Richard H. Fortinsky, PhD

Professor of Medicine at the Center on Aging (PI)

Department of Medicine

Research Overview

Richard H. Fortinsky is Professor of Medicine at the Center on Aging and Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center School of Medicine, where he holds the Health Net, Inc. Endowed Chair in Geriatrics and Gerontology. Dr. Fortinsky conducts clinical, behavioral science, and health services research with the major goal of improving health status and health care delivery systems for older adults and their families. His major areas of investigation are: physician and family care for persons with dementia living at home; health-related outcomes and resource use among older adults receiving home health care; evidence-based community interventions to help prevent falls in the older population; and transportation alternatives for older adults who have stopped or curtailed driving. Dr. Fortinsky received a 2006-2007 Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award to lecture and conduct research at the School of Health Studies, University of Bradford, England, on comparisons between the United States and the United Kingdom in the response of primary care practitioners to persons and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. Dr. Fortinsky received his doctoral degree in Sociology in 1984 from Brown University, specializing in medical sociology and gerontology.

Education

Ph.D., Brown University, 1984 (medical sociology and gerontology)
M.A., Brown University, 1977 (sociology)
B.A., Pennsylvania State University, 1975 (sociology)

Recent/Selected Publications

Research Gate