I am an Associate Professor at University of Illinois at Chicago and have a broad range of experience and expertise working in geriatrics and primary care with multidisciplinary teams in a variety of settings. My role blends research, practice and education. In 2018, I was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing as a Fellow.

My overall research focus is improving the care of the older adult. I am Director of a $3.3 million federal HRSA Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) grant. My GWEP program,

Engage-IL (Enhancement of Geriatric Care for All through Training and Empowerment: An Interprofessional Imperative) includes an online accredited clinical geriatric training program (engageil.com), a student geriatric scholarship program, community outreach programs and a free downloadable mobile app, Dementia Guide Expert. The Dementia Guide Expert mobile app has been downloaded/viewed more than 26,000 times in 12 different countries, enhancing the care of persons with dementia and families. The app is available for free in English and Spanish for iOS devices through Apple App store and for Android devices through Google Play. The app has been translated into Spanish, Guia Experta Sobre La Demencia and is now available for free download.

This work aligns with my passion to educate on dementia and create Dementia Friendly Communities. Through innovative collaborative partnerships with the City of Chicago Age-Friendly Commission and senior high-rise building management companies, I provide dementia training for building management staff. Building management staff needs the skills to identify older residents with cognitive status changes, refer them for evaluation, and help create a safe environment for them to age in place. I was awarded the Gerontological (GAPNA) “Excellence in Research” award.

As a practicing geriatrician, I have helped to transform the paradigm of elder care with a program that transitions older adults out of nursing homes and back into the community, improving their quality of life. As lead clinical consultant for the Illinois Department on Aging with the Money Follows the Person program, we successfully transitioned more than 2,305 individuals and Illinois was awarded $55.7 million in enhanced Medicaid reimbursements. Further, I made significant contributions to care management of seniors by creating the UIC Training Institute, presenting a series of in-person workshops and online webinars on how to manage persons with chronic illnesses in the community. These webinars are available to care coordinators and case workers throughout the state and offer continuing education hours for social workers and nurses. In 2017, I was awarded the Distinguished Award for Scholarly Practice.

In 2017, I was selected as an official Geriatric Delegate for the Chicago Sister Cities International program, Chicago-Shanghai Services Exchange. As a member of an 8-person Geriatric Expert Panel, I travelled to Shanghai, China. The purpose of the international exchange of geriatric experts was to assess the impact and address the challenges of the global aging population. Our successful international exchange shared best practices and policies, overcame cultural division and learned from each other.

As a professor in the College of Nursing (CON), I teach graduate advance practice nursing students. As Director of Interprofessional Education for the CON, I have been engaged in efforts to create Interprofessional Educational opportunities for students in UIC’s multiple health professions education programs. I serve on the Vice Chancellor’s IPE Strategic Planning Committee and Chancellor’s Steering Committee for Interprofessional Education. I received the Gerontological Advance Practice Nurses Association 2018 Excellence in Education award, and UIC’s Teaching Recognition Program Award 2016.

Grants: Funded

Gruss, V. (PI), and Hasnain, M. (PI) Health Resources & Service Administration, Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), 2018-2019, $881,778.00 (one year)

Hasnain, M., Gruss, V., Suesakul, A., Perry, L.A. (Co-Investigator). Optimizing the Health of Homebound Patients through Interprofessional Patient and Family-Centered Care. HCCI, 2018. $70,000 (one year)

University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, MATEC: Midwest Fellowship for Primary Care Champions (MFPCC) in HHS Region V, (In-kind faculty), 2019-2023, $4.4 million

Olsen, B., Gruss, V., Hasnain, M., Emery-Tiburicio, E., Miller, R., Health Resources & Service Administration, Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), (Co-PI) Small Networking Meeting Grant Program, Assessment of Geriatric Interprofessional Training, 2018 $31,000 (6 months)

Gruss, V. (PI), and Hasnain, M. (PI), Health Resources & Service Administration, Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), 2015-2018, $2,500,000 (3 years)

Hasnain, M., Gruss, V., (Co-PI) Innovative Geriatrics Program and Approaches to Care, HRSA, GWEP-CC $7,500. 2018

Gruss, V., Hasnain, M, (Co-PI), John A. Hartford Foundation, 086215-206084G $2,000. 2018

Leathers, S., Melka-Kaffer, C., McDermott, M., Mitchell, C., Brooks, E., Hasnain, M.,

Gruss, V. Coats, B., Bonecutter. G., (Co-Investigator), M01HP31358-01-00 for Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program, Integrated Behavioral Health Care Training for Social Workers, HRSA, Sept. 30, 2017 – Sept. 29, 2021 $1,919,894 (3 years)

Berry, J. (PI), Gruss, V. (Co-Investigator) Advancing Interprofessional Education & Clinical Expertise Using Technology Initiatives in Advanced Practice Nursing. Health Resources & Service Administration, 2012-2015, $980,000

Gruss, V. (PI), Examining nursing home staff attitudes towards residents’ sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association Foundation, 2015, $2,000.

Burgener, S. (PI), Gruss, V. (Co-Investigator), Comprehensive Geriatric Education Program, Health Resources & Service Administration, #D62HPO1899, 2009-2011

Gruss, V. (Co-PI), Antipsychotic Medication Use Among the Elderly, Gerontological Advance Practice Nurses Association, Chicago Chapter. 2010, $500.

Gruss, V. (Principal Investigator). Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity (Pre-Doctoral Fellowship). The John A. Hartford Foundation, 2001-2003, $100,000

List of Publications/ Inventions:

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS & DISCOVERIES

Gruss, V. (PI), Hasnain, M., Koronkowski, M. Mobile Software Application: “Dementia Guide Expert”. Mobile App, Spanish Version, available in iOS Apple App Store and for Android on Google Play (2018-present)

Gruss, V. (PI), Hasnain, M., Koronkowski, M. Mobile Software Application: “Dementia Guide Expert for families”. Mobile App available in iOS Apple App Store and for Android on Google Play (2016-present)

Gruss, V. (PI), Hasnain, M. (Co-PI), Online Accredited Learning in Interprofessional Geriatrics, online training modules for healthcare professionals. Available through website: engageil.com (2017-present)

Gruss, V. (PI). Mobile Software Application Patent: “Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia” downloadable App. Software registered at the Library of Congress by UIC Office of Technology Management. Invention Identification number DF092. App is available in iOS Apple App Store and for Android at Google Play. (2012-present)

PUBLICATIONS (last 5 years only)

Gruss, V., Hasnain, M. A Smartphone Application for Educating the Public about Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, Gerotechnology, submitted May 2019

Kottorp, A., Keehn, M., Hasnain, M., Gruss, V., Peterson, E. Instrument Refinement for Measuring Self-Efficacy for Competence in Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: Development and Psychometric Analysis of IPECC-SET 27 and IPECC-SET 9. Journal of Interprofessional Care [8/2018]

Mitzen, P., Gruss, V. American Society on Aging, Aging Today, Aging Services Go Global-From Shanghai to Chicago and Back, (May 18, 2018)

Peterson, E., Koronkowski, M., Hasnain, M., & Gruss, V. UIC’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program “ENGAGE-IL” Leads to Educational Opportunities for Occupational Therapy Practitioners. The Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Communiqué, 4, 6-7. (Oct/Nov/Dec 2017).

Hasnain, M., Keehn, M., Gruss, V., Koronkowski, M., Altfeld, S., Mitchell, C., Association for Prevention Teaching and Research, APTR/CDC IPE Small Grant Program, UIC Transforming Health Disparities through Interprofessional Education, Research and Service. APTR Academic Innovation Models website.http://www.academicinnovationmodels.org/interprofessional.html

McCann, P, Lewis, A., Gruss, V., (2017) Antipsychotic Medication Use in Illinois Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Rational Approach to Change, The Director, Patient & Resident Safety Issue, 2017

Hasnain, M., Gruss, V., Keehn, M., Peterson, E., Valenta, A. L., & Kottorp, A. Development and Validation of a Tool to Assess Self-Efficacy for Competence in Interprofessional Collaborative Practice. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 31(2), 255-262, (2017).

Lee, C. H., Gruss, V., Stuercke, M., & Ryan, C. J. Relation of Stop and Watch Tool Use in a Skilled Nursing Facility to 30-Day Hospital Transfer Rates. Jour Nursing Home Res, 2, 104-109, 2016.

Oosterhouse, K. J., Vincent, C., Foreman, M. D., Gruss, V., Corte, C., & Berger, B. Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Beliefs About Delirium Assessment and Management. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 27(4), 379-393, 2016.

Koplow, S., Gallo, A., Knafl, K., Vincent, C., Paun, O., Gruss, V. A Case Study Approach to Nursing Home Placement: Smooth and Difficult Cases and Implications for Nursing, Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 41(7), 58-64, 2016.

Koplow, S., Gallo, A., Knafl, K., Vincent, C, Paun, O., Gruss, V. Family Caregivers Define and manage the Nursing Home Placement Process, Journal of Family Nursing, 2015. DOl: 10.1177/1074840715571365

Research Interest: Ageing, Health Economics, Health Promotion, Public Health, Health, Management, Environmental Health and International Health.

Biography: Jiang Hong-feng is currently serving as an associate chief physician in department of Gerontology of puai Hospital of Tongji medical College in Wuhan. He has more than 20 years of experience in clinic work and research. Her research interests are in the areas of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and geriatrics. He is the author of 25 medical papers, and is one of the first authors of 15, including one of SCI paper (IF 6.17, 2013 data). He was a chief editor of one book and one of editorial board members of another books. He is still serving as a reviewer of "Global Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism Studies" and the youth member of the Wuhan City Gerontology Council and the member of the third osteoporosis Professional Committee of the Association of Gerontology in Hubei Province.

Research Interest: The diagnosis and treatment of gerontology and geriatric disease, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. The intervention of coronary heart disease.

Biography: Professor Landi is Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Geriatric at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart, in Rome.

He is a member of scientific committee of the Italian Geriatric Society. Francesco Landi is a member of the editorial board of several International geriatric journals and also a peer reviewer for numerous International medical journals. He has acted as the principal investigator in many multicenter national and international trials. He is a member of national and international expert groups that work on guidelines in the field of nutrition and functionality in elderly subjects.

Research Interest: Clinical Epidemiology, Cardio Cerebrovascular Disease, Biological Statistics, Evidence Based Medicine, Clinical Trial, Cohort Study, Meta-Analysis, Food Intorlerance, Health Management, Assessment, Intervention, Training and Teaching.

Research Interest: Chronic Non-communicable Diseases Control and Prevention.

Research Interest: 1. Reflex and central control of the circulation in health an disease.2. Ambulatory/Home Blood Pressure Monitoring. 3. Blood Pressure variability and computer analysis of the cardiovascular signals. 4. Arterial mechanical properties. 5. Neurohuymoral alterations in health and disease

Research Interest: Osteoporosis, Renal Bone Disease, Hypertension, Particularly Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring, Hypotensive Disorders Including Orthostatic Intolerance, Falls, Especially Unexplained Falls and Syncope, Geriatric Syndrome, Anaemia in Elderly, Hyponatraemia and Chronic Kidney Disease in the Elderly.

Research Interest: Allergic Phlogosis, Geriatrics and Immune System, Lipidology and the Immune System, Integrators in Gerontology. Allergy and Allergical Bronchial Asthma, Immune-Modulating Therapy, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Physiopathology of the Immune System and Mucosal Immunity with Particular Reference to the Elderly.

Research Interest: Diagnostics, surgery and systemic treatment of urological neoplasms; Imaging and differential diagnosis

Research Interest: (1) Imagine medicine including echocardiography; (2) Peripheral arterial disease; (3) Intervasive procedure: coronary angiography and PTCA

Research Interest: Gait, Wounds, Qualitative Research, Gait Analysis, Motion Analysis, Wound Healing, Sport Biomechanics, Orthotics, Pressure Measurement

Biography: Susana Ganhão-Arranhado was born in Lisbon in 1987 and was raised between Lisbon and Alentejo. She graduated in Nutrition Sciences in 2009 from the Higher Institute of Health Sciences Egas Moniz, then completed her Master's Degree in Palliative Care at the Faculty of Medicine of Porto and holds a PhD in Gerontology and Geriatrics, with a specialization in Geriatrics from the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences. 

Susana Ganhão-Arranhado served as an Invited Assistant Lecturer in Faculty of Medicine of University of Oporto and in ISCSEM and is a certified trainer and tutor of undergraduate students. She develops her activity in Clinical Nutrition, specifically in areas such as geriatrics, artificial nutritional therapy, malnutrition and wounds, continued care, palliative care and cerebral palsy.

Research Interest: Geriatrics; Clinical nutrition; Pressure ulcers; Malnutrition; Palliative care; Cancer

Dr. Malavolta started his experience in biogerontology in 2001 working in mathematical modelling of the aging process, under the guidance of Dr. Lucio Piantanelli at INRCA, and achieved the PhD in “Nutrition and Health” at the University of Ancona. He continued his work in the field of biogerontology at INRCA focusing on mechanisms of aging and rejuvenation research (Dr. Mocchegiani group). He deeply contributed to improve the knowledge on the role of zinc and metallothioneins in longevity and provided the first evidence that constitutive overexpression of metallothioneins extend the lifespan of mice.  He is currently working and planning strategies to target basic aging mechanisms, including cellular senescence, with the aim to prevent, halt, or reverse diseases of aging.

Research Interest: Biogerontology, Rejuvenation Research, Cellular Senescence. 

Research Interest: Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Complications, Diabetic Foot, Diabetic Neuropathy, Medical Writing, Vascular Disease, Metabolic Syndrome in OSAS and Obesity.