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Cynthia Brown, M.D., Elected To Gerontological Society Of America Board, Staff

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No abstract provided.

Graduate, Professional Programs Earn Strong U.S. News & World Report Rankings, Tyler Greer

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No abstract provided.

More Than 1,200 Employees To Be Honored During Annual Service Awards, Haley Herfurth

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No abstract provided.

Faculty Projects Funded Through 2018 Multi-Pi Awards, Sara Davies Sullivan

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No abstract provided.

All Department Of Medicine Divisions Now Live In Oncore, Andi Cimino

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No abstract provided.

Dean's Excellence Award Winner Profile: Marianthe Grammas, M.D., Carolyn Walsh

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No abstract provided.

Relationship Of Body Composition With Muscle Performance In Older Adults, Bethany Ann Moore

All ETDs from UAB

Background and Purpose: There is a well-established association between loss of muscle mass and decline in muscle strength and neuromuscular performance in older adults. However, fat mass may diminish the effect of muscle mass on functional performance in older adults. The relationships between percent total body fat, muscle strength, and neuromuscular performance in older adults is unknown. The purpose of this study is to assess the independent relationships between percent total body fat, muscle strength, and neuromuscular performance in older adults. Methods: Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure fat mass and leg lean mass in 60 older adults …

Racial Disparities In Oncology Clinical Trial Participation: A Qualitative Exploration, Soumya J. Niranjan

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Current rates of participation for racial and ethnic minorities in cancer clinical trials are significantly lower when compared to non-Hispanic whites. The patients’ perspective on reasons for low participation is abundant. Yet, very little is known from the perspective of clinical and research professionals who are actively involved in patient recruitment. This study seeks to understand their perspective on how the external environment associated with the health care system contributes to limited participation of racial and ethnic minority groups in cancer clinical trials. To that effect, the health services utilization framework was utilized. Data/Methods: EMPaCT data with 91 qualitative …

Effects Of Medicare Reimbursement Policies On The Quality Of Hospital Care, Monica Aswani

All ETDs from UAB

This dissertation is composed of two papers related to the role of social risk factors in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP). As value-based initiatives like the HRRP become more commonplace, there is growing need to understand the relationship between performance in these programs and social risk factors, such as race and poverty, which are not incorporated in the program’s risk adjustment methodology. To address this gap in the literature, this dissertation specifically focuses on three areas: 1) how hospital and community factors are related to average HRRP penalties, taking the context of geography into account, 2) how hospital and …

Studies To See If Antihypertensive Drugs Can Improve Mobility In Older Adults, Alicia Rohan

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No abstract provided.

Senior Adult Food Insecurities Being Addressed In Clinic With Two Simple Elements Of Home Life, Alicia Rohan

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No abstract provided.

Three Students Recognized For Excellence In Oncology Nursing, Staff

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No abstract provided.

Buford Joins Center For Exercise Medicine As Associate Director, Christina Crowe

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No abstract provided.

Swetz Appointed As Editor Of The Journal Of Palliative Care, Uab Heersink School Of Medicine News

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No abstract provided.

New Class Of Scholars To Expand Service-Learning Even More, Linda Gunter

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No abstract provided.

Eleven Faculty Members Named Winners Of The 2017 Dean's Excellence Awards, Kendra Carter

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No abstract provided.

Som Faculty Recognized For Exceptional Mentorship By Uab Graduate School, Uab Heersink School Of Medicine News

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No abstract provided.

Callans Brings Enthusiasm And Positivity To An Oft-Overwhelming Field, Haley Herfurth

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No abstract provided.

Flood To Present Innovative Care Model For Elder Patients At The American Geriatrics Society's 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting, Jordan Lessley

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No abstract provided.

Flood To Present Innovative Care Model For Elder Patients At The American Geriatrics Society's 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting, Staff

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No abstract provided.

More Than 1,100 Employees To Be Honored During Annual Service Awards, Haley Herfurth

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No abstract provided.

One Thing Leads To Another: Untangling The Relationship Between Depression And Pain In Outpatients With Serious Illness, Oladele Osisami, Gulcan Bagcivan, Deborah Ejem, Gisella A. Mancarella, J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, Elizabeth Kvale, Rodney Tucker, Marie A. Bakitas

Inquiro (undergraduate research journal)

pp. 25-27

https://www.uab.edu/inquiro/issues/past-issues/volume-10/one-thing-leads-to-another-untangling-the-relationship-between-depression-and-pain-in-outpatients-with-serious-illness

The Benefits Of A Vegetable Gardening Intervention For Cancer Survivors, Mallory Gamel Cases

All ETDs from UAB

Due to improvements in screening and treatment, the number of cancer survivors continues to increase. Cancer survivors are at increased risk for second malignancies, comorbidities, and functional decline. All three papers draw data from Harvest for Health, a 12-month home-based vegetable gardening intervention for cancer survivors. This dissertation aimed to (1) explore changes in physical functioning and physical health-related quality of life in 44 cancer survivors aged >65 years old pooled from two iterations of Harvest for Health; (2) examine predictors of continued gardening and garden expansion 12-months post-intervention; and (3) assess the capacity of sustainability of Harvest for Health …

Improving Cognitive Predictors And Everyday Outcomes In Adults With Hiv, Shameka L. Cody

All ETDs from UAB

As adults age with HIV, they may encounter challenges with cognitive impairments. Perhaps, the neurobiological effects of HIV, subtle lifestyle changes, and the aging process may negatively influence cognitive functioning. Some cognitive impairments may interfere with everyday functioning and even compromise quality of life. In this dissertation, three articles were presented which focused on the overall theme of HIV and cognition. Article 1, a review of literature published in the Neurobiology of Disease, focused on how HIV affects the brain independently and the synergistic effects of HIV and aging on cognitive health. Also, the article closed with a section on …

Cognitive Correlates Of Driving Behavior In Older Adults With Hiv, Caitlin Northcutt Pope

All ETDs from UAB

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) currently affects over 1 million individuals in the United States. It is estimated that by the year 2020, up to 70% of individuals with HIV in the United States will be ages 50 and older, as these individuals live longer due to more advanced medicine and later diagnosis. Aging research suggests individuals with HIV may be at risk for accelerated or accentuated aging making age-related deficits, particularly with cognition and everyday functioning, of public concern. The current study investigated the complex associations between age, HIV disease state, cognition, health, and driving in 139 older adults (Mage …

An Examination Of The Neuropsychological Construct Executive Function And How It May Be Impacted By Cognitive And Exercise Interventions, Erica Schmidt

All ETDs from UAB

Background: There is a growing body of literature supporting the beneficial effects of cognitive training and exercise training on executive function (EF) in older adults. More recently, evidence is amassing that interventions which combine cognitive and physical activity, for example, exergames, may confer even greater cognitive benefits. Comparison of EF interventions for older adults requires more investigation and would benefit from improved operationalization of the EF construct and better understanding of factors which predict baseline EF in older adults. Methods and Results: Fifty-seven sedentary, non-gamer, community dwelling older adults were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups (computerized cognitive …

Home Healthcare And Performance: Development And Application Of A Typology For Home Health Agencies, Ronique Nechelle Evans

All ETDs from UAB

This three-paper dissertation sought to examine the existence of strategic groups in the home health industry, the application of Porter’s generic strategies (cost leader, differentiator, “stuck-in-the-middle” and both cost leader/differentiator) in identifying these groups, and the association of group membership with agency performance. The findings of this study will provide researchers and managers with a highlight of the current strategic makeup of the home health industry and its relationship with quality and financial performance. The results of this dissertation provide some evidence that strategic groups do exist in the home health industry and can be described along the basis of …

Increasing The Accessibility Of A Falls Prevention Intervention For Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Low Vision, Sarah Blaylock

All ETDs from UAB

Falls remain a costly problem as a leading cause of injuries and fatalities for individuals over the age of 65. Older adults with low vision, or non-correctable visual impairment, are estimated to be two times more likely to fall than those without vision loss. There appear to be limited falls prevention interventions available for older adults that have been tested on or designed specifically for individuals with visual impairment. The goals of this dissertation were to learn more about the availability of visually accessible falls prevention interventions and to develop an intervention that can be used with veterans receiving services …

Familial Support And Mental Health Service Use: Differences Among First- And Second-Generation Asian American And Latino Older Adults, Jessica Lynn Valles

All ETDs from UAB

While several studies have shown that US-born Asian Americans and Latinos are more likely to use mental health services than their foreign-born counterparts, the effects of generation status and familial support is unclear. Furthermore, little is known about these associations and how they affect older adults. According to the Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST), as adults begin transition into advanced age, they begin to withdraw from broader social networks to focus on more intimate relations, such as those with children. In applying modernization theory to the family and aging, this theory would suggest that the status of older adults in families …

Health Services Foundation Awards $1.5 Million In General Endowment Fund Grants, Kendra Carter

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No abstract provided.