James T Pacala

James T Pacala is a Professor and Head of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota's School of Medicine. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has been continuously active in research output since 1990 and currently leads major grants focused on geriatric workforce development and interprofessional education.

• Active Principal Investigator (PI) on multiple HRSA-funded projects
• Current leadership role in geriatric workforce enhancement programs

Research interests include:

• Geriatrics and aging populations
• Family medicine curriculum development
• Interprofessional education systems
• Healthcare delivery innovation
• Medical education policy
• Equity in healthcare systems

Recent articles focus on geriatric case competitions, tripartite mission implementation in family medicine, and strategies for building medical research capacity. His work aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals related to healthcare quality and workforce development.

Projects and grants:

• Minnesota Northstar Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (2024-2029)
• Multiple HRSA geriatric workforce grants (2015-2024)
• COVID-related CARES Act medical education initiatives

Media contributions include expert commentary on elder care during the coronavirus pandemic.