Nicole Osevala

Nicole Osevala, MD is the Harry Albertman Chair in Geriatric Medicine and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. She also serves as Chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and holds multiple leadership positions within Penn State Health and Penn State Rehabilitation Hospital, including Medical Director of the Transitional Care Unit and member of various committees focused on geriatric care, post-acute care, and quality improvement.

Her educational background includes:

• MD from Penn State College of Medicine (1999-2003)
• Residency in Internal Medicine from University of Michigan Medical Center (2003-2006)
• Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine from University of Michigan Medical Center (2006-2007)
• Geriatrics Division, Harford Foundation Scholar at University of Michigan (2007-2009)
• BA in Movement in Sports Science/Pre-Medicine from Purdue University (1995-1999)

Dr. Osevala specializes in geriatric medicine with primary clinical interests in post-acute care, dementia care, fall prevention, and loss of function and mobility during hospitalization. Her research focuses on developing consensus definitions and protocols to identify frailty in older adults at highest risk for poor outcomes, particularly in the geriatric trauma population. She studies the underlying biologic mechanisms and predictors of reduced resiliency in older adults facing physiologic stress from trauma and surgery. Her work has significant implications for improving care pathways and protocols for older adults, with a particular emphasis on geriatric syndromes including frailty.

Dr. Osevala's recent research shows a strong focus on nursing home care during the pandemic, with multiple studies examining infection control practices, leadership perspectives, and treatment implementation in long-term care facilities. Her work bridges clinical geriatrics with health systems research, particularly in the areas of trauma care for older adults and optimizing medical care pathways for the elderly.

Her notable awards and recognitions include:

• Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine Most Valuable Player Award (2017)
• MD Student Internal Medicine Award (2003)
• Outstanding Senior Award in Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies (1999)
• Young Alumni Award (2011)
• Fellow, American College of Physicians (FACP) (2013)

As an educator, Dr. Osevala has been instrumental in geriatric medicine training for residents and medical students. She facilitates the geriatric rehabilitation rotation with the Internal Medicine Residency, provides annual geriatric education to the Family and Community Medicine Residency, and serves as a facilitator for the Science of Health Systems course. She supports a hub of 25 medical students who serve as Patient Navigators at local nursing homes. Her leadership extends to multiple committees including the Penn State Health Geriatric Scholar Program Steering Committee and the Penn State Health Orthopaedics Geriatric Fracture Workgroup, where she collaborates on the American Geriatrics Society Geriatric Hip Fracture Co-Management Program.

Dr. Osevala is actively involved in several initiatives focused on improving care for older adults, particularly through her role as Medical Director of the Penn State Rehabilitation Hospital Transitional Care Unit and her participation in the NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) program as a Steering Committee Member. Her work with the American Geriatrics Society on the Geriatric Hip Fracture Co-Management Implementation Program demonstrates her commitment to interdisciplinary approaches to geriatric care.