Clin-STAR Awardee Spotlight
Laura Baehr, PT, DPT, PhD
Assistant Professor, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences Department
Drexel University
Clin-STAR Aging Research Development and Training Grant – 2024
Fostering collaborative community partnerships to support the health of marginalized older adults
Only 15% of community dwelling older adults engage in the recommended physical activity guidelines for health maintenance. Marginalized older adults (e.g. living with mobility limitations and/or social risk) are more likely to be inactive compared to age matched peers. There is strong evidence that community-based exercise promotes physical activity by older adults, but the perspectives of those who are marginalized and most in need of these interventions are rarely prioritized during planning stages. The purpose of this project is to build capacity for longstanding, equitable community-based exercise research partnerships with organizations providing free or low-cost health promotion services to older adults in Philadelphia.
Mentor
Michael S. Wolf, PhD, MPH, MA
Northwestern University, Center for Applied Health Research on Aging
Research Interests: Cognitive aging, health services research, management of multiple chronic conditions
Age-related condition studied in research project:
- Multiple chronic conditions, social determinants of health, lifestyle health behaviors
Impact of research project:
- Clinical
- Translation
- Economic
- Psychosocial
- Health Equity
Clin-STAR Grantee Interview
How did you first find out about Clin-STAR’s research development grant program?
I found out about Clin-STAR through my colleagues in aging research and through NIA networked email listservs. I joined the inaugural Clin-STAR Health Equity Scholars program in 2023!
What inspired you to pursue aging research and how does your perspective as a non-geriatrician specialist contribute to your research activity?
My clinical work as a physical therapist in community health clinics working with older adults drove my commitment to aging research. My perspectives as a physical therapist and rehabilitation scientist informs my research on the importance of physical activity for health across the lifespan, especially for those living with chronic conditions and/or physical disabilities.
In your view, what does Clin-STAR mean to the field and what does it mean for you to receive a Clin-STAR grant now?
Clin-STAR is an incredible network that is expediting interdisciplinary connections, collaborations, and training opportunities to advance aging research innovations. It is especially meaningful for me to receive a Clin-STAR grant now because I’ve recently started as an Assistant Professor at Drexel University. My Clin-STAR training plan and associated project will lay the groundwork for my lab and career in aging research.
What’s exciting about your research’s potential impact to your career, field, and patients?
Physical activity is a critical lifestyle behavior for older adults, but few evidence-based interventions are integrated into their intended settings outside of the lab. This implementation gap drives my research agenda to increase the adoption and scale of community-based exercise interventions for older adults. My research will have real-world impact, empowering older adults and community partners through physical activity programs for health prevention and maintenance. I am specifically focused on prioritizing the perspectives of older adults with mobility limitations and social risk during planning and assessment to improve health equity.
How have you collaborated with your mentor or co-investigators?
I am a visiting scholar to the Northwestern Center for Applied Health Research on Aging (CAHRA), directed by my mentor Michael Wolf, PhD, MPH, MA. I have participated twice in the NIA supported Evidence to Impact R13 workshop, co-led by Dr. Janet Prvu Bettger, ScD, FAHA.