Dr. Steven M Albert, PhD, MS

My research centers on the assessment of health outcomes in aging and chronic disease, including physical and cognitive function, health service use, and clinical decision making. Current efforts include modeling the dynamics of health behavior change across the lifespan and prevention of violence.  In 2016-17, my research group will complete end-of-life surveillance in an aging cohort (Health ABC), expand a violence prevention effort based on contact with gunshot victims in hospital trauma services (funded by local Pittsburgh foundations), develop changes in criminal justice homicide review to reduce community violence, and continue work with PA to use aging services infrastructure to promote public health.  Our rrefunded CDC Prevention Research Center will continue work with the PA Department of Aging and local Area Agency on Aging to deliver behavior change interventions to promote health in old age.  A new effort involving partnerships with the Data Warehouse of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services will track mental health diagnoses in the population. I teach courses on aging as a field of public health, modeling of health behavior change, and evaluation.

Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences, B.A., 1978
Committee on Social Thought, University of Chicago, M.A., 1981
Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago, Ph.D., 1987
Thesis: Ritual and Political Process among the Lak, Southern New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Columbia University, M.Sc., 1996
Thesis: Neuropsychological Impairment in Asymptomatic HIV Infection: A Risk Factor for Work Disability

BCHS 2715, Dimensions of Aging
BCHS 2534, Clinical Aspects of Dementia Care
BCHS 3003, Seminar in Advanced Evaluation
BCHS 2528, Integrative Seminar in Minority Health and Health Disparities

10/14-9/15 PI, Level of care determination, PA Department of Aging and Office of Long-Term Care Living
6/15-9/15 PI, UPMC Community Health Needs Assessment
7/1/14-6/30/16 PI, Health promotion for victims of violence. Highmark Foundation
6/1/14-5/31/14 PI, Community violence prevention, Buhl Foundation
6/01/14-5/31/16 PI, Community Violence Prevention, RK Mellon Foundation
1/1/14-12/31/16 PI, Hospital Trauma Services Intervention, Hillman Family Foundations
4/01/11-3/31/16 PI, ACISR for Late-Life Depression Prevention (Project 1) NIH, NIMH, P30MH090333
12/23/10-11/20/15 PI, End of Life in the Very Old, NIH NINR, R01 NR012459
3/01/15-2/28/20 Co-PI, University of Pittsburgh Prevention Research Center, CDC, U48 DP001918

Selected publications, 2016-17:

Albert SM, Raviotta J, Lin CJ, Edelstein O, Smith KJ. Cost Effectiveness of a  Statewide Falls Prevention Program: Healthy Steps for Older Adults, Pennsylvania. Am J Managed Care 2016, 22: 294-300.

Albert SM, Lunney JR, Ye L, Boudreau R, Ives D, Satterfield S, Ayonayon, HN, Rubin SM, Newman AB, Harris T, for the Health ABC study. Symptom Burden and End of Life Treatment Preferences in the Very Old. J Pain Symptom Management 2016; 52(3):404-11.

Zgibor JC, Schlenk EA, Vater L, Kola S, Vander Bilt J, Woody S, Jacob ME, Lo-Ciganic WH, Brenckle A, Brandenstein J, Kwoh CK, Boudreau R, Albert S, Conroy M, Rodgers E, Newman AB. Partnership Building and Implementation of an Integrated Healthy-Aging Program.  Progress Community Health Partnerships: Res Educ Action, 2016; 10(1): 123-132.

Pillemer F, Anhang R, Paone S, Martich GD, Albert SM, Updike G, Rudin R, Liu D, Mehrotra A. Direct Release of Test Results to Patients Increases Patient Engagement and Utilization of Care.  PLoS One, 2016 Jun 23;11(6):e0154743. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154743.

Mattos M, Sereika SM, Naples JG, Albert SM.  Differences in Benzodiazepine Receptor Agonist Use in Rural and Urban Older Adults. Drugs - Real World Outcomes, 2016; 3(3): 289-296.

Agimi Y, Albert SM, Youk A, Documet P, Steiner C. Mandatory Physician Reporting of At Risk Drivers: The Older Driver Example.  The Gerontologist, 2017; dos: 10.1093/geront/gnw209.

Zgibor JC, Ye, L, Boudreau RM, Conroy MB, Vander Bilt J, Rodgers EA, Schlenk, EA, Jacob ME, Brandenstein J, Albert SM, Newman AB.  Community-based healthy aging interventions for older adults with arthritis and multimorbidity.  J Community Health 2016; doi10:1007/s10900-016-0268-5.

Abraham O, Pu J, Schleiden L, Albert SM. Factors Contributing to Poor Satisfaction with Sleep and Healthcare SeekingBehavior in Older Adults.  SleepHealth 2017; 3(1): 43-48.