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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

Christopher B. Bowling, MD

Associate Director, Research

Katherine Hall, PhD

Associate Director, Clinical

Juliessa Pavon, 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, Nurse Practitioners and Associated Health Trainees in Pharmacy, Nursing, Social Work, Physical Therapy, Audiology/Speech Pathology, Chaplaincy and Psychology.
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
  • Improving specialty telehealth for older Veterans with kidney disease (GET READI).
  • 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
      • Trajectories of Physical Resilience Among Older Veterans With Stage 4 CKD. Bowling CB, Berkowitz TSZ, Burrows BT, Ma JE, Whitson HE, Smith B, Crowley SD, Wang V, Maciejewski ML, Olsen MK. Am J Kidney Dis. 2024 Aug;84(2):154-163. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2024.01.529. Epub 2024 Mar 12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38484869/
      • Risk Assessment and Prevention of Falls in Older Community-Dwelling Adults: A Review. Colon-Emeric CS, McDermott CL, Lee DS, Berry SD. JAMA. 2024 Apr 23;331(16):1397-1406. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.1416. Review. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38536167/
      • Longitudinal analysis of physical function in older adults: The effects of physical inactivity and exercise training. Manning KM, Hall KS, Sloane R, Magistro D, Rabaglietti E, Lee CC, Castle S, Kopp T, Giffuni J, Katzel L, McDonald M, Miyamoto M, Pearson M, Jennings SC, Bettger JP, Morey MC. Aging Cell. 2024 Jan;23(1):e13987. doi: 10.1111/acel.13987.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37681737/
      • Effect of Remotely Supervised Weight Loss and Exercise Training Versus Lifestyle Counseling on Cardiovascular Risk and Clinical Outcomes in Older Adults With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Andonian BJ, Ross LM, Sudnick AM, Johnson JL, Pieper CF, Belski KB, Counts JD, King AP, Wallis JT, Bennett WC, Gillespie JC, Moertl KM, Richard D, Huebner JL, Connelly MA, Siegler IC, Kraus WE, Bales CW, Porter Starr KN, Huffman KM.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38126260/
      • The relationship between caregivers' behaviors and resistant behaviors of persons living with dementia during personal care in long-term care facilities: A lag sequential analysis. Lee KH, Lee JY, Park JY, McConnell ES. Geriatr Nurs. 2024 Jul-Aug;58:368-372. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.06.007. Epub 2024 Jun 14. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38878736/
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