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Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC)

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Durham GRECC

Durham GRECC

Durham VA Medical Center
508 Fulton Street
Durham, NC 27705

Phone  919-286-6932
Fax      919-286-6823

GRECC Director

Kenneth E. Schmader, MD

Associate Director, Research

Katherine Hall, PhD

Associate Director, Clinical

Barrett Bowling, MD

Associate Director, Education and Evaluation

Connie Bales, PhD

Administrative Officer

Harry Babwah
Harry.BabwahJr@va.gov

Affiliations

Duke Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development

research foci heading
  • Exercise/Physical Activity/Nutrition
  • Osteoporosis/Falls/Fractures
  • Immunizations/Infections/Immunology and Drugs
  • Care Innovations/Models
research heading
  • Immunogenicity, safety, efficacy and functional impact of zoster, influenza and COVID-19 vaccines in older adults
  • Characterizing physical resilience and developing a prediction tool for shared decision making in adults with advanced renal disease
  • Predicting recovery from orthopedic surgeries
  • Protein supplementation interventions to restore physical function in obese older Veterans
  • Examining implementation, health, and utilization outcomes from a national exercise program.
  • Reducing fractures and mortality in Parkinson’s Disease with zoledronic acid
  • Exercise interventions to improve function and mental health (e.g., PTSD) in older adults
  • Medication use patterns and development of a deprescribing intervention
education heading
  • VHA Dementia Education and Training Committee
  • Gerofit training in exercise assessments and implementation
  • “Focus on Function” Geri Scholars clinical practicum
  • Pharmacy benefits management and training on use of the recombinant zoster vaccine
  • Geriatric Medicine Fellowship, Advanced Geriatric Fellows, and Associated Health Trainees in Pharmacy, Nursing, Social Work, Physical Therapy, Audiology/Speech Pathology, Chaplaincy and Psychology
  • Elder Care in Hospital (ECHo) Geriatric Nursing Quality Scholars Program
clinical heading
  • Gerofit is a VHA best practice model of care undergoing national dissemination based on outcomes associated with reduced risk of institutionalization
  • Integrating geriatrics principles throughout the health care system in surgery through Preoperative Optimization of Senior Health (POSH)
  • The care of hospitalized Veterans through the supervised inpatient walking program (STRIDE) and the nursing-led Elder Care in Hospital (ECHo) program
  • Chronic disease care including kidney disease (Renal Silver) 
  • Addressing geriatric conditions including a home-based dementia caregiver program (COACH)
  • Falls and osteoporosis treatment (VISN 6 Bone Health Service) and telehealth fall prevention (FAME)
  • Partner in Durham VA Geriatric Emergency Department accreditation by the American College of Emergency Physicians.
publications heading
  • Effects of Implementation of a Supervised Walking Program in Veterans Affairs Hospitals : A Stepped-Wedge, Cluster Randomized Trial.  Ann Intern Med. 2023 Jun;176(6):743-750. Publication Link
  • Veterans Health Administration Models of Community-Based Long-Term Care: State of the Science. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2022 Dec;23(12):1900-1908.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.10.012. PMID:36370751. Publication Link
  • Immunogenicity of adjuvanted versus high-dose inactivated influenza vaccines in older adults: a randomized clinical trial.  Immun Ageing. 2023 Jul 1;20(1):30. doi:
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