Dr. Harper is a clinician-educator and a sustaining member of the UCSF Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators. He is past Chair of the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP) Fellowship Directors Group, current Secretary of the American Geriatrics Society and a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.

Throughout his career, Dr. Harper has worked in various settings across the geriatrics continuum of care including ambulatory and home-based primary care, long-term care, PACE, and acute and post-acute care. His current clinical activities occur at both the SFVAMC and UCSF. At the SFVAMC he attends on the Mobile Acute Care for Elders (ACE) Service and supervises fellows in the Community Living Center and geriatrics clinic. Through the UCSF Care at Home Program Dr. Harper provides primary care for homebound older adults in San Francisco. He is also the Medical Director of The Sequoias San Francisco, a Continuing Care Retirement Community and The Carlisle, an Assisted Living Facility.