As a Geriatrician with a Master’s degree in Epidemiology, I have an abiding interest in understanding the role of technology in understanding and managing frailty in older adults. My work targets two areas of technology: wearable sensors and smart voice. I study how accelerometry-based mobility patterns relate to frailty and aging biomarkers and whether these devices can improve our understanding of frailty and enhance the frailty assessment. Through my work, I apply and analyze accelerometry data to assess and trend activity patterns, both as markers of frailty and to inform frailty activity interventions. I use data from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey as well as longitudinal, primary accelerometry and frailty data I collect in predominantly African-American older adults around the University of Chicago South Shore Senior Center. As a clinician, I established a novel frailty evaluation clinic in 2011, the Successful Aging and Frailty Evaluation™ (SAFE) clinic, in which I assess and manage frailty in all referred patients and support their caregivers. This clinical experience has informed my “in the trenches” perspective on the value of and remaining challenges to frailty measurement in practice. This clinic also serves as a recruitment site for frail adults for many collaborative research projects. My clinical work motivated me to co-develop a new technology-based program called “EngAGE” that leverages smart voice (e.g., Alexa) to deliver long-term mobility and socialization support to older adults while empowering their caregivers, a project that was conducted with a partnership I established with Orbita, Inc.
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Fellowship - Advanced Geriatrics Research
2012
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Fellowship - Clinical Geriatrics
2011
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Residency - Internal Medicine
2010
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL
MPH - Epidemiology
2007
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL
MD - Medicine
2006
Butler University
Indianapolis, Indiana
BS - Biology
2001
Comprehensive geriatric assessment predicts listing for kidney transplant in patients with end-stage renal disease: a retrospective cohort study.
Comprehensive geriatric assessment predicts listing for kidney transplant in patients with end-stage renal disease: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Geriatr. 2024 Feb 13; 24(1):148.
PMID: 38350846
Barriers and facilitators to smartwatch-based prehabilitation participation among frail surgery patients: a qualitative study.
Barriers and facilitators to smartwatch-based prehabilitation participation among frail surgery patients: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatr. 2024 Feb 02; 24(1):129.
PMID: 38308234
Ethical considerations of digital health technology in older adult care.
Ethical considerations of digital health technology in older adult care. Lancet Healthy Longev. 2024 Jan; 5(1):e12-e13.
PMID: 38183992
Prevalence and feasibility of assessing the frailty phenotype among hemodialysis patients in a dialysis unit.
Prevalence and feasibility of assessing the frailty phenotype among hemodialysis patients in a dialysis unit. BMC Nephrol. 2023 12 13; 24(1):371.
PMID: 38093284
Higher baseline resting metabolic rate is associated with 1-year frailty decline among older adults residing in an urban area.
Higher baseline resting metabolic rate is associated with 1-year frailty decline among older adults residing in an urban area. BMC Geriatr. 2023 12 07; 23(1):815.
PMID: 38062368
Racial differences in phenotypic frailty assessment among general thoracic surgery patients.
Racial differences in phenotypic frailty assessment among general thoracic surgery patients. JTCVS Open. 2023 Dec; 16:1049-1062.
PMID: 38204700
Technology-assisted behavioral intervention to encourage prehabilitation in frail older adults undergoing surgery: Development and design of the BeFitMe™ Apple Watch app.
Technology-assisted behavioral intervention to encourage prehabilitation in frail older adults undergoing surgery: Development and design of the BeFitMe™ Apple Watch app. Digit Health. 2023 Jan-Dec; 9:20552076231203957.
PMID: 37766907
Relating depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness to 5-year decline in physical function and frailty.
Relating depression, anxiety, stress and loneliness to 5-year decline in physical function and frailty. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2023 12; 115:105199.
PMID: 37776753
The Growing Role of Technology in the Care of Older Adults With Diabetes.
The Growing Role of Technology in the Care of Older Adults With Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2023 08 01; 46(8):1455-1463.
PMID: 37471606
A usability and participatory design study for GeRI, an open-source, remote cancer treatment toxicity and frailty monitoring platform for older adults.
A usability and participatory design study for GeRI, an open-source, remote cancer treatment toxicity and frailty monitoring platform for older adults. J Geriatr Oncol. 2024 Jan; 15(1):101595.
PMID: 37487857
Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation Scholar
University of Chicago
2021
Arti Hurria Memorial Award for Emerging Investigators Focused on the Care of Older Adults
American Geriatrics Society
2021
DOM Leif B. Sorensen Faculty Research Award ("Rising star" in the conduct of translational research)
University of Chicago
2019
DOM Janet Rowley Research Day Faculty Abstract Winner of the Clinical Research Award
University of Chicago
2018
Biological Sciences Division Distinguished Leader in Program Innovation for the Successful Aging and
University of Chicago
2017
DOM Recognition for Exemplary Education of Residents/Fellows in 2013-2014 Academic Year
University of Chicago
2015
Center on the Demography and Economics of Aging Associate
University of Chicago
2013
Presidential Posters (2011, 2013-15, 2017, 2020...)
American Geriatrics Society
2011
Third Place, Regional ACP Meeting Resident Poster Competition
University of Chicago
2007
Gold Humanism Honor Society Membership
UIC College of Medicine
2005
William Yates Award for dedication to a professional program
Butler University
2001
Summa Cum Laude
Butler University
1997 - 2001
High Honors in Biology
Butler University
1997 - 2001