Helen Kales, Professor -MD.

JAD profile

Affiliation(s): 

University of Michigan; Department of Veterans Affairs

Areas of Interest: 

behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

Biography & Research: 

I am Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan and a Research Investigator in the Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR) and the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) in the VA Ann Arbor Health System. As a fellowship-trained, board-certified geriatric psychiatrist, my research program is directly informed by my clinical work and experiences with patients, families, providers, and systems to diminish the barriers to effective and high quality care for older patients with mental health issues. I am recognized as a national expert in outcomes related to depression in later life as well as those associated with the behavioral symptoms of dementia, and in research related to the risks of use of antipsychotic medications in patients with dementia. My team and I have conducted the majority of studies examining antipsychotic and other psychotropic use in Veterans with dementia. I have been the principal investigator on a number of foundation grants, the recipient of VA HSRD Career Development (2001-2004) and Advanced Career Development (2004-2007) awards, and the principal investigator on six federally-funded grants. I am author of over 80 journal articles, reviews, and book chapters; I have lectured extensively, and serve as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous journals. Along with my close collaborators Drs. Gitlin and Lyketsos, I have created a tool called the WeCareAdvisor to improve outcomes and quality of for people with dementia and their families.