IUCAR News Archive

Indiana University Center for Aging Research

IUCAR News Archive

Read archived news items about the IU Center for Aging Research, the IU Geriatrics Program, and their faculty and staff members. For additional news items, read the IU Geriatrics E-news.

2006

IUCAR Publishes 05-06 Annual Report
December 19, 2006
“The strategy of thinking globally but acting locally keeps our scientists busy both at home and on the road,” notes Indiana University Center for Aging Research Director Dr. Chris Callahan in the Center’s 2005-2006 Annual Report to President Herbert.
In the new report Callahan discusses how professional travel aids the Center and may play a role in attracting new scientists to Indiana University.
Available online, the yearly publication features graphs depicting the Center’s extramural funding amounts and sources and how they compare to other US research centers. Read the report to learn about the Center’s involvement in the Fairbanks Institute’s first research platform and how the IU-Roybal Center is identifying and funding projects in chronic disease self-management education and support.

GRACE Model of Care Published in JAGS
July, 2006
Most older adults receive care in primary care settings and many fail to receive the recommended standard of care for preventive services, chronic disease management, and geriatric syndromes.
Principal Investigator Steven R. Counsell, MD, and co-investigators have published a feasibility study of the Geriatrics Resources for Assessment and Care of Elders (GRACE) model. GRACE is a system-level primary care intervention developed to improve quality and outcomes of care for low-income older adults.
The model is described in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Read the abstract on PubMed and learn how the GRACE support team implements the model using GRACE Interdisciplinary Team Suggestions.

2005

Image of IMPACT logo
IMPACT Provides 'Season of Light'
December 6, 2005
IU Center for Aging Research Director Dr. Christopher M. Callahan and the IMPACT investigators have concluded that “the IMPACT intervention is a high-value investment for older adults; it is associated with high clinical benefits at a low increment in health care costs.” Read about the cost effectiveness of the IMPACT team care model in the IU School of Medicine news release. Then visit the IMPACT website for additional information about implementing IMPACT care in the real world.

Miller Reports Gender Roles in Religious Sensitivity
December 14, 2005
Can sensitivity to the role religion plays in a patient's life positively affect physician bedside manner and care of the patient? Yes, for female physicians in training; no, for male physicians in training, according to a research letter published in the December issue of the Southern Medical Journal. Read the results of a publication by co-author Douglas K. Miller, MD, in the IU School of Medicine news release.

Center Expands Portfolio & Staff
August 23, 2005

A growing array of geriatric health services research at the IU Center for Aging Research is helping Indiana’s job market. Staff size, in full time equivalent, has doubled in the past 5 years.
Pictured in front of the Center’s list of projects is Program Manager for Research Operations Bridget Fultz who welcomed new Research Assistant Nathan Boyer to the Center’s staff in August. The Center recently recruited a new project coordinator and will add a research assistant in the fall.
Staff assist Center scientists in conducting investigations to test innovative strategies to improve the quality of health care and self-care for older adults.

Boustani Named Beeson Scholar
June 22, 2005

Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, has joined the Beeson Scholar class of 2005-2008 as the recipient of a Paul B. Beeson Career Development Award in Aging Research . The award is presented to outstanding junior and mid-career faculty committed to academic careers in aging-related research, training and practice. Applicants from the nation's top medical schools and research institutions vie for the award that brings $600,000-$800,000 to the Scholar for a 3-5 year period.
Malaz's Beeson research project is titled “Enhancing Care for Hospitalized Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment.” The project brings together multiple research interests within IU Geriatrics including gero-informatics, improving the safety and quality of care for hospitalized older adults, and developing new models of care for common geriatric syndromes. His local Beeson mentor is Chris Callahan, MD, a Scholar from the Class of 1996 and the only other Indiana University investigator to be named to the Program. Co-mentors

IUCAR Colleagues Garner AGS Awards
May 16, 2005

Congratulations to our IU Center for Aging Research colleagues who accepted awards at the American Geriatrics Society's 2005 Annual Scientific Meeting May 11-15 in Orlando, Florida.
Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, (left) accepted an AGS 2005 New Investigator Award for his abstract, “The Prevalence and Burden of Cognitive Impairment in Hospitalized Older Adults.” His co-authors were Tim Stump, Michael Weiner, Siu Hui and Chris Callahan.
Gretchen Ricketts, BSW, (right) was awarded the Presidential Poster Award for “Aging with GRACE: Effects of the GRACE Intervention on Completion of Advance Directives by Vulnerable Seniors.” Co-authors were Chris Callahan, Amna Buttar, Dan Clark, Tim Stump, Meredith Devlin, Dawn Butler, and Steve Counsell.

Photo of Malaz Boustani and Gretchen Ricketts

Alzheimer's Association Honors Dr. Hugh Hendrie
April 26, 2005 IUSM news release

Congratulations to Hugh C. Hendrie, MB, ChB, DSc, who is the National Alzheimer's Association 2005 medical research honoree. Dr. Hendrie received the award at the 18th Annual Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala May 7 at the Civic Opera House.
The association noted “Dr. Hendrie's professional accomplishments span several decades as a practitioner, researcher, scholar, teacher and mentor. His extensive international research on epidemiology and risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders in cross-cultural populations earned Dr. Hendrie worldwide recognition as a pioneer in identifying modifiable risk factors for age-related brain diseases.”

Counsell Chairs AGS Public Policy Advisory Group
April 2005

Steven R. Counsell, MD has been appointed to serve a three year term as Chair of the Public Policy Advisory Group (PPAG) of the American Geriatrics Society . Dr. Counsell has served on the PPAG for the past 7 years including the last 3 years as Vice Chair.
The Society is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals, research scientists, and other concerned individuals dedicated to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. A goals of the society is to engage in public policy that focuses on the study, accessibility and improvement of culturally-sensitive health care and quality of life for older people, including preventive, rehabilitative, long-term and end-of-life care.

Callahan Leads Depression Publication Showing Successful
Treatment Slows Physical Decline in Older Adults
March 14, 2005 IUSM news release

Chris Callahan and the IMPACT Investigators are the first to report that successful treatment of depression in older adults also improves their ability to perform tasks critical to independent living.

Study results in March 2005 JAGS
Feature in WebMD Medical News

Hendrie Earns Peer Recognition for
Geriatric Psychiatry Research
March 1, 2005, IUSM news release

Research colleagues Chris Callahan (L) and Malaz Boustani (R), congratulate Hugh Hendrie upon learning he will receive the Senior Investigator Award from the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry at their 18th Annual Meeting in San Diego March 3, 2005.

IU Geriatrics Programs Garner National Recognition
January 27, 2005, IUSM news release

Indiana University's geriatrics education and research missions have been recognized as top tier programs by the National Institute on Aging and by the John A. Hartford Foundation. Read about the new IU-Roybal Center and the Center of Excellence in Geriatric Medicine.

2004

NIA Announces IU as New Roybal Center in October 26, 2004 news
release. Co-Directors Chris Callahan (front right) and Dan Clark (center back)
celebrate with IU-Roybal research team Steve Downs, Teresa Damush (front row);
Paul Biondich, Rich Frankel, Mike Weiner, (back row) and Program Manager
Bridget Fultz.