December 2025 Issue | Volume 19, Number 12

A publication of the Univ. of Utah Center on Aging
phone: 801.213.4156 | email: aging@utah.edu
Newsletter Archives

We would like to extend our Best Wishes to you for the upcoming Holiday Season, and joyful tidings for the coming new year. 

Supporting Excellence in Geriatrics

Drs. Mark and Katherine “Kathie” Supiano have generously committed $25,000 to create the Drs. Mark A. and Katherine P. Supiano Endowed Fund for Clinical Excellence in Geriatrics at the University of Utah. This fund will provide ongoing support for faculty in the Division of Geriatrics, helping them advance their academic careers. As the fund grows, it will eventually support an endowed professorship, further strengthening research and teaching in geriatrics.

The Supianos’ gift reflects their dedication to improving care for older adults and fostering innovation in the field. Their generosity ensures lasting impact for future generations of clinicians and scholars.

Join us in shaping the future of geriatrics! To contribute or learn more about supporting this important work, visit University of Utah Giving (Alex Phillips, alex.j.phillips@utah.edu) or contact the Division of Geriatrics.

Dr. Alayne Markland Featured in New York Times Article on Nocturia

Alayne Markland, DO, MSc, Chief and Professor in the Division of Geriatrics and Executive Director for the Center, was recently featured in a New York Times article discussing nocturia and its impact on sleep. She provided expert insight on why nighttime urination becomes more common with age and when symptoms may warrant medical evaluation. Read the full piece for guidance on causes, risks, and treatment options.

Weiquan (Wendy) Zhu, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences as well as an adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Utah. Her research primarily focuses on vascular biology, particularly on the dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier and blood-retina barrier, endothelial signaling, and the vascular contributions to neurodegenerative and age-related diseases. Dr. Zhu earned her PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. During her doctoral studies, she investigated the mechanisms by which transplanted stem cells enhance cardiac function following myocardial infarction. In 2007, she joined Dr. Dean Y. Li’s laboratory at the University of Utah for postdoctoral training, where she studied the signaling pathways that disrupt vascular stability. These pathways are critical to both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, such as sepsis, influenza, arthritis, and ocular diseases. She established her independent research program in 2015 within the Department of Internal Medicine and transitioned to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences in 2024.

Dr. Zhu’s 2025 Center on Aging Pilot Grant, titled “The Role of Cerebrovascular Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology,” investigates how age-related vascular dysfunction contributes to cognitive decline. Alzheimer’s disease is increasingly understood to have significant vascular components; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. This project focuses on endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT), a process that compromises cerebrovascular integrity and promotes inflammation, serving as a novel driver of blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. By defining the role of EndoMT and ARF6 signaling in cerebrovascular pathology during aging and Alzheimer's disease, this research aims to identify new therapeutic targets that can help preserve vascular health, reduce neuroinflammation, and slow cognitive decline in older adults. This pilot study will set the stage for future interdisciplinary research at the crossroads of vascular biology, neuroscience, and aging.

The 2026 Center on Aging Pilot and Innovations Grant announcements are coming soon to your inbox. We will again use the two step process for each announcement. Starting with a letter of intent that will be due in February as the first step.

Pictured: Jenny Sinclair, MOT, OTRL and Tyson Field, MOT, OTRL

Did you know we have full-time embedded Occupational Therapists in the Emergency Department?

In addition to working with the overall Emergency Department (ED) patient population to address safe function and aid in discharge planning, they have played a key role in the development of care for the older adult in the ED. Addressing a person’s risk for falling is a vital part of keeping our aging population safe. OT is part of an interdisciplinary care process that screens every patient for fall risk and then implements appropriate interventions based on validated measures, all while undergoing their ED workup for their given condition. Another recent area of development is with delirium screening and prevention. Many older adults present to the ED with risk factors for delirium and often face multiple hour wait times and medical workup. OT has the unique skills to implement activity based delirium prevention strategies during a patient’s ED visit. A collaborative relationship with the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) has also facilitated wider spread screenings and interventions to reach more older adults in the ED. Future plans for program development involve establishing embedded nursing delirium screening to automatically alert OT and HELP to appropriate patients. They have submitted to present about their program development at the American Delirium Society's annual conference in 2026.

U of Utah Age- Friendly Collaborative Meetings

We welcome your participation in our monthly U of U Age-Friendly Collaborative virtual meeting that occurs on the 3rd Friday of each month from 9:00 – 10:00 AM.  Please contact Please contact Heather Podolan (heather.podolan@hsc.utah.edu) for more information.

The Marriott Library has recently purchased several books on aging and health. https://blog.lib.utah.edu/new-books-on-aging-health-now-available/.

Great opportunity to see what the library has. 

The College of Nursing will be hosting a monthly updates on their Aging In Utah Today.  Sponsored by the Hartford Center for Gerontological Nursing Excellence, each month will feature three short 15-minute presentations across three categories: Aging-related research, Age-friendly initiatives, The biology of aging (Geroscience). Scan the QR Code below for all the details. 

Please join the University of Utah, Division of Geriatrics and the Veteran Affairs Salt Lake City Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center for Geriatric Grand Rounds and Translational Grand Rounds on Tuesday mornings.

Dr. Brad King in the Department of Health & Kinesiology is looking for participants between 55-75 years old to participate in an experiment that examines the effects of exercise on brain function using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Would you like to contribute to our research? Do you know someone who would be interested? Do you wish to receive more information? Contact us at: ExerciseBrain@utah.edu

What does participation involve?

Participants will first complete an online screening questionnaire to assess eligibility. Participants will then be invited to complete 3 sessions spread over 3 weeks, each separated by approximately one week. Two of the sessions involve an exercise protocol. The total time commitment is around 7.5 hours.

View the attached flyer below to participate or learn more:

Finally – Updated Documents

UCOA finally found out where in DHHS key advance care planning documents were being housed. Located!!! Under the division of licensing in a quiet corner. After our conversation a couple of weeks ago, they finally sent out to all health care systems the current version of the advance directive (part of SB 134). There are a few statutory changes as well. I am planning to meet with Senator McKell in the days ahead to review some questions we have been encountering. The same is true from changes made to the Order of Life Sustaining Treatment (OLST – formerly POLST). Following up with Representative Gricius for the same reasons – questions on changes and clarity required on the new form. Both current forms are posted on the UCOA website under Advance Care Planning.

WISE Initiative Workgroups

Executive Director Ence and others are pulling together input from the four working committees. Initial intake and processing work about three-quarters complete. Common template to summarize is being defined by DHHS. Wrap up of this phase will be early January and then recommendations will be reviewed by the steering committee for advancement consideration.

Partner Engagements

Executive Director Ence taught Dr. Troy Andersen’s social work class on policy formation, current aging issues, implications for families from policy decisions and budget cuts.

Ence assisted Dr. Andy Wong on his HARP research project and introduced him to several community partners with interest in participating in the study.

Utah Caregiving Roundtable advanced the work on a dedicated website and reviewed plans for the remake of the “What is an Area Agency on Aging?” video to replace the UCOA version and exist on other sites including the new caregiver site. Ence also met with the developers of Eleplan that is designed to assist caregivers with managing their efforts and organizing tasks. Will present idea to the Roundtable.

Executive Director  Ence participated in a small focus group in a Social Security Roundtable conversation with Senator John Curtis on December 1, in Lehi. Curtis has been tasked by Senate Majority Leader Thune to survey and advise on critical and timely Social Security reform options. Very productive and honest conversation with the Senator.

Ence attended a Webinar on December 3 titled “Protecting Older Adults: The Impact of Chronic Funding Shortfalls, Cuts, and Policy Changes on Nutrition and Wellbeing. by Food Research & Action Center. Lots of issues and alarming impact – solutions involving policy, not forthcoming – a call to action.

Ence met with owners of the Senior Blue Book, T Polich and P Troumbley, to review an event calendar program that could have statewide utilization. Universal calendaring system (replacing our Mon Ami model) is a highly requested tool for our partners including the WISE initiative objectives.

Commission Updates

Eddie Keele, CEO of Mission Health Services, has been appointed to the Commission representing the Long-Term Care industry. Keele took over at Mission Health, succeeding Gary Kelso, in 2023. Immediately prior to his current role, Keele was VP for the Ensign Group’s Milestone Healthcare and Mt. Ogden Health and Rehab and other roles.

Participated with CoA colleagues (A Harris, T Farrell) to discuss SLCC plans for complementary curricula with Age Friendly healthcare principles. Discussion led by Judi Hillman of SLCC.

Ence recorded part one of a podcast series on the MPA and Commission work at the Utah State Library studio with host Jeri Openshaw. Openshaw is also helping with our awareness campaign with KSL and FM100 radio to launch in 2026. The funding for the campaign as part of the Smith Charitable Trust grant.

RHTP Grants

Kasey Shakespeare of the Rural Health Utah Association engaged Ence in a conversation about joint projects, grant proposals, gap opportunities for the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program etc. We are working together to identify partners and look for individual opportunities for UCOA to apply for funding as well. RFPs expected in January 2026.

Community Care Project

Advising a prominent community partner to explore a model of holistic and comprehensive health and well-being care with a clinic and related services for the Wasatch Front area. Toured similar programs in San Diego Dec 9-11 and met with organizations who have created prototype models. Conversations with state and community partners to follow.

2026 UCOA Summits         Noon – 1:30 PM via Zoom

Thursday – Feb 12, 2026     (during legislative session)

Thursday – May 14, 2026

Thursday – August 13, 2026

Thursday – November 12, 2026

Major upcoming funding opportunity for teams focused on rural health, workforce development, health technologies, health systems innovation, and community-based interventions.

About the Opportunity

The State of Utah has submitted its application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and anticipates receiving up to $1 billion over five years (FY2026–2030) to support rural health system transformation statewide. Utah expects $500M in baseline funding and is also eligible for an additional $500M in workload-based funding.

The Notice of Award is expected by December 31, 2025, and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) plans to issue multiple Requests for Proposals (RFPs) as early as January 2026, with short submission timelines. Additional informational webinars are expected. Because of this accelerated schedule, we encourage teams to begin preparing now.

The URHTP has four strategic goals with seven initiatives (described in detail here):

Goal: Make rural Utahns healthy ($155M)

Initiative 1: Preventive Action and Transformation for Health (PATH). 

Goal: Workforce Development ($187M)

Initiative 2: Rural Incentive and Skill Expansion (RISE). 

Goal: Innovation and Access ($437M)       

Initiative 3: Sustaining Health Infrastructure for Transformation (SHIFT). 

Initiative 4: Financial Approaches for Sustainable Transformation (FAST). 

Initiative 5: Leveraging Innovation for Facilitated Telehealth (LIFT)

Goal: Technology Innovation ($190M)

Initiative 6: Shared Utilities for Partnered Provider Operational Resources and Technology (SUPPORT). 

Initiative 7: Leveraging Interoperability Networks to Connect Services (LINCS). 

Please note:

Projects must align with the Utah RHTP application and legislative guidelines.

Projects should be implementation-ready and cannot create ongoing financial obligations for the state.

UDHHS’s definition of “rural” excludes Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, and Weber counties.

You can find more information and resources about the program -including webinar slides and notes- here.

Here is an important link to the new NIH Guidance on Funding: Implementing a Unified NIH Funding Strategy to Guide Consistent and Clearer Award Decisions | Grants & Funding

As a mostly virtual Center, we depend on the accuracy and timeliness of our Web presence. Center members are urged to review and update their membership directory information. Please take the next few moments to review your information on the Center’s Web site. Send any updates or requests for changes and more importantly to be linked to the appropriate topic interest group(s) complete this survey and return to Heather at heather.podolan@hsc.utah.edu or aging.utah.edu.

For past issues, please visit our NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES PAGE.

The bristlecone pine tree (Pinus longaeva) - the earth’s oldest inhabitant with a life span of almost 5,000 years - is found only in Utah and five other western states. Its extraordinary longevity and ability to adapt and survive in extremely harsh environmental conditions above 10,000 feet embodies the investigative spirit and mission of the Utah Center on Aging.