Dr. Elizabeth Rhodus: Joining Faculty a Great Opportunity to Improve Health for Older Adults

A new year will bring forth an exciting new career opportunity for Elizabeth Rhodus, PhD, OTR/L.

In November, she accepted a position as assistant professor in the UK College of Medicine Department of Behavioral Science and Sanders-Brown Center on Aging which will begin in January 2022.

“This is such an exciting time in my career,” Dr. Rhodus said. “Joining as faculty means having greater opportunities to make an impact for older adults in our state and beyond. I’m thrilled to get started.”

As a rural Kentucky native and occupational therapist with experience serving older adults in Appalachia, Dr. Rhodus gained a unique perspective on how tailored intervention and behavioral support can benefit underserved communities.

Dr. Rhodus joined the UK College of Public Health in 2015 pursuing a PhD in gerontology with a goal to improve evidence-based practice for adults with dementia. In 2019, she continued her training at UK as a T32 postdoctoral fellow in the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging.

Her promotion to College of Medicine faculty capped an eventful year of postdoctoral training. Her team recently completed a small randomized, controlled trial that examined feasibility of a telehealth occupational therapy intervention called “Harmony at HOME (Help Online Modifying the Environment).” The intervention uses environmental and sensory-based approaches in the home to reduce behavioral symptoms of dementia in community-residing older adults.

“This was the springboard for pilot data and early grants to establish my research program,” she said.

Building on the initial study of Harmony at HOME, Dr. Rhodus collaborated with Allison Gibson, PhD, MSW, of the College of Social Work to adapt the intervention specifically for the needs of individuals residing in rural communities in Kentucky. The team received funding through Emory University’s Roybal Center for Dementia Caregiving Mastery for this adaptation.

Through her new faculty position, she wants to address health care gaps and policy improvements that enable older adults to age at home in rural communities despite living with cognitive impairment. Her research interests include behavioral approaches to enhance activity engagement, health, and quality of life for older adults and individuals living with disabilities.

The College of Medicine is excited to welcome Dr. Rhodus to our faculty!