Joseph A. Nicholas

Dr. Joseph A. Nicholas is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at Highland Hospital, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He holds the William and Sheila Konar Family Professorship in Geriatrics, Palliative Medicine, and Person-Centered Care. His roles include Associate Chief of Medicine at Highland Hospital, Director of Medical Education at Highland Hospital, and Associate Program Director for the URMC Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Dr. Nicholas completed his MD at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (1997) and an MPH at SUNY Albany (2005). He trained in Internal Medicine/Pediatrics residency and Preventive Medicine fellowship. His academic interests focus on clinical reasoning, geriatric surgical co-management, and medical education.

His research emphasizes geriatric care optimization, including frailty assessment, post-fracture outcomes, and infection control strategies in elderly populations. He has authored 14 peer-reviewed articles addressing topics like osteoporosis treatment, antibiotic stewardship, and preoperative risk assessment. His work bridges clinical practice and education, particularly in improving surgical outcomes for frail elderly patients through multidisciplinary approaches.

Dr. Nicholas is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice/Palliative Medicine. His contributions to medical education include shaping residency programs and advancing curricula in geriatric medicine. He actively participates in hospital-nursing home collaborations to reduce healthcare-associated infections and improve long-term care delivery.