Team

Overall project activities are directed by a Central Coordination Team. This team, led by Dr. Kathleen Unroe and Dr. Debra Saliba, includes the Core Leads and is responsible for overall project management and planning and convening an annual interdisciplinary research conference. The Central Coordination Team oversees dissemination and communication activities, including website development and symposia at national meetings (academic and nursing home industry), and directs the overall plan for manuscripts and training materials.

Kathleen Unroe, MD, MHA, MS

Cornelius and Yvonne Pettinga Professor of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine

Research Scientist
Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute

Principal Investigator

Debra Saliba, MD, MPH, AGSF

Anna and Harry Borun Endowed Chair in Geriatrics and Gerontology
Director of Borun Center for Gerontological Research
University of California, Los Angeles

Director for Education, Health Services and Research Center for Innovation
Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center Physician
US Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

Senior Natural Scientist, RAND Health

Co-Lead

Susan Hickman, PhD, FAHPM, FGSA

Director and Senior Investigator
Investigative Science Division, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute

Cari Levy, MD, PhD, CMD

Goodstein Professor of Medicine
Division Head of Geriatric Medicine
Director of Multidisciplinary Center on Aging
Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Director of Hospice and Palliative Care
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD, MSW

University Distinguished Professor, Schools of Social Work and Public Health
Co-Director, Program on Aging, Chronic Illness, and Long-Term Care, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
Director of Aging Research, School of Social Work
Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Assisted Living
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The Recruitment & Retention Core, led by Dr. Sheryl Zimmerman and Dr. Jasmine Travers, identifies critical domains in the recruitment and retention of both nursing home partners and research participants within the nursing home, including a focus on recruiting and maintaining engagement among diverse staff, families, and residents. This Core leads development of best practice tip sheets and exemplar materials related to these activities and also recruits and cultivates partner workgroups representing key viewpoints in nursing home care.

Sheryl Zimmerman, PhD, MSW

University Distinguished Professor, Schools of Social Work and Public Health
Co-Director, Program on Aging, Chronic Illness, and Long-Term Care, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
Director of Aging Research, School of Social Work
Executive Director, Center for Excellence in Assisted Living
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Core Lead

Jasmine Travers Altizer, PhD, MHS, RN, FAAN

Assistant Professor
New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing

Associate Core Lead

Alice Bonner, PhD, RN, FAAN

Senior Advisor for Aging
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

Chair
Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition

Adjunct Professor
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

Jennifer Carnahan, MD, MPH, MA

Associate Professor of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine

Research Scientist
Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute

Gail Towsley, PhD, MS, NHA

Professor
University of Utah College of Nursing

The Methods, Measures, & Data Core, led by Dr. Susan Hickman and Dr. Andrew Zullo, works with experienced investigators, biostatisticians, and analysts to provide support in the design and analysis of clinical trials. The Core leads the relationship between NEXT STEPs and the Long Term Care Data Cooperative (LTCDC), collaborating with the IMPACT Collaboratory on the Real World Data Scholars Program. They also develop resource guides on best practices, including navigating IRBs, creating DSMPs and DSMBs, sharing data analysis software codes, and identifying data sources.

Susan Hickman, PhD, FAHPM, FGSA

Director and Senior Investigator
Investigative Science Division, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute

Core Lead

Andrew Zullo, PharmD, ScM, PhD

Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Health Services, Policy and Practice
Brown University School of Public Health

Health Research Science Specialist
US Department of Veterans Affairs Providence Medical Center

Associate Core Lead

Julie Lima, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice
Director of Research Compliance and Integrity, Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research
Brown University School of Public Health

Interim Associate Core Lead

Cathleen Colon-Emeric, MD, PACP, MHS

Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Geriatrics
Associate Dean, Research Mentoring
Senior Research Scientist, Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development
Duke University School of Medicine

Stefan Gravenstein, MD, MPH

Professor of Geriatric Medicine
Professor, Health Services, Policy and Practice
Director, Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care
Brown University

Jennifer Stevens-Lapsley, PT, PhD, FAPTA

Professor
Director of Rehabilitation Science PhD Program, Physical Therapy Program
Interim Vice Chair of Research
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Associate Director of Research, Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center
US Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System 

Wanzhu Tu, PhD, FAHA

Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science
Indiana University School of Medicine

Research Scientist
Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute

Adjunct Professor
Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University

The Projects & Training Core, led by Dr. Cari Levy and Dr. Barbara Resnick, leads work dedicated to pilot awards and training activities. In addition, this Core manages an Experiential Learning Program to allow researchers to connect directly with nursing home staff, providers, and residents. Further, trainees have access to a Research Studio to obtain expert input on proposals and a library of recorded presentations from NEXT STEPs investigators on use of dynamic toolkits and other materials developed and compiled by the Network.

Cari Levy, MD, PhD, CMD

Goodstein Professor of Medicine
Division Head of Geriatric Medicine
Director of Multidisciplinary Center on Aging
Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Director of Hospice and Palliative Care
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Core Lead

Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP

Distinguished University Professor, Organizational Systems and Adult Health
Associate Dean for Research
Postdoctoral Program Co-Director
University of Maryland School of Nursing

Associate Core Lead

Sarah Berry, MD, MPH

Associate Scientist
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Joan Carpenter, PhD, CRNP, ACHPN, FPCN

Associate Professor, Organizational Systems and Adult Health
University of Maryland School of Nursing

Nicole R. Fowler PhD, MHSA

Associate Professor of Medicine
Vice Chair for Research
Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine

Scientist
Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute