Susan L. Hughes, DSW

Dr. Susan L. Hughes is a gerontologist and health policy analyst who has conducted numerous studies in the field of aging over the past 20 years with support from the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease, the Veterans Health Administration and numerous private foundations. She has considerable experience conducting multi-site randomized trials. She conducted the national evaluation of the 20-site Living at Home Program that was funded by the Commonwealth Fund and Pew Charitable Trusts and conducted a cooperative study of the effectiveness of team-managed home-based primary care at 16 VA hospitals across the country (see Hughes et al., 2000).

Dr. Hughes is principal investigator of the UIC Midwest Roybal Center for Health Maintenance, which has completed four longitudinal intervention studies about exercise adherence in older adults. She designed the evidence-based Fit and Strong! physical activity/behavior change program for older adults with arthritis. She is also collaborating with the National Council on Aging on a study of “Best Practice Physical Activity Programs for Older Adults,” funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Hughes will direct a multi-site randomized trial of physical activity outcomes among participants at each of three community-based best-practice sites across the country.