Sarah D. Berry, MD, MPH
"Medications as Acute Precipitants of Falls in the Nursing Home Setting"
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, Institute for Aging Research (Boston, MA)

Sarah D. Berry is an Instructor of Medicine in the Division of Gerontology at Harvard Medical School. She finished an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Utah, and a geriatrics fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA. After her clinical fellowship she received a Masters in Public Health through Harvard University, and pursued research training as a fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/ Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. Her research interests include osteoporosis and fracture related outcomes in the elderly. As a Hartford scholar, she plans to extend her current research to study acute risk factors for falls. Specifically she will look at the temporal effect of medication changes on the acute risk of falls in nursing home residents using a case-crossover study design. Information from this study could be used to develop more effective fall prevention strategies in the nursing home setting.
Research Abstract

Holly M. Holmes, MD
"Utility of Medications for Patients with Cancer in Hospice Care"
University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX)

Holly M. Holmes, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in the Department of General Internal Medicine, Ambulatory Treatment, and Emergency Care. She completed her clinical training in internal medicine and geriatrics at the University of Chicago, as well as research training in the University of Chicago's Clinical Research Training Program. Dr. Holmes' research interest centers on optimal prescribing for frail older adults with multiple comorbidities. Her initial work will focus on end-of-life populations. Specifically, the Hartford Award will allow her to study the use of medications for comorbidities in patients with cancer enrolling in hospice care.
Research Abstract

Sei J. Lee, MD, MAS
"Glycemic Control and Health Outcomes in Frail, Dependent Elders"
University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)

Sei J. Lee, MD, MAS is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco. He completed his clinical training in internal medicine and geriatrics at UCSF, along with research training focusing on healthcare quality improvement through the VA Quality Scholars Fellowship. As a Hartford Geriatrics Health Outcomes Research Scholar, Dr. Lee will study the association between glycemic control and mortality, functional decline and geriatric syndromes in a frail, dependent elderly population. He will also determine whether guideline-driven intensification of glycemic control has altered the rates of these outcomes. His long term research goal is to improve the care of older Americans through the application of prognostic information and quality measurement.
Research Abstract

Stephen Thielke, MD, MA
"The Effects of Pain on Health and Quality of Life in Older Adults"
University of Washington (Seattle, WA)

Stephen Thielke, MD, MA is an Instructor in the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He completed residency of Psychiatry and a fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry at the University of Washington. He is currently a research fellow in an NRSA T32 Geriatric Mental Health Services Research Fellowship in Seattle, and is completing an MS degree in Health Services. His research focuses on the role of pain and pain medications in the physical and mental health of older adults. He is analyzing large longitudinal databases in order to model the relationships between physical health, pain, depression, and analgesic medications. He will construct predictive models to ascertain the effects of different interventions for painful conditions and mental health diagnoses, and will use these findings to develop and test targeted interventions for pain in primary care settings.
Research Abstract

Alexia Torke, MD, MS
"A Prospective , Observational Study of Surrogate Decision Making for Hospitalized Older Adults"
Indiana University (Indianapolis, IN)

Alexia Torke, MD, MS is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Research Scientist with the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and the Regenstrief Institute, and Associate Director of the Fairbanks Fellowship in Medical Ethics. She completed her residency in Primary Care-Internal Medicine at Emory University and was a clinician-educator at Emory for five years. During that time, she developed and taught curricula on end of life communication and conducted prior research addressing end of life decision making for hospitalized adults. Dr. Torke then completed a fellowship in primary care health services research and ethics at the University of Chicago, where she also received a Masters in Science for Clinical Professionals. Dr. Torke's clinical practice is located in the Indiana University Center for Senior Health and focuses on the primary care of older adults. Her research focuses on ethical aspects of medical decision making for older adults, including surrogate decision making for patients with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. Her long term goal is to improve the process and outcomes of decision making for older adults who cannot make their own medical decisions.
Research Abstract

Four recipients, selected by an academic advisory board composed of distinguished academic geriatricians, will receive a $200,000 grant over a two-year period to perform studies in outcomes research addressing clinical strategies, innovative outcomes measures and quality of life. Research findings are presented at the American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting at the conclusion of the recipient's grant. Dr. Sarah Berry is receiving one year of funding. Congratulations!

To learn more about this award program, click here