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Carol Ann Podgorski, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.

Carol Ann Podgorski, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.

she/her/hers

About Me

Carol Podgorski, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair of Faculty Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry. She received a PhD in sociology and master's degrees in public health and marriage and family therapy from the University of Rochester. She holds the following positions within the URMC: Direct...
Carol Podgorski, PhD, is Professor and Associate Chair of Faculty Affairs in the Department of Psychiatry. She received a PhD in sociology and master's degrees in public health and marriage and family therapy from the University of Rochester. She holds the following positions within the URMC: Director of the Finger Lakes Center of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease, Clinic Director of the UR Medicine Memory Care Program, Psychiatry Department Discipline Chief for Marriage and Family Therapy, Director of Alzheimer’s Disease Support Programs for the University of Rochester Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, and Co-Leader of the Vital Living Core of the University of Rochester Aging Institute. She provides patient care in the UR Medicine Memory Care Program and in the University Mental Health Practice. She is a member, Clinical Fellow, and Approved Supervisor of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), a member and Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America, a member of the Alzheimer's Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment, a member of the Monroe Community Hospital Foundation Board, a member of the Monroe County Council for Elders, and serves on the Medical/Scientific Advisory Committee of the Rochester/Finger Lakes Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. She also serves as an appointed member on the CMS Advisory Panel for Outreach and Education and on the New York State Council for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia. She has held leadership positions in multiple organizations and currently serves as the AAMFT-NY Leader of Family Therapy Education and Advocacy Movement (Family TEAM). Her academic interests include medical family therapy approaches to caregiving, and development of family systems-oriented models of patient- and family-centered dementia care.

Faculty Appointments

Professor - Department of Psychiatry (SMD)

Credentials

Education

MS | University of Rochester - School of Medicine & Dentistry. Marriage & Family Therapy. 2005

PhD | University of Rochester. Sociology. 1990

MPH | Univ Rochester Sch Med/Dent. Public Health. 1985

BA | University of Rochester. Sociology/Psychology. 1980

Awards

Excellence in Advocacy Awardee for Volunteer Advocate. 2023

Family-Oriented Care Award. 2021

Pieter leRoux Excellence in Supervision Award. 2015

The Outstanding Graduate Program Director Award. 2014

Susan H. McDaniel Excellence in Teaching Award. 2014

Outstanding Mentor Award. 2013

John Baum, MD Lectureship Award. 2008

Susan H. McDaniel Excellence in Teaching Award. 2008

Innovations in Prevention Award. 2005

Athena Award Nominee. 2002

Leadership Rochester Program. 1993 - 1994

Center on Aging Summer Fellowship, University of Rochester. 1986

University of Rochester Graduate Fellowship. 1980 - 1986

University of Rochester Prize Scholarship. 1976 - 1980

Bausch and Lomb Science Award. 1976

Publications

Journal Articles

Social network subtypes among socially disconnected older adults at risk for suicide: A latent class analysis.

Parkhurst KA, Daks JS, Conwell Y, Podgorski CA, Van Orden KA

Suicide & life-threatening behavior.. 2022 October 52 (5):963-974. Epub 06/23/2022.

Strategies to Promote Social Connections Among Older Adults During "Social Distancing" Restrictions.

Van Orden KA, Bower E, Lutz J, Silva C, Gallegos AM, Podgorski CA, Santos EJ, Conwell Y

The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.. 2021 August 29 (8):816-827. Epub 05/18/2020.

A Biopsychosocial-Ecological Framework for Family-Framed Dementia Care.

Podgorski CA, Anderson SD, Parmar J

Frontiers in psychiatry.. 2021 12 :744806. Epub 12/17/2021.

The association between higher social support and lower depressive symptoms among aging services clients is attenuated at higher levels of functional impairment.

Van Orden KA, Li Y, Podgorski CA, Conwell Y

International journal of geriatric psychiatry.. 2015 October 30 (10):1085-92. Epub 02/06/2015.

Towards an Outcome-Based Assessment of Clinical Readiness for Marriage and Family Therapy Training: the Development of the Rochester Objective Structural Clinical Evaluation (ROSCE)

LeRoux, P.; Podgorski, C.; Rosenberg, T.; Watson, W.; McDaniel, S.H.

Family Process. 2011; .

Depression and its correlates among older adults accessing aging services

Richardson, T.M.; Know, K.; Friedman, B.; Fisher, S.; He, H.; Podgorski, C.; Conwell, Y.

American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2011; .

Suicide prevention for older adults in residential communities: implications for policy and practice.

Podgorski CA, Langford L, Pearson JL, Conwell Y

PLoS medicine.. 2010 May 187 (5):e1000254. Epub 05/18/2010.

Mental distress and service utilization among help-seeing, community-dwelling ol

Simning A., Richardson TM, Friedman B, Boyle LL, Podgorski, C., Conwell Y.

International Psychogeriatrics. 2010; 22(5): 739-749.

Screening depression aging services clients

Richardson, T.M.; Hua, H.; Podgorski, C.; Tu, X.; Conwell, Y.

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010; 18(12): 1116-1123.

Podgorski CA, King DA.

Losing function – staying connected: Family dynamics in provision of care for

The patient's perspective: Results of a survey assessing knowledge about and attitudes toward depression in PD

Richard IH, LaDonna K, Hartman R, Podgorski C, Kurlan R. and the SAD-PD Study Group.

Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2007; 3(6): 903-906.

Community Interventions for Older Adults with Comorbid Substance Abuse: The Geriatric Addictions Program (GAP)

D'Agostino, C. S.; Barry, K. L.; Blow, F. C.; Podgorski, C.

Journal of Dual Diagnosis. 2006; 2: 31,45.

Prescribing exercise for older adults: a comparison of primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants

Dauenhauer J, Podgorski C.

Gerontology and Geriatrics Education. 2006; 26(3): 81-99.

Podgorski CA, Kessler K, Cacia B, Peterson DR, Henderson CM.

A fitness intervention for older

Watt CA, Carosella AM, Podgorski C, Ossip-Klein DJ.

Attitudes towards giving smoking cessation

Dementia consults: predictors of compliance by primary care physicians

Podgorski,C. A.; Lanning,B. D.; Casaceli,C. J.; Nardi,A. L.; Cox,C.

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias. 2002; 17(1): 44,50.

Carosella AM, Ossip-Klein JH, Watt CA; Podgorski C.

Smoking history, knowledge, and attitudes

Withdrawal From Controlled Carbamazepine Therapy Followed by Further Carbamazepine Treatment in Patients With Dementia

Tariot PN, Jakimovich LJ, Erb, R, Cox C, Lanning B, Irvine, C, Podgorski CA.

J Clin Psychiatry. 1999; 60: 684-689.

Test Characteristics of the Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 (SF-36) in a Nursing Home Population

Andresen EM, Gravitt GW, Aydelotte ME, Podgorski CA.

Age and Aging. 1999; 28(562-566).

Efficacy and Tolerability of Carbamazepine for Agitation and Aggression in Dementia

Tariot PN, Erb R, Podgorski CA, Cox C, Patel S, Jakimovich L, Irvine C.

Am J Psychiatry. 1998; 155: 54-61.

Tariot PN, Goldstein B, Podgorski CA, Cox C, Frambes N.

Short-term Administration of Selegiline

Cross-Discipline Disparities in Perceptions of Mental Disorders in a Long-Term Care Facility

Podgorski CA, Tariot PN, Blazina L, Cox C, Leibovici A.

J Am Geriatr Soc. 1996; 44: 792-797.

Attitude toward Self-Determined Death: A Survey of Primary Care Physicians

Duberstein P, Conwell Y, Cox C, Podgorski CA, Glazer RS, Caine ED.

J Am Geriatr Soc. 1995; 43: 395-400.

Lack of Carbamazepine Toxicity in Frail Nursing Home Patients in A Controlled Study

Tariot PN, Frederiksen K, Erb R, Leibovici A, Podgorski CA, Asnis J, Cox C.

J Am Geriatr Soc. 1995; 43: 1026-1029.

Tariot PN, Erb R, Leibovici A, Podgorski CA, Cox C, Asnis J, Kolassa J, Irvine C.

Carbamazepine Treatment of Agitation in Nursing Home Patients with Dementia:

Mental Disorders in the Nursing Home: Another Perspective

Tariot PN, Podgorski CA, Blazina L, Leibovici, A.

Am J Psychiatry. 1993; 150: 1063-1069.

Leaders and Milestones: The Maturation of Geriatric Medicine in the United States

Podgorski, C.A.

Doctoral Dissertation. 1990; .

How Does the Team Approach to Outpatient Geriatric Evaluation Compare with Traditional Care: A Report of a Randomized Control Trial

Williams ME, Williams TF, Zimmer JG, Hall WJ, Podgorski CA.

JAGS. 1987; 35(1071-1078).

Books

The Encyclopedia of Elder Care (2017)

Chapter: Assessing Needs of Family Caregivers

Authors: Podgorski, C & Cornell, A

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company, New York 2017

Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (2017)

Chapter: "Family intervention and therapy with older adults".

Authors: Podgorski CA; DeCaporale-Ryan L; Cornell AE; King DA

Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Health 2017

DSM-5 and Family Systems: An Applied Approach (2017)

Chapter: Neurocognitive Disorders: Systemic Functionality and Interconnectedness

Authors: Podgorski, C.

Publisher: Springer Publishing, New York 2017

Encyclopedia of Elder Care (2013)

Chapter: "Assessing Needs of Family Caregivers"

Authors: Podgorski, C & Cornell, A

Publisher: Springer Publishing, New York 2013

Encyclopedia of Family Health (2010)

Chapter: Chronic health problems and interventions for the elderly family

Authors: Podgorski, CA; Cornell, AE

Publisher: Sage Publicatiions, Thousand Oaks 2010

Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (2010)

Chapter: Family intervention and therapy with older adults

Authors: King DA, Podgorski C, Shields CG.

Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia 2010