What is your specific area of interest in geriatric surgery?
I’m most interested rehabilitation in the perioperative period. On a daily basis I work primarily with individuals who are admitted to the ICU post-operatively, where early mobilization is a priority. Additionally, I am interested in prehabilitation and what we can do to better prepare our geriatric patients for their surgical procedures, focusing on mobilization and maximizing functional outcomes at hospital discharge.
What is an example of your best work in geriatric research?
I am currently working as part of the POSH-DREAM project. The team is evaluating preoperative and postoperative delirium screening techniques. Specifically, we have been working with the bedside nurses in the intensive care unit to better identify delirium in the perioperative period.
In your opinion, what is an important health services research question that needs to be answered in the field of geriatric surgery?
An important question that I feel needs to be answered is: what preoperative functional activities best predict postoperative outcomes and a person’s ability return to their baseline at hospital discharge? More specifically, if we have the opportunity for prehabilitation, what mobility-related functional goals should we prioritize prior to a surgical procedure?
What is a fun fact about you?
I’ve run four marathons. Three of those have been the Chicago Marathon.