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Debra Saliba, M.D., M.P.H., A.G.S.F.
University of California, Los Angeles
VA Greater LA Health Care System, Los Angeles, CA
Research Interests: Chronic Conditions, Geriatrics, Healthcare Policy, Implementation Science, Patient-Centered Care, Program Evaluation, Quality Measurement
Dr. Debra Saliba serves as the Associate Director for Education for the VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation and Policy and is a research scientist with the VA GRECC. She also holds the Anna & Harry Borun Endowed Chair in Geriatrics at UCLA and directs the UCLA Borun Center for Applied Gerontological Research. Dr. Saliba’s research has focused on creating tools and knowledge that can be applied to improving quality of care and quality of life for vulnerable older adults and others with long-term care needs. One focus of Dr. Saliba’s work has been direct inclusion of older adults in assessments of their health and needs. She developed the VES-13, a survey that identifies vulnerable elders living in the community. Recently, Dr. Saliba was the principal investigator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ MDS 3.0 Revision and Evaluation project and collaborative VA MDS Validation project. This work provided a direct link between MDS and resident-centered care in nursing homes throughout the US. Dr. Saliba’s current research includes research to assist the state of California in transitioning to coordinated assessment of needs and eligibility for MediCal enrollees (funded by SCAN) and a randomized trial of an intervention to reduce nursing home to hospital transfers (funded by VA HSR&D). Dr. Saliba has mentored junior investigators in research related to vulnerable populations. She directs the Los Angeles VA’s HSR&D and Clinical Scholars Fellowships and is associate director for the UCLA Clinical Scholars Program. Dr. Saliba is also a Co-director of the UCLA Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center. Her research in quality of care and vulnerable populations has received awards from the Journal of American Medical Directors Association, VA Health Services Research & Development, and the American Geriatrics Society. A recognized leader in geriatrics research and quality, Dr. Saliba has served as an expert on multiple national advisory panels addressing quality of care for older adults across care settings.
