School of Nursing and Health Studies

I am interested in the basic musculoskeletal biology of aging.

My work helps us understand how the musculoskeletal system changes as we age, how these changes increase fall risk, and how can we better prevent falls in older adults.

Departments of Psychology and Sociology, College of Arts & Sciences

My research focuses on the influence of intergenerational transfers between grandparents and grandchildren on the health and well-being of older adults.

This research informs national and local family and health policy and practice.

Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

I study the types of explanations people make following a cardiovascular event, and how they affect long-term engagement in heart healthy behaviors.

My research is being translated to help plan interventions that promote healthy behaviors in cardiac patients.

Department of Sociology

My primary research and teaching interests within gerontology concern social dimensions of health and aging, intergenerational relationships, and self-development through the life course.

I help students understand the significance of both the social context of the aging process and the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving.

My research interests include interprofessional geriatric education and practice advancement for pharmacists working in a variety of health care settings.

Better understanding of older adults will help pharmacists better serve their needs.

School of Dentistry

My area of research is bone cell biology, with a particular interest in bone extracellular matrix proteins and osteocyte biology.

This work can help understand and improve bone health in aging and in diseases such as osteoporosis.

School of Medicine

I direct the UMKC Geriatric Medicine Fellowship and teach medical course in family medicine and internal medicine.

My clinical area of expertise is in geriatrics, where I work to improve the care of older adults.

Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

I use methods of cognitive psychophysiology to study the interaction of cognition and emotion.

This work will help us better understand how the ability to regulate emotions affects information processing and decision-making in young and old adults.

Institute for Human Development

I do community-based research and projects regarding self-determination, cross-cultural perspectives, and developmental disabilities.

Self-determination is important for people of all ages and abilities.

School of Nursing and Health Studies

I teach students to distinguish between the aging process and disease, which allows the students to discredit the many myths about older adults.

Students are given the opportunity to engage with older adults in the community through service learning, which leads to a greater appreciation, understanding, and ability to work with this growing population as health professionals.

Music Therapy, Conservatory of Music and Dance

I study the efficacy of music therapy treatment for clients of all ages.

My research informs best practices in the healthcare setting.

School of Dentistry

My research focuses on understanding the molecular genetics of osteoporosis, a disease that results in increased risk of bone fracture.

My work will help reduce the rate of osteoporotic fracture particularly among older women, thus eliminating a major negative risk to quality of life.

Architecture, Urban Planning + Design, College of Arts & Sciences

My research has been focused on travel behavior, traffic safety, and residential mobility of older adults.

My research supports the quality of life of older adults and how to develop aging-friendly built environments.

School of Computing and Engineering, Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering

I study the biomechanics of the human musculoskeletal system as it ages.  My work focuses on the stepping response people use to stop a fall.

This work is important for promoting safety for older adults.

UMKC School of Law

My areas of expertise are family law, mediation, and elder law.

My goal is to prepare students to serve members of a family throughout their life spans.

Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, Henry W. Bloch School of Management

I work with nonprofit and community organizations on program development, evaluation, and capacity building.

Helping community organizations better respond to community needs promotes healthy physical and social environments for all ages.

School of Nursing and Health Studies

I work with students to give them community-based experiences with older adults.

These educational experiences will help train the next generation of providers to support quality of life for older adults.

UMKC School of Law

I teach Health Law, Health Care Regulation, Antitrust, and Civil Procedure.

I am interested in all things involving the transformation of health care finance and delivery.

Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

I study how cognitive aging affects performance in everyday life.

My research supports the translation of experimental work for solving practical problems.

Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Henry W. Bloch School of Management

I oversee activities and develop programs in entrepreneurship and innovation for both the private and public sector. Primary responsibilities include cross-campus initiatives and development of entrepreneurship curriculum for all students at UMKC.

I also teach about developing innovative products and services for our aging population.

Bloch School of Management

I study how older adults navigate a complex region.

My work helps to connect older adults and their families to the social services that make aging in community possible.

Department of Theatre, College of Arts & Sciences

As a teacher in the UMKC Theatre Program, I study why and how people “act” the way they do.

I get to facilitate the exploration of universal truths that connect people of all ages and backgrounds.

School of Medicine

I am the Chair of the UMKC Department of Community and Family Medicine and Associate Chief Medical Officer for Truman Medical Center, with primary duties at the Lakewood Campus. We have one of the few training programs in Geriatrics in the country.

Training physicians to take care of the particular needs of older adults is critical to assuring quality of life.

Department of Political Science

My expertise is in Social Security, Medicare, and health care in the U.S.

The analyses I do can guide policy and inform the public about existing and proposed government policy decisions.

School of Dentistry

I teach Geriatrics at the School of Dentistry.

I am interested in geriatric “access to care” issues and ways to overcome them in our community.

Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences

I study the psychological and health impact of traumatic stress across the lifespan.

My work focuses on grief, elder abuse, and other stressors commonly experienced by older adults.