Stark Lab

Congratulations to coauthors on the publication on our Delphi study of a dyadic social support intervention for people with TBI!

We built consensus on intervention components among a panel through three iterative surveys. This collaborative, community-engaged approach to intervention development can generate interventions that are both theoretically sound and implementable in the context where they are most needed.

Another publication hot off the presses! We found that TIMM, a tailored medication management intervention for older adults, is feasible, acceptable and may reduce barriers and improve performance of medication management.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Medication Intervention for Older Adults - Emily Somerville, Rebecca M. Bollinger, Meghan Haxton, Brianna Holden, Szu-Wei Chen, Audrey Keleman, Behnaz Sarrami, Yan Yan, Susan Stark, 2026 Interventions to address polypharmacy and improve adherence are insufficient for community-dwelling older adults. To examine the feasibility, acceptability, and...

Our article on fall research funding relative to the public health burden of falls is now available online in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

We found that research funding on falls is disproportionately low despite the significant impact falls have on health and mortality for older adults. Addressing this gap in fall prevention funding is especially urgent as the aging population grows.

https://buff.ly/ovhJA4S

Fall research funding in the US from 2018-2022 relative to fall-related mortality, disability-adjusted life years, and healthcare expenditures - Maya S. Samih, Melissa J. Krauss, Susan L. Stark, 2026 Purpose To examine the relationship between fall-related mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), healthcare expenditures, and research funding and det...

WashU School of Public Health has a new name: WashU Bursky School of Public Health! The Bursky Family Foundation’s $200M commitment will be transformational for our school and for public health. We are so excited for the work that can happen as a result of this commitment.

WashU Bursky School of Public Health WashU Bursky School of Public Health leads interdisciplinary research, education, and public health innovation to improve health locally and globally.

Reminder: Susy will be speaking at the Aging with Developmental Disabilities Conference at the St. Charles Convention Center tomorrow afternoon!

The dangers of falls for older adults are widely acknowledged, but falls can also threaten the safety, health and independence of adults aging with disabilities. However, falls can be prevented. Join us to learn more about how to minimize the risk of falls for adults aging with developmental disabilities.

Susy was recently featured in The New York Times - Well - Health! Check out the story, highlighting recommendations for how to prevent falls at home!

How Do I Prevent Falls at Home? Dangerous trips and slips can happen to anyone, but they can often be averted by taking a few common-sense steps.

We are excited to announce that our undergraduate research assistant Izzy Erdmann was selected for WashU's Summer Undergraduate Research Guided Experience (SURGE) program! Congratulations, Izzy!

Are you attending the Aging with Developmental Disabilities (AADD) Conference in May? Come to Susy’s session, “Minimizing Fall Risks for Adults Aging with Developmental Disabilities,” on May 12 at 1:15 p.m.!

The session will focus on the risk of falls in different living environments for individuals aging with developmental disabilities and practical strategies for implementing evidence-based approaches to reduce and prevent falls.

More info: https://buff.ly/zCfFao8

We loved seeing this feature on our good friend Bill Siedhoff in the March issue of WashU Magazine! Bill is a Brown School alumnus who spent decades working for state and city agencies to support and advocate for people with disabilities, older adults, children, and people experiencing homelessness.

A legacy of service Bill Siedhoff has worked decades in the public sector at the local and state levels. At 84, he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

New York Times Wirecutter recently released their reviews and rankings of shower chairs, featuring input from our friends Jon Sanford and Ian Rice!

These Shower Chairs Make Bathing Safer for Everyone The best shower chair for you depends on your needs and bathroom setup. We tested 20 chairs in seven bathrooms and have six to recommend.