Jason Karlawish

Jason Karlawish, MD, is a Professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics and Health Policy, and Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. He is board-certified in geriatric medicine and maintains an active clinical practice at the Penn Memory Center. His leadership roles include directing the Penn Program on Precision Medicine for the Brain (P3MB), serving as Co-Associate Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and co-directing the Penn Memory Center.

Dr. Karlawish received his medical degree from Northwestern University, completed internal medicine training at Johns Hopkins University, and specialized in geriatric medicine at the University of Chicago. He is affiliated with multiple research centers including the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics (CHIBE).

His research examines critical issues in aging and neuroethics, with focus areas including:

• Dementia drug development and diagnostics
• Informed consent frameworks for cognitively impaired patients
• Quality-of-life assessment in neurodegenerative disorders
• Voting rights preservation through mobile polling systems
• Paradoxical lucidity and theory of mind in dementia
• Health policy reforms for Alzheimer's care

Honors include Senior Fellow status at three Penn institutions:

• Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
• Penn Center for Public Health Initiatives
• Penn Institute on Aging

He directs multiple NIH-funded research components at the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and collaborates with national organizations including the Alzheimer's Association, U.S. Election Assistance Commission, and Department of Housing and Urban Development. His advocacy work focuses on protecting civil rights for vulnerable populations.