Research
Geriatric Medicine
The researchers within the Division/Section of Geriatric Medicine focus on health services research and knowledge translation science. Our researchers have a diversity of methodologic expertise and extensive experience in mentoring research students and junior researchers. Our areas of research interest span across the care continuum from acute care to care in the community including within continuing care, all with the primary focus of improving care and well-being for older adults.
Members within the Section/Division of Geriatric Medicine conduct research on an array of issues older adults face across the care continuum, including issues specifically faced by persons living with neurodegenerative disease, frailty, HIV and mood disorders. We mentor, supervise and provide education to undergraduate, graduate and post graduate students. We have held millions in National peer-reviewed grant funding and collaborate with each other as part of an Applied Geriatric Medicine Team, as well as with researchers from multiple other departments and universities.
Dr. Jayna Holroyd-Leduc
A Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences. She is Head of the Department of Medicine, the Brenda Stafford Foundation Chair in Geriatric Medicine, and the Academic Lead of the Brenda Stafford Centre on Aging. Dr. Holroyd Leduc uses knowledge translation science to improve care for older adults across the care continuum. Currently she is working with other researchers and stakeholders to rethink continuing care, in terms of the built environment, incorporation of technology, and evidence-informed care provision. She has held numerous grants as PI/co-PI including from CIHR and Alberta Innovates, participates in graduate student supervision, has published over 160 peer-reviewed research articles, and is a full member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and O'Brien Institute of Public Health. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (inducted in 2022).
Dr. David Hogan
A Professor in the Department of Medicine and Community Health Sciences. He is a member of the CIHR Institute of Aging Advisory Board and led the 2022 CIHR Institute of Aging Summer Program. His research focuses on ageism, dementia, drug therapy, falls, and frailty. He remains active in undergraduate, post-graduate clinical, and continuing medical education but is winding down his involvement in graduate studies. He is a full member of both the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and O'Brien Institute of Public Health, University of Calgary. Nationally, he is a investigator in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) and the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA).
Dr. Zahra Goodarzi
An Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Community Health Sciences. Her work focuses on health services research, knowledge translation, knowledge synthesis and qualitative research. Her work looks at issues facing older adults in many care settings. She has a number of studies focused on frail older adults residing in Long Term Care and the issues they face such as a need for palliative care, depression or anxiety. She co-leads a team focused on improving care in the Emergency Departments for older adults. Additionally she works on the intersection of neurodegenerative disease and non-memory symptoms such as depression. She is the program director for Leaders in Medicine, Canada's largest physician scientist training program. She is a full member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and O'Brien Institute of Public Health.
Dr. Jacqueline McMillan
A Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Community Health Sciences. She is site lead for Calgary for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. She has recently taken on the role of Co-Chair for the CIHR Clinical Trials Group HIV and Aging Research Development Team. Her work focuses on knowledge synthesis, large health data studies including prospective data and health services data to answer important questions facing frail older adults. Much of her work focuses on persons living with HIV, and issues including the psychosocial determinants of health, COVID-19, cognition, falls, and polypharmacy. She is a full member of the O'Brien Institute of Public Health.
Dr. Krista Reich
A Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, recently hired in 2022. Her research methods focuses on knowledge synthesis, administrative data and prioritization methods. Her work focuses on the improving the perioperative care for older adults through improving clinical processes and access to geriatricians. She is a full member of the O'Brien Institute of Public Health.
Our research team has continued to grow over the past number of years through recruitment of junior geriatrician researchers, and as of July 2022 there were five research faculty members. We are now one of the larger groups of geriatrician researchers within Canada, and have led research Nationally through our leadership roles within the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the Canadian Frailty Network (just to name a few collaborations). We hold tri-council and other national/provincial funding grants, have published extensively, and have supervised numerous graduate, undergraduate and postgraduate research students. Our researchers are recognized both nationally and internationally for their impact in the field of geriatric medicine research, for example Dr. David Hogan received the 2019 AMA Medal for Distinguished Service, Dr. Holroyd-Leduc was elected into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2022, and Dr. Zahra Goodarzi was recognized as a Calgary Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue Magazine in 2021.