David R Gifford

David R Gifford, MD, MPH, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice at Brown University's School of Public Health and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine. As Chief Medical Officer of the American Health Care Association (AHCA), he leads quality improvement initiatives and established the Center for Health Policy and Evaluation in Long-Term Care. He chairs the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs Geriatric and Gerontology Advisory Committee and serves on the Baldrige Foundation Board. Previously, he was Director of the Rhode Island State Department of Health and Chief Medical Officer for Quality Partners of Rhode Island.

Dr. Gifford's educational background is as follows:

• 1984: BA, Kenyon College
• 1989: MD, Case Western Reserve University
• 1994: MPH, University of California, Los Angeles (as a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar)

Dr. Gifford's research focuses on geriatrics and long-term care quality improvement. His work examines nursing home regulation, public reporting of quality metrics, and pay-for-performance models in Medicaid. He investigates how policy and regulation impact resident-centered care and quality outcomes. His studies often involve large datasets and collaborations with CMS and other federal agencies. The overarching goal is to develop evidence-based strategies for enhancing care for elderly residents in long-term care settings through practical, data-driven interventions.

His publication record, spanning from 1999 to 2013, demonstrates a consistent focus on quality measurement and improvement in long-term care. Key themes include the evaluation of nursing home regulations, the design of effective quality improvement programs, and the use of public reporting to engage consumers. His work bridges clinical practice and health policy, often resulting in actionable recommendations for providers and policymakers to enhance the quality of care for vulnerable elderly populations.

Dr. Gifford's notable awards include:

• National Governor’s Distinguished Service Award for State Officials (awarded for management of the H1N1 influenza outbreak)
• Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar

Dr. Gifford has led major federally funded initiatives, most notably the National Institute of Aging-funded Long Term Care Data Cooperative, which integrates electronic medical record data from nursing homes to advance research and quality improvement. He previously directed CMS's national nursing home-based quality improvement effort. While specific advisees are not detailed in the provided text, his leadership in large-scale projects suggests a significant role in mentoring researchers and practitioners in health services research and long-term care policy.

He founded and directs the Center for Health Policy and Evaluation in Long-Term Care at AHCA, which develops tools and resources for quality improvement. The Long Term Care Data Cooperative, under his oversight, is a national collaboration linking EMR data from multiple nursing homes to support research and real-time quality monitoring. This initiative brings together providers, researchers, and policymakers to drive innovation in long-term care.