associate Professor, Adult and Gerontological Health Cooperative, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Risk factors, prevention strategies, and treatments for late-life disability related to geriatric syndromes

David Thomas, Ph.D., Professor and Dietrich Chair; Director, Minnesota Muscle Training Program, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences

• Primary Research Interests: Muscle health and disease

Bharat Thyagarajan, MD, Ph.D., Professor and Bittner Chair of Cancer Research; Director, Advanced Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ARDL); Director, Division of Molecular Pathology & Genomics (MPG), Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota Medical School

• Primary Research Interests: DNA sequencing for diagnosing genetic disease 

Renata Ticha, Senior Research Associate, Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota; Co-director, Global Resource Center for Inclusive Education; Co-director, Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on CHBS Outcome Measurement

• Primary Research Interests: Outcome measurement, community inclusion of aging adults with disabilities, home and community based services for aging adults with disabilities

Cindy Tofthagen, Ph.D., Research Faculty, Mayo Clinic

• Primary Research Interests: Management of cancer treatment-related symptoms 

Gail L. Towsley, PhD, NHA, FGSA, Associate Professor, University of Utah College of Nursing

• Primary Research Interests: Nursing and developing interventions for long-term care settings

Jasmine Travers, Ph.D., AGPCNP-BC, CCRN, RN, Assistant Professor, New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing

• Role within CHAI: Research Committee Member
• Primary Research Interests: Improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities in vulnerable older adults

Diane Treat-Jacobson, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Professor and Associate Dean for Research, University of Minnesota School of Nursing; Cora Meidl Siehl Chair in Nursing Research for Improved Care

• Primary Research Interests: Quality of life assessment and peripheral artery disease 

• Primary Research Interests: Hearing aid access and service delivery for older adults, hearing loss and aging, hearing loss and dementia

Cindy Vang, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, California State University, Chico

• Primary Research Interests: Aging in place, sociocultural factors that impact mental health outcomes, culturally responsive mental health promotion and practices in community-based settings

Tamara Vos-Draper, Ph.D., OTR/L, ATP/SMS, Assistant Professor, Programs in Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation Science, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Spinal cord injury and disorders, wheelchair seating and mobility, and assistive technology

Michael Wade, Ph.D., Professor, Motor Learning and Development, School of Kinesiology; Professor and Governing Council, Center for Cognitive Science, and the Institute for Disabilities Studies, University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development

• Primary Research Interests: Typical and atypical motor skill behavior, aging, lifespan development, and human factors

Wayne Warry, Ph.D., Director, Rural Health Initiatives, Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team (MDT); Professor, Department of Family Medicine and BioBehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth

• Primary Research Interests: Indigenous and rural health, dementia, chronic disease, and caregiving

 

Jacqueline Weycker, Au.D., CCC-A, ACHIEVE Study Audiologist, Epidemiology Clinical Research Center, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Hearing loss/treatment and cognition in aging, epidemiology of hearing loss, equitable healthcare delivery and service models for a diverse aging population

Mary O. Whipple, Ph.D., RN, PHN, Assistant Professor, Adult and Gerontological Health Cooperative, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota

• Primary Research Interests: Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity in older adults with cardiovascular disease and women’s health and sex differences in intervention response

• Primary Research Interests: Regional and racial disparities and health equity 

Yuanjin Zhou, PhD, Assistant Professor, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, Faculty Associate, Center on Aging and Population Sciences, and Texas Population Research Center

• Primary Research Interests: Dementia caregiving, health management for older adults, fall and injury prevention

Makeda Zulu-Gillespie, MPA, Executive Director, Robert J. Jones Research and Outreach Engagement Center, University of Minnesota