Kate Lapane

Dr. Kate Lapane is a Professor in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School's T.H. Chan School of Medicine. She also serves as the Associate Dean of Clinical and Population Health Research. Her research focuses on medication use in vulnerable populations, including nursing home residents and marginalized groups. Key areas include drug utilization patterns, comparative effectiveness research, and interventions to improve medication safety and outcomes in long-term care settings.

• Holds academic appointments at the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Population Health Sciences, MD/PhD Program, and the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program.
• Education: BA in Mathematics/Statistics (Boston University), MS in Statistics (University of Rhode Island), PhD in Epidemiology (Brown University).

Research interests emphasize mitigating disparities in healthcare access, particularly for older adults and those with chronic conditions. She leads studies on pain management, opioid use, and the impact of contextual factors on medication adherence. Collaborates with national initiatives like the National Osteoarthritis Initiative to explore complementary therapies.

Publications (2020–2025) address topics such as nursing home medication practices, social isolation among elderly populations, and disparities in cancer screening. Notable findings include geographic variations in opioid prescribing and strategies to reduce off-label antipsychotic use.

Grants and awards include over 15 years of sustained federal funding for studies on medication use and nursing home interventions. Leads multidisciplinary teams focused on translational research and improving care quality for vulnerable populations.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Long-Term Care Data Cooperative (LTCDC) and collaborates with institutions like the National Osteoarthritis Initiative (NOAI).