NIA Award Supports K12 Scholar's Research and Career Development
Jason Bowman, M.D., a scholar in the Consortium for Translational and Precision Health's (CTPH) K12 Scholars Program, has received a Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program (LRP) Award from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), an achievement that reflects the support and training provided through the K12 Scholars Program.
The K12 Scholar Program is structured to support the early-career faculty members through mentorship, protected research time and networking opportunities. The overall goal of the program is to contribute to the next generation of clinical and translational science leaders who conduct innovative research studies that contribute to the development of therapies and interventions that prevent the onset of diseases or slow their progression.
The two-year, $100,000 award from the NIA helps repay educational loans for early-career clinician-scientists committed to pursuing research careers. Bowman received the award for his project, Individualized, Data-Driven Risk Assessment for Dementia Patients in the Emergency Department: An Implementation Science and Human-Centered Design Approach.
An emergency medicine physician and palliative care specialist, Bowman focuses his research on improving emergency care for people with serious illnesses, particularly those living with dementia. His work seeks to better understand the unique challenges dementia patients face in emergency departments and identify strategies to improve care delivery and outcomes.
Dementia affects millions of people and remains one of the most common and complex health conditions among older adults. While significant research has examined dementia care in community, nursing home and hospital settings, relatively little is known about the experiences and outcomes of people living with dementia in emergency departments. Through this project, Bowman aims to address those gaps and advance evidence-based approaches to care for this vulnerable population.
Bowman's interest in dementia research grew from his clinical training and experiences caring for patients with serious illnesses. After completing a residency in emergency medicine, a fellowship in palliative care and a two-year research fellowship, he began to focus on the challenges faced by people living with dementia in emergency care settings.
"A little bit of luck, a little bit of mentors nudging, and a little bit of reflecting on some of the cases I found most challenging is how I ended up focused on patients living with dementia," Bowman said.
He noted that patients with dementia are often unable to communicate their medical histories, preferences or goals of care, creating challenges for clinicians and caregivers during emergency situations. Those experiences reinforced his commitment to improving care for this population.
Although the project is ongoing, Bowman and his team are conducting interviews with caregivers and care partners to better understand their experiences older adults with dementia in emergency departments.
They are also surveying emergency department staff and using national datasets to explore other aspects of emergency care and outcomes for this complex and vulnerable group of patients.
Bowman hopes the findings will have a lasting impact on dementia care nationwide.
"The exploratory work we are conducting now will help guide future research and improve care for people living with dementia across the country," he said.
Bowman, a member of the inaugural cohort K12 Scholar Program credited CTPH and the K12 Scholars Program for the support he has received throughout his research journey.
"I am grateful to the CTPH and K12 Program for their support," he shared.