Mark Lachs

Mark S. Lachs, M.,D., M.P.H. is Associate Professor of Medicine and Co-Chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at Weill Medical College. He is also director of Cornell’s Center for Aging Research and Clinical Care and Director of Geriatrics for the New York-Presbyterian Health System. A prominent physician investigator in the field of elder abuse, Dr. Lachs’ research, teaching and clinical experience center on improving the quality of life for older adults. Much of his work involves the epidemiology of elder abuse and neglect, a form of family violence that until recently was unrecognized. His goal is to bring rigorous methodology to this under-studied field. The focus of his research includes the identification of risk factors for reported elder mistreatment and, more recently, the survival of older adults, who have experienced mistreatment. This has been accomplished by linking adult protective service (APS) records with an established cohort of community dwelling older adults, one of the National Institute of Aging’s established population for epidemiologic studies in the elderly cohorts or (EPESE). Dr. Lachs also has a long-standing interest in health care policy issues and financing in long-term care.

In addition to an NIA academic leadership award, Dr. Lachs is Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholar from the American Federation for Aging Research through funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation, and the Alliance for Aging Research.