Directory Entry For: Anna Faul

Biography

Dr. Anna Faul is a distinguished leader in the fields of aging, gerontology, and social work, currently serving as the Executive Director of the Trager Institute at the University of Louisville. With over four decades of experience, she has been instrumental in transforming geriatric care through the development of integrative models like FlourishCare^TM, focusing on the biopsychosocial needs of older adults. Her research and community-based initiatives have significantly improved health outcomes for vulnerable populations, especially older adults in marginalized and rural communities. Dr. Faul’s leadership extends beyond the university, with her roles as President of the National Association for Geriatric Education (NAGE) and her membership on the Governor’s Alzheimer’s Advisory Council. She has secured major grants, including awards from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for geriatric workforce development, and has led numerous projects aimed at improving chronic disease management, dementia care, and age-friendly healthcare systems. Dr. Faul’s influence is also felt in the classroom, where she teaches advanced courses in social work and gerontology, and has mentored numerous doctoral students, many of whom have gone on to impactful careers. Her work has been recognized through prestigious awards such as the Kentucky Colonel and being named one of Business First’s 20 Professionals Leading Aging Care. Through her research, teaching, and professional service, Dr. Faul continues to shape the future of geriatric care both nationally and internationally.

Research Interests

Dr. Faul's research primarily focuses on gerontology, with particular emphasis on care coordination for older adults, the biopsychosocial model of health, and the integration of primary care systems with behavioral health and community-based services. She has been instrumental in developing and validating integrated care models such as FlourishCare^TM as well as measurement indexes such as the FlourishCare Index, which addresses and measures the healthcare needs of underserved populations. Her work often explores chronic disease management, dementia care, and age-friendly healthcare transformations. She has been the principal investigator on numerous significant grants. Among the most notable grants Dr. Faul has been awarded is the Geriatric Workforce Education Program funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This program has funded her work on age-friendly healthcare systems for three cycles since 2015. Her Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program funding she received since 2017 has supported building a behavioral health workforce within primary care settings addressing the needs of adults with a history of trauma and mental health and substance use disorders. Her work has also extended into areas like COVID-19 response in nursing homes, for which she secured funding through the ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network, in collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. She received support from the Administration for Community Living, to deliver three evidence-based education programs for older adults managing chronic diseases. Dr. Faul’s publications and research have made substantial contributions to evidence-based practices in gerontology and aging care.​

Degrees and Certifications

Publications

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