Research Team

Dr. Binder is a geriatrician and a Professor of Medicine and Occupational Therapy at Washington University (WU) School of Medicine in St. Louis. She is also the Director of the WU Geriatric Medicine fellowship program.  Dr. Binder’s research has focused on interventions to reduce or delay functional and cognitive decline in older adults, and to improve recovery after hip fracture, primarily through exercise and hormonal therapies. Dr. Binder conducted studies previously that informed the the design of the STEP-HI trial and is a co-Principal Investigator, Director of the Clinical Coordinating Center, and will lead the St. Louis site.

View Dr. Binder’s Washington University profile.

Dr. Magaziner is Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Director of the University’s Center for Research on Aging. His research has concentrated on functional and physiological consequences of hip fracture and on developing and evaluating strategies for maximizing recovery. He received two consecutive MERIT Awards from the NIA in recognition of his contributions in the area of hip fracture recovery.   Dr. Magaziner is a co-Prinicipal Investigator for the STEP-HI study.

View Dr. Magaziner’s University of Maryland School of Medicine profile.

Dr. Schechtman is a Professor of Biostatistics and Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine. He is an applied statistician with expertise in the design and anaylsis of clinical trials. Dr. Schechtman has broad experience in the conduct of both small clinical trials and large multicenter clinical trials, especially in the areas of cardiology and exercise physiology. Dr. Schechtman is a co-Principal Investigator for the STEP-HI study and Director of the Data Coordinating Center.

View Dr. Schechtman’s Washington University profile.

Dr. Berry is a geriatrician and clinical researcher with expertise in falls and fractures, particularly in the nursing home setting. She has experience working with large, observational studies including the Framingham Osteoporosis Study, MOBILIZE Boston, and linked Medicare claims databases. She is the Program Director for the Harvard Multicampus Geriatric Fellowship program, serves in leadership roles for the American Geriatrics Society and the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.  She is a co-Investigator at the STEP-HI Boston site.

View Dr. Berry’s Hebrew SeniorLife profile.

Adrian Sandra Dobs, MD, MHS, is Professor of Medicine and Oncology and Director of the Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. Dr. Dobs is an investigator on several NIH-funded studies evaluating the relationship of sex hormones (including testosterone) and chronic illnesses. She lectures in the United States and internationally in these areas, as well as on aging and testosterone therapy. She is a co-Investigator for the STEP-HI study at Johns Hopkins Health.

View Dr. Dobs’ Johns Hopkins Medicine profile.

Richard H. Fortinsky, PhD, is Professor and Health Net Inc. Endowed Chair in Geriatrics and Gerontology at the UConn Center on Aging, University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Dr. Fortinsky is trained in gerontology and medical sociology. His research focuses on improving care systems and health-related outcomes for community-dwelling older adults and their family caregivers, particularly in the context of cognitive vulnerability and in rehabilitation following hip fracture. Together with Dr. Kuchel, he leads the study at the UConn site.

View Dr. Fortinsky’s UConn profile.

Dr. Kiel’s research focuses on the epidemiology of osteoporosis and related fractures, including lifestyle factors, biomarkers, and genetic factors.  He is also interested in sarcopenia (muscle loss from aging) and its consequences, including falls and disability.  He has conducted multiple clinical trials targeting the musculoskeletal system.  He leads the Framingham Osteoporosis Study, and serves in leadership roles for many organizations including the NIH, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, National Osteoporosis Foundation, and the Joint Commission.  Dr. Kiel is Site Director for the STEP-HI Boston site.

View Dr. Kiel’s HebrewSenior Life profile.

George A. Kuchel, MD is the Travelers Chair in Geriatrics and Gerontology, and Director of the UConn Center on Aging at the University of Connecticut in Farmington, CT. Dr. Kuchel is board certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. His research focuses on geroscience including the development and validation of interventions into aging that are individualized and guided by latest breakthroughs in aging sciences. Together with Dr. Fortinsky, he leads the study at the UConn site.

View Dr. Kuchel’s UConn profile.

Robin L. Marcus, PT, PhD is a Professor of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training and Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs in the College of Health and the Chief Wellness Officer for University of Utah Health. She is a Board-Certified Clinical Orthopedic Specialist in Physical Therapy and has been a practicing physical therapist for over 30 years.  Her research focuses on ways to improve physical function and mobility in older adults with mobility limitations.  She is especially interested in translating successful laboratory investigations of lifestyle interventions to the community where they can be scaled to the larger population.  Dr. Marcus is the STEP-HI site director at the University of Utah clinical site.

View Dr. Marcus’ University of Utah profile.

Christine McDonough is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and in Orthopaedic Surgery. Her primary areas of research include the development and testing of patient-centered outcome measures using item response theory and computer adaptive testing methods, clinical and health services research in fall and fracture prevention and management for older adults, the measurement of function for work disability determination and rehabilitation, and cost-effectiveness of alternative management approaches for musculoskeletal disorders. She provides methodological expertise and serves as Editor of Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Orthopaedic Section and Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association. She has worked for several years in commercialization of technologies and medical devices in rehabilitation and pediatrics.  Dr. McDonough is the STEP-HI site director of the University of Pittsburgh clinical site.

Visit Dr. McDonough’s University of Pittsburgh profile.

Dr. Orwig is a gerontologist specializing in biobehavioral aspects of aging and Director of the Baltimore Hip Studies (BHS), a research program dedicated to optimizing recovery from hip fracture. Dr. Orwig’s primary research expertise is in the areas of intervention trials, and longitudinal research methods including study design, recruitment and retention strategies, conducting performance measures, developing interventions to maximize recovery, and translating interventions into the community. She has lead eight cohort studies that included more than 3,500 hip fracture patients, and four randomized trials involving large interdisciplinary research teams.  Dr. Orwig is a Co-Investigator at the University of Maryland for the STEP-HI study. 

View Dr. Orwig’s University of Maryland profile.

Dr. Stevens-Lapsley is a Professor of Physical Therapy at the University of Colorado and Director of the Rehabilitation Science PhD Program. Her research focuses on identifying, integrating, and advancing innovative evidence-based solutions for older adult rehabilitation. She has 20 years of clinical research experience in patients with osteoarthritis who are planning joint arthroplasty, and more recently, medically complex patient populations. Dr. Stevens-Lapsley is the Lead Physical Therapist for STEP-HI, providing fidelity oversight of the exercise interventions, and a study co-Investigator.

View Dr. Stevens-Lapsley’s University of Colorado Health profile.

Dr. Volpi is the Director of the Sealy Center on Aging, Associate Director of the Institute for Translational Sciences and CTSA, and a Professor in the departments of Internal Medicine-Geriatrics, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, and Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She is an expert in translational research on sarcopenia and functional recovery in older adults. Her major scientific contributions include discovery of pathways of muscle loss, and identification and testing of novel nutritional, exercise and pharmacological treatments to improve muscle metabolism and function in elders.  Dr. Volpi is Site Director for the Galveston STEP-HI site.

View Dr. Volpi’s University of Texas profile.