Dr. Mary Tinetti Named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow

Mary Tinetti, M.D., has been named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow for 2009 and will receive a five-year, $500,000 "genius" grant. Dr. Tinetti is director of the Yale Program on Aging, and her colleagues at the Connecticut Center for Fall Prevention work closely with LifeCare on its comprehensive suite of fall prevention services through an agreement with Yale University.

Tinetti was the first investigator to show that older adults at risk for falling and injury could be identified, that falls and injuries were associated with a range of serious adverse outcomes, and that multifaceted risk-reduction strategies were both effective and cost-effective. She is involved in ongoing efforts to translate these research findings into clinical and public health practice.

In response to the news about Dr. Tinetti's fellowship, Yale President Richard C. Levin said, "Mary's work on fall prevention not only improves the health of the elderly but has led to millions of dollars in reduced healthcare costs. We are all eager to see what other insights her MacArthur Grant will inspire."

"I hope to use this grant to further the work of incorporating fall prevention into the healthcare of older adults and to further explore the complexities of clinical decision-making in the face of multiple co-existing diseases," said Tinetti.

Read more about Dr. Tinetti and her award.

Read more about LifeCare's fall prevention services.

Media contact: Michael Civiello
pr1@lifecare.com
203-291-3756