Rebecca Brown, MD, MPH

Title(s)Assistant Professor, Medicine
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Phone415-221-4810
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Awards and Honors
    American Geriatrics Society2018Outstanding Junior Clinician Education Manuscript Award
    American Geriatrics Society2016Outstanding Junior Investigator of the Year Award
    American Geriatrics Society2016Outstanding Junior Research Manuscript Award
    Society for General Internal Medicine2016Best Published Research Award
    Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) program, University of California, San Francisco2014Best Research Mentor Award
    Merck/American Geriatrics Society2013New Investigator Award
    American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting2013Best Paper, Health Services and Policy Research
    American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting2013Best Poster, Geriatric Syndromes
    Harvard Medical School Academy, Center for Teaching and Learning2010Excellence in Tutoring Award

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    Dr. Brown is an affiliated Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. As a clinician-investigator, Dr. Brown focuses on improving functional status among socioeconomically vulnerable older adults. Dr. Brown received her medical school training at Harvard Medical School. She completed residency in internal medicine at UCSF, followed by fellowship in geriatric medicine at Harvard Medical School, including an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. She returned to UCSF for a research fellowship in geriatric medicine before joining the faculty of the Division of Geriatrics in 2013. In 2018 she joined the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

    The goal of Dr. Brown’s research is to improve functional status among socioeconomically vulnerable older adults, including those experiencing homelessness. To achieve this goal, she is working to describe the risk factors for functional disability and other geriatric conditions in these groups, and to develop targeted interventions to address these risk factors and improve health and functional status.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse Research Activities and Funding
    Functional Impairment in Middle-Aged Adults
    NIH R01AG071730Sep 30, 2021 - May 31, 2025
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Trajectories of Cognition in Middle Age: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in the U.S.
    NIH R01AG070885Aug 1, 2021 - Apr 30, 2025
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Improving aging in place for older adults living in subsidized housing
    NIH K76AG057016Jul 15, 2018 - Mar 31, 2021
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Measurement Science QUERI Program
    NIH IP1HX002002Oct 1, 2015 - Sep 30, 2020
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    Epidemiology and Outcomes of Premature Geriatrics Syndromes
    NIH K23AG045290Jul 1, 2014 - Apr 30, 2019
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Using multiple qualitative methods to inform intervention development: Improving functional status measurement for older veterans in primary care settings. PLoS One. 2023; 18(8):e0290741. Nicosia FM, Zamora K, Rizzo A, Spar MJ, Silvestrini M, Brown RT. PMID: 37616266.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    2. Contributions of neighborhood social environment and air pollution exposure to Black-White disparities in epigenetic aging. PLoS One. 2023; 18(7):e0287112. Yannatos I, Stites S, Brown RT, McMillan CT. PMID: 37405974; PMCID: PMC10321643.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    3. Study protocol: Type III hybrid effectiveness-implementation study implementing Age-Friendly evidence-based practices in the VA to improve outcomes in older adults. Implement Sci Commun. 2023 May 25; 4(1):57. Piazza KM, Ashcraft LE, Rose L, Hall DE, Brown RT, Bowen MEL, Mavandadi S, Brecher AC, Keddem S, Kiosian B, Long JA, Werner RM, Burke RE. PMID: 37231459; PMCID: PMC10209584.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    4. Veterans Health Administration research in aging: Opportunities for high impact across the academic career. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2023 Apr 24. Vaughan CP, Brown RT, Hastings SN, Makris UE, Forman DE. PMID: 37093614.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Advocating for independence: The role of subsidized housing staff in supporting older residents. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2023 Apr 17. Gupta S, Jahan M, Reyes-Farias D, Bailey K, Resnick B, Reid C, Brown RT. PMID: 37070229.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Achieving and sustaining behavior change for older adults: A Research Centers Collaborative Network workshop report. Gerontologist. 2022 Dec 06. Hughes JM, Brown RT, Fanning J, Raj M, Bisson A, Ghneim M, Kritchevsky SB. PMID: 36473052.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    
    7. Defining Multimorbidity in Older Patients Hospitalized with Medical Conditions. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 05; 38(6):1449-1458. Jain S, Rosenbaum PR, Reiter JG, Ramadan OI, Hill AS, Hashemi S, Brown RT, Kelz RR, Fleisher LA, Silber JH. PMID: 36385407; PMCID: PMC10160274.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Factors Associated With Mortality Among Homeless Older Adults in California: The HOPE HOME Study. JAMA Intern Med. 2022 10 01; 182(10):1052-1060. Brown RT, Evans JL, Valle K, Guzman D, Chen YH, Kushel MB. PMID: 36036902; PMCID: PMC9425284.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. Association between residential segregation and Black-White disparities in frequent mental distress among older adults. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2022 09; 37(9). Reddy KP, Brown RT. PMID: 35949159.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. What matters when it comes to measuring Age-Friendly Health System transformation. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2022 10; 70(10):2775-2785. Burke RE, Ashcraft LE, Manges K, Kinosian B, Lamberton CM, Bowen ME, Brown RT, Mavandadi S, Hall DE, Werner RM. PMID: 36053842.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    11. Changes in the Hierarchy of Functional Impairment From Middle Age to Older Age. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2022 08 12; 77(8):1577-1584. Brown RT, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Boscardin WJ, Cappola AR, Lee SJ, Steinman MA. PMID: 34498040; PMCID: PMC9373945.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Benzodiazepine and antipsychotic use among hospitalized older adults before versus after restricting visitation: March to May 2020. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2022 10; 70(10):2988-2995. Brown RT, Shultz K, Karlawish J, Zhou Y, Xie D, Ryskina KL. PMID: 35775444; PMCID: PMC9588494.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    13. Gender Disparity in Lead Authorship Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: No News Is Bad News? J Gen Intern Med. 2022 08; 37(11):2908-2910. Ryskina KL, Anderson J, Stites SD, Brown RT. PMID: 35411526; PMCID: PMC8999991.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    14. When Functional Impairment Develops Early: Perspectives from Middle-Aged Adults. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 01; 38(1):90-97. Xu E, Nicosia FM, Zamora K, Barrientos M, Spar MJ, Reyes-Farias D, Karliner LS, Potter MB, Brown RT. PMID: 35391621; PMCID: PMC9849615.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    15. Rebooting Instrumental Activities of Daily Living for the 21st Century. Ann Intern Med. 2022 02; 175(2):278-279. Fessler EB, Brown RT, Miller RK. PMID: 34928697.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Selecting implementation strategies to drive Age-Friendly Health System Adoption. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2022 01; 70(1):313-318. Burke RE, Brown RT, Kinosian B. PMID: 34651696.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. A Community Partnership to House and Care for Complex Patients with Unstable Housing. NEJM Catal Innov Care Deliv. 2021 Aug; 2(8). Gondi S, Berchuck SI, Brown RT, Hinderlie M, Easton L, Smith L, Berchuck JE, Burden HS, Berchuck CM. PMID: 34514431; PMCID: PMC8425482.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    18. Older adults' access to primary care: Gender, racial, and ethnic disparities in telemedicine. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 10; 69(10):2732-2740. Ryskina KL, Shultz K, Zhou Y, Lautenbach G, Brown RT. PMID: 34224577; PMCID: PMC8497419.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 17     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    19. Association of hospitalization with driving reduction and cessation in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 08; 69(8):2231-2239. Gaulton TG, Neuman MD, Brown RT, Betz ME. PMID: 33864381; PMCID: PMC8751345.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Investigating Sleep Disturbance and Its Correlates Among Formerly Homeless Adults in Permanent Supportive Housing. Med Care. 2021 04 01; 59(Suppl 2):S206-S211. Henwood BF, Rhoades H, Dzubur E, Madden DR, Redline B, Brown RT. PMID: 33710097; PMCID: PMC7959063.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. "The More They Know, the Better Care They Can Give": Patient Perspectives on Measuring Functional Status in Primary Care. J Gen Intern Med. 2020 10; 35(10):2947-2954. Nicosia FM, Spar MJ, Neumann A, Silvestrini MC, Barrientos M, Brown RT. PMID: 32749552; PMCID: PMC7573015.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Moving prevention of functional impairment upstream: is middle age an ideal time for intervention? Womens Midlife Health. 2020; 6:4. Brown RT, Covinsky KE. PMID: 32695430; PMCID: PMC7366897.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3  
    23. Risk Factors for Falls in Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness: Results from the HOPE HOME Cohort Study. J Gen Intern Med. 2020 06; 35(6):1813-1820. Abbs E, Brown R, Guzman D, Kaplan L, Kushel M. PMID: 31965522; PMCID: PMC7280424.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. "We Have a Long Way to Go:" A Case Study Examination of Older Women Veterans' Experiences in VA Primary Care. Inquiry. 2020 Jan-Dec; 57:46958020931311. Silvestrini M, Nicosia F, Spar MJ, Gibson CJ, Brown RT. PMID: 32525421; PMCID: PMC7290258.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    25. Examining fall risk among formerly homeless older adults living in permanent supportive housing. Health Soc Care Community. 2020 05; 28(3):842-849. Henwood BF, Rhoades H, Lahey J, Pynoos J, Pitts DB, Brown RT. PMID: 31815341; PMCID: PMC7124982.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    26. Trajectories of functional impairment in homeless older adults: Results from the HOPE HOME study. PLoS One. 2019; 14(8):e0221020. Brown RT, Guzman D, Kaplan LM, Ponath C, Lee CT, Kushel MB. PMID: 31408488; PMCID: PMC6692032.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    27. Geriatric Conditions Among Formerly Homeless Older Adults Living in Permanent Supportive Housing. J Gen Intern Med. 2019 06; 34(6):802-803. Henwood BF, Lahey J, Rhoades H, Pitts DB, Pynoos J, Brown RT. PMID: 30604125; PMCID: PMC6544727.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. Association of Functional Impairment in Middle Age With Hospitalization, Nursing Home Admission, and Death. JAMA Intern Med. 2019 05 01; 179(5):668-675. Brown RT, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Boscardin WJ, Lee SJ, Williams BA, Steinman MA. PMID: 30958504; PMCID: PMC6503566.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    29. Making Function Part of the Conversation: Clinician Perspectives on Measuring Functional Status in Primary Care. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2019 03; 67(3):493-502. Nicosia FM, Spar MJ, Steinman MA, Lee SJ, Brown RT. PMID: 30506667; PMCID: PMC6402957.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    30. Frailty as an Outcome in Geriatrics Research: Not Ready for Prime Time? Ann Intern Med. 2018 03 06; 168(5):361-362. Brown RT, Covinsky KE. PMID: 29310132; PMCID: PMC5840034.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    31. Wealth-Associated Disparities in Death and Disability in the United States and England. JAMA Intern Med. 2017 12 01; 177(12):1745-1753. Makaroun LK, Brown RT, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Ahalt C, Boscardin WJ, Lang-Brown S, Lee S. PMID: 29059279; PMCID: PMC5820733.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. Functional Impairment and Decline in Middle Age: A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2017 Dec 05; 167(11):761-768. Brown RT, Diaz-Ramirez LG, Boscardin WJ, Lee SJ, Steinman MA. PMID: 29132150; PMCID: PMC5716833.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 37     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    33. Current approaches to measuring functional status among older adults in VA primary care clinics. Fed Pract. 2017 Sep; 34(9):26-31. Spar MJ, Nicosia FM, Steinman MA, Brown RT. PMID: 29706753; PMCID: PMC5915328.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4  
    34. Geriatric Conditions in a Population-Based Sample of Older Homeless Adults. Gerontologist. 2017 08 01; 57(4):757-766. Brown RT, Hemati K, Riley ED, Lee CT, Ponath C, Tieu L, Guzman D, Kushel MB. PMID: 26920935; PMCID: PMC5881727.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 50     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    35. Bringing functional status into a big data world: Validation of national Veterans Affairs functional status data. PLoS One. 2017; 12(6):e0178726. Brown RT, Komaiko KD, Shi Y, Fung KZ, Boscardin WJ, Au-Yeung A, Tarasovsky G, Jacob R, Steinman MA. PMID: 28570678; PMCID: PMC5453575.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    36. Good Cop, Better Cop: Evaluation of a Geriatrics Training Program for Police. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2017 Aug; 65(8):1842-1847. Brown RT, Ahalt C, Rivera J, Stijacic Cenzer I, Wilhelm A, Williams BA. PMID: 28436006; PMCID: PMC5555774.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    37. Older and incarcerated: policy implications of aging prison populations. Int J Prison Health. 2017 03 13; 13(1):57-63. Psick Z, Simon J, Brown R, Ahalt C. PMID: 28299972; PMCID: PMC5812446.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    38. Pathways to Homelessness among Older Homeless Adults: Results from the HOPE HOME Study. PLoS One. 2016; 11(5):e0155065. Brown RT, Goodman L, Guzman D, Tieu L, Ponath C, Kushel MB. PMID: 27163478; PMCID: PMC4862628.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 20     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    39. The Course of Functional Impairment in Older Homeless Adults: Disabled on the Street. JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Jul; 175(7):1237-9. Cimino T, Steinman MA, Mitchell SL, Miao Y, Bharel M, Barnhart CE, Brown RT. PMID: 26011591; PMCID: PMC4494897.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    40. Health Outcomes of Obtaining Housing Among Older Homeless Adults. Am J Public Health. 2015 Jul; 105(7):1482-8. Brown RT, Miao Y, Mitchell SL, Bharel M, Patel M, Ard KL, Grande LJ, Blazey-Martin D, Floru D, Steinman MA. PMID: 25973822; PMCID: PMC4458186.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    41. Case 38-2014: A man with sore throat, hoarseness, fatigue, and dyspnea. N Engl J Med. 2015 03 05; 372(10):981-2. Brown RT, Steinman MA. PMID: 25738685.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    42. Police on the front line of community geriatric health care: challenges and opportunities. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014 Nov; 62(11):2191-8. Brown RT, Ahalt C, Steinman MA, Kruger K, Williams BA. PMID: 25378267; PMCID: PMC4349487.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    43. Functional disability in late-middle-aged and older adults admitted to a safety-net hospital. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014 Nov; 62(11):2056-63. Brown RT, Pierluissi E, Guzman D, Kessell ER, Goldman LE, Sarkar U, Schneidermann M, Critchfield JM, Kushel MB. PMID: 25367281; PMCID: PMC4241128.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    44. Use of acute care services among older homeless adults. JAMA Intern Med. 2013 Oct 28; 173(19):1831-4. Brown RT, Kiely DK, Bharel M, Grande LJ, Mitchell SL. PMID: 23752708; PMCID: PMC3975053.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    45. Factors associated with geriatric syndromes in older homeless adults. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2013 May; 24(2):456-68. Brown RT, Kiely DK, Bharel M, Mitchell SL. PMID: 23728022; PMCID: PMC3671483.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 21     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    46. Characteristics of emergency department visits by older versus younger homeless adults in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2013 Jun; 103(6):1046-51. Brown RT, Steinman MA. PMID: 23597348; PMCID: PMC3670659.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    47. Meeting the Housing and Care Needs of Older Homeless Adults: A Permanent Supportive Housing Program Targeting Homeless Elders. Seniors Hous Care J. 2013 Jan 01; 21(1):126-135. Brown RT, Thomas ML, Cutler DF, Hinderlie M. PMID: 24729832; PMCID: PMC3980491.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4  
    48. Geriatric syndromes in older homeless adults. J Gen Intern Med. 2012 Jan; 27(1):16-22. Brown RT, Kiely DK, Bharel M, Mitchell SL. PMID: 21879368; PMCID: PMC3250555.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 92     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    49. Dementia medications and risk of falls, syncope, and related adverse events: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 Jun; 59(6):1019-31. Kim DH, Brown RT, Ding EL, Kiel DP, Berry SD. PMID: 21649634; PMCID: PMC3260523.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 39     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    50. Health care access and utilization in older versus younger homeless adults. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2010 Aug; 21(3):1060-70. Brown RT, Kimes RV, Guzman D, Kushel M. PMID: 20693744.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    51. Dance and reducing television viewing to prevent weight gain in African-American girls: the Stanford GEMS pilot study. Ethn Dis. 2003; 13(1 Suppl 1):S65-77. Robinson TN, Killen JD, Kraemer HC, Wilson DM, Matheson DM, Haskell WL, Pruitt LA, Powell TM, Owens AS, Thompson NS, Flint-Moore NM, Davis GJ, Emig KA, Brown RT, Rochon J, Green S, Varady A. PMID: 12713212.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 102     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
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