Biography
Richard Schulz, PhD, is Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Gerontology, and Associate Director of the Aging Institute of UPMC Senior Services and the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Schulz is a nationally recognized researcher of adult development and aging. His research focused on social-psychological aspects of aging, including the impact of disabling late-life disease on patients and their families.
A significant portion of his research has been on caregivers including the health effects of caregiving, Alzheimer’s disease caregiving, and intervention studies for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Schulz chaired The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s landmark study, Families Caring for an Aging America. The report outlined the prevalence and nature of caregiving, as well as its impact on the caregiver’s health, employment, and overall wellbeing; it examined the effectiveness of programs and supports aimed at supporting caregivers, and lastly assessed and recommended policies to address the needs of family caregivers and minimize barriers. This report served as the backdrop for The Caregiver Project, which Dr. Schulz led as co-PI with Everette James.
Recently, Dr. Schulz’s last decade of work has concentrated on supportive interventions, including technology-based approaches, designed to enhance patient functioning and the quality of life of both patients and their relatives.
Professional Involvement
- Co-Chair, Advisory Board for the National RRT Center on Family Support
- Director of the Center for Caregiving Research, and Policy, University of Pittsburgh
- Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Gerontology
Current Project(s)
Research Contribution(s)
- PI - Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP)
- PI - Psychosocial Measurement Core of the Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
- Co-investigator - Financial Exploitation of Older Adults Study (PI: Scott Beach)
- Co-investigator - Amyloid Imaging Study (PI: Jennifer Lingler)
- Co-investigator - Smartcare Study (PIs: Paula Sherwood and Heidi Donovan)
- Investigator - Self-management via Health Kiosk Study (PI: Judith Matthews)