Lori Simon-Rusinowitz, MPH, PhD

Lori Simon-Rusinowitz, M.P.H., Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Health Services Administration and Interim Director of the Center on Aging. From 1995-2012, Dr. Simon-Rusinowitz served as the Research Director for the three-state Cash & Counseling Demonstration and Evaluation, the twelve-state Next Steps replication project, and the National Resource Center on Participant-Directed Services. These national programs involved designing, implementing, and evaluating a participant-directed approach to personal care services for people of all ages with disabilities. This approach emphasizes independence and choice for people who need help with personal activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. This applied policy research played a key role in introducing participant-direction to the aging community. Dr. Simon-Rusinowitz has published and presented extensively on this topic.

Building on her previous experience, Dr. Simon-Rusinowitz is currently addressing “age-friendly communities” (also called communities for a lifetime). To launch the implementation of unfunded 2011 Maryland legislation, “Maryland Communities for a Lifetime,” she has written a policy brief for the Maryland Department of Aging and presented findings to several Maryland audiences. She is leading a team in conducting a needs assessment of low-income, racially/ethnically diverse elders that will inform development of age-friendly services in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She also led a Community Health Needs Assessment for two hospitals in Prince George’s County. These projects are initial steps toward establishing a larger university initiative – in partnership with state and local stakeholders – to help implement Maryland Communities for a Lifetime.

In addition to her research responsibilities, Dr. Simon-Rusinowitz currently teaches Health Policy and Politics, Qualitative Research Methods, Oral and Written Communication, and coordinates the graduate internship program in the Department of Health Services Administration. She is also the Department Graduate Program Director and the Graduate Gerontology Certificate Program Director.