Nancy A. Pachana

Nancy A. Pachana is a distinguished Professor of Clinical Geropsychology in the School of Psychology at The University of Queensland, where she serves as Program Lead of the Age Friendly University Initiative and co-director of the UQ Ageing Mind Initiative. With an international reputation in geriatric mental health, particularly in late-life anxiety disorders, she has established herself as a leading figure in the field of aging research.

Dr. Pachana earned her AB from Princeton University in 1987 and her PhD from Case Western Reserve University in 1992, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA and the Palo Alto Veterans Medical Center. Her educational background provided the foundation for her extensive contributions to geropsychology and aging research.

Her research spans multiple critical areas in aging, with particular emphasis on late-life anxiety disorders, where she co-developed the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) - a widely used assessment tool translated into over two dozen languages. Her work extends to psychological interventions for Parkinson's Disease, driving safety and dementia, therapeutic gardening, animal-assisted therapy for older adults, and environmental sustainability in aging populations. Pachana's research demonstrates a strong interdisciplinary approach, connecting psychological science with practical applications in healthcare settings.

Analysis of her most recent publications reveals a clear trajectory toward innovative interventions for aging populations, with significant focus on technology-assisted therapies (telehealth CBT), sensory support for older adults with impairments, and culturally sensitive approaches to care for diverse aging populations. Her work increasingly integrates multiple disciplines, combining geropsychology with neurology, audiology, and environmental science to address complex aging challenges.

Among her notable recognitions:

• Elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (2014)
• Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society
• Australian Davos Connection Future Summit Leadership Award
• M. Powell Lawton Lifetime Achievement Award (2020) from the American Psychological Association's Society of Clinical Geropsychology

Professor Pachana has successfully secured over $25 million in competitive research funding, demonstrating her ability to lead major research initiatives. She has supervised numerous PhD students across diverse topics including assistance dog ownership for older adults, wisdom in aging, therapeutic gardening, and retirement transitions. Her work extends to policy influence through membership in the World Health Organisation Consortium on Metrics and Evidence for Healthy Ageing and the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Taskforce on Brain Health.

Through the UQ Ageing Mind Initiative, Pachana has created a collaborative environment that brings together researchers from multiple disciplines to address the complex challenges of aging. Her leadership extends to the Age Friendly University Initiative, where she works to make higher education institutions more inclusive for people of all ages.