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Areas of Interest

Geriatric syndromes including urinary & fecal incontinence; Memory disorders; Falls; Functional decline; Polypharmacy; Complex disease.

About Dr. Busby-Whitehead

Dr. Busby-Whitehead is a Board Certified Geriatrician and serves as a content expert in the field. In all her roles, she is committed to the preservation and improvement of patient health through research and to funded programs that serve to develop an increase the reach of geriatric education and training of physicians and healthcare professionals in the field of aging. Her research in aging includes preserving musculoskeletal health, mitigating falls in older adults, assessment of racial disparities regarding treatment of urinary incontinence in Southeastern United States nursing homes, and developing & testing a treatment program for fecal incontinence in frail elders.

Read: Investiture Celebration Honors Jan Busby-Whitehead, Inaugural M. Andrew Greganti Distinguished Professor
Read: Dr. Busby-Whitehead speaks on postoperative delirium
Read: Busby-Whitehead Talked With the Wall Street Journal About Older People Participating in Activities After the COVID-19 Vaccine

Education and Training

  • UndergraduateRice University and Baylor University
  • Medical SchoolUniversity of Texas Medical Branch
  • ResidencyJohn Sealy Hospital
  • FellowshipVeterans Administration Medical Center
  • FellowshipNational Institute on Aging
Selected Recognitions and Honors
  • 2020, Triangle Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes Award for Community Outreach: UNC Health Care Dementia Friendly Hospital Initiative (Principle Investigator).
  • 2019-present, Appointee, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging
  • 2017, 2019, UNCH and UNCFP Carolina Care Excellence Award
  • 2017, Visiting Professor. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taiwan
  • 2017, Visiting Professor. School of Aging Studies & Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, University of South Florida
  • 2015-2016, President, National Association for Geriatric Education/National Association of Geriatric Education Centers
  • 2014-2015, President-Elect, National Association for Geriatric Education/National Association of Geriatric Education Centers
  • 2015, Visiting Professor, University of Rochester School of Medicine
  • 2014, Mary and Thomas Hudson Distinguished Professorship in Medicine
  • 2013-2015, Chair, Board of the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs
  • 2013-2014, Explorers Senior Leadership Program, UNC School of Medicine,
  • 2011-2013, President, Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs
  • 2009-present, Chair, Board of the American Geriatrics Society’s Health in Aging Foundation
  • 2007-present, Best Doctors in America
  • 2007-present, Eugene Mayer Community Service Honor Society
  • 2007-present, Founding Fellow and member, UNC School of Medicine Academy of Educators
  • 2005, Delegate at-large, White House Conference on Aging
  • 2003-present, America’s Top Doctors, Consumer’s Report
  • 2002, Provost’s Award to Program on Aging’s Hubbard Program/Mobile Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) for Public Service
  • 2001, John A. Hartford Foundation Geriatrics Leadership Scholars Program
  • 2000, Southern Gerontological Society (SGS) Best Practices Award
  • 1998, Best Doctors in America, Woodward & White
  • 1997-1998, UNC Teaching Scholars Program
  • 1991, Omicron Delta Kappa Men and Women of Merit Award, Baylor University
  • 1985, Samuel D. Harris Faculty Teaching Award, University of Florida College of Medicine
Selected Affiliations
  • 2019-Present, Appointee, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging
  • 2015-2016, President, National Association for Geriatric Education/National Association of Geriatric Education Centers
  • 2014-2015, President Elect, National Association for Geriatric Education/National Association of Geriatric Education Centers
  • 2013-Present Member, Board of Directors, National Association of Geriatric Education/ National Association of Geriatric Education Centers
  • 2013-2015 Chair of the Board, Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs
  • 2014- Present Member, Research Committee, Integrating Geratrics into the Specialties of Internal Medicine Subcommittee, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine
  • 2012-2014 Member, Integrating Geriatrics into the Specialties of Internal Medicine Leadership Group, Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine
  • 2012-2016 Member, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Accreditation Task Force
  • 2011-2013 President, Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs
  • 2008–Present Chair, Board of Directors, AGS Health in Aging Foundation
  • 2006–2011 Chair, Public Education Committee, American Geriatrics Society
  • 2006–2009 Member, Board of Directors, Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs
  • 2006–2007 Member Ad Hoc House Study Committee on State Guardianship Laws, State of North Carolina
  • 2006–Present Member, Long Term Care & Community Based Services Committee, State of North Carolina
  • 2000–2002 Chair, Review and Oversight Committee, Armed Forces Retirement Home Board
  • 1996–1997 Vice Chair, Public Education Committee, American Geriatrics Society
  • 1987–1994 Chair, Education and Research Subcommittee, American Geriatrics Society
  • 1987 Member, Task Force on Education, American Geriatrics Society