Overview
Dr. Harrison is an Associate Professor in the UCSF School of Medicine, core faculty in the Division of Geriatrics and the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies (IHPS), and an Atlantic Senior Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at the Global Brain Health Institute. She co-leads the Vulnerable Aging Research Core within the UCSF Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Center.
Dr. Harrison and her network of collaborators conduct research to improve care systems and policies for older adults living with, dying from, or grieving neurodegeneration and other serious illnesses. Our current work focuses on improving hospice and end-of-life care older adults with dementia and their care communities, using both "big data" (nationally representative surveys and Medicare claims) and multi-method qualitative data. Our work often attends to the specific challenges experienced by populations left out of existing care systems (such racial and ethnic minoritized groups and other groups historically excluded or underserved) and sought to improve their care as a method for improving care for all. We use quantitative, qualitative, and implementation science research methods and principles from public health ethics, policy analysis, geriatrics/gerontology, and palliative care.
Project Highlight
Improving hospice care for racial and ethnic minoritized older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)
With a recently awarded 5-year NIA R01 grant, Dr. Harrison will lead a dedicated effort to advance hospice care quality for older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), focusing on Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino/a/x, Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and multiracial communities. The research team will collaborate closely with care partners, policy makers, and advisory panels to gather insights and create prioritized recommendations for improving hospice care, recognizing the unique needs of these communities.
