Alycia Bristol

Alycia Bristol, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah's College of Nursing, where she has served since August 2020. Her academic background includes a PhD in Nursing from The University of Arizona, an MS in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist from Loma Linda University, a BS in Nursing from Loma Linda University, and a BA in History from Walla Walla College.

Dr. Bristol's research focuses on gerontological nursing, transitions of care, and caregiver support systems, with particular emphasis on hospital discharge processes, dementia care, and the impact of social determinants on health outcomes. Her work frequently examines how intrahospital transitions, social risk factors, and caregiver involvement affect patient outcomes, especially among older adults. During the pandemic, her research expanded to investigate the effects of visitation policies and social isolation on caregiver experiences and patient transitions.

Her scholarly work reveals consistent themes in care transitions, with numerous publications examining discharge readiness, caregiver inclusion in discharge planning, and the development of interventions to improve post-hospitalization outcomes. Recent work includes developing community-engaged approaches to substance use disorder care transitions and redefining respite care models for family caregivers.

• Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing (2022, National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence)
• Caregiving Scholar (2020, Family Caregiver Collaborative)
• Vice President Clinical and Translational (VPCAT) Research Scholar (2020, University of Utah)

Dr. Bristol actively contributes to professional organizations including the Gerontological Society of America and the Western Institute of Nursing. She teaches courses in qualitative research methods, grantsmanship, and aging-related topics, while currently leading a grant project partnering with UHealth to design non-pharmacological interventions for persons living with dementia and their care partners.