Silvia Sorensen

Silvia Sorensen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Rochester's School of Medicine and Dentistry. A leading researcher in Human Development and Aging, she focuses on promoting well-being among vulnerable older adults and their families through community-engaged interventions. Her work spans caregiver stress, vision impairment, health disparities, and future care planning. She directs the Laboratory for Population Health, Disparities, and Intervention Research (LAPHDIR), fostering community partnerships like the Aging Well Initiative.

Education: PhD in Human Development and Family Studies from The Pennsylvania State University (1993), MS in Psychology from Technical University of Berlin (1988), and BA in Psychology from Antioch College (1984).

Research Interests: Her expertise includes interventions for dementia caregivers, telemedicine in diabetic retinopathy screening, health literacy, and culturally sensitive care planning. She collaborates across disciplines (e.g., Psychiatry, Immunology) and emphasizes community partnerships to address health inequities.

Awards: Recipient of the Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Award (2018), John D. Baum Memorial Lecture Award (2017), and multiple fellowships. Listed in Marquis Who's Who in Medicine and Health Care (2004–2006).

Labs/Teams: Director of LAPHDIR, co-founder of the Aging Well Initiative, and member of community coalitions addressing health disparities.