Overview
Geriatrics, Gerontology and Clinical Epidemiology
Mark S. Lachs, M.,D., M.P.H. is Professor of Medicine and Co-Chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at Weill Medical College. He is also director of Cornell's Center for Aging Research and Clinical Care and Director of Geriatrics for the New York-Presbyterian Health System. Dr. Lachs' research, teaching, and clinical experience center on elder abuse and improving the quality of life for older adults. The focus of his research includes the identification of risk factors for reported elder mistreatment and more recently, the survival of older adults who have experienced mistreatment. He has gained advanced understanding of this newly recognized problem in the elderly community through a series of innovative studies intended to rigorously measure prevalence, risk factors, outcomes, and community interventions directed at victims (adult protective services). In addition to an NIA academic leadership award, Dr. Lachs is Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholar from the American Federation for Aging Research through funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation, and the Alliance for Aging Research. Dr. Lachs is also the Irene F. and I Roy Psaty Distinguished Professor of Clinical Medicine.
Highlights
- 1Annals of emergency medicine · 2020
- 2Journal of the American Medical Directors Association · 2023
- 3Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2022
Publications
Funding
Active
4 grants- MPIR61AG079012-01Primary Care Screening and Intervention for Elder Neglect in Patients with Dementia: An Evidence-Based ApproachNational Institute on Aging · 2022–2028
- Sub-PI12680/2022-0025National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment, Phase III: Expanding the Impact of the Elder Mistreatment Emergency Department ToolkitJohn A. Hartford Foundation, Inc. · 2021–2027 · via Education Development Center, Inc
- KPOVS01-C11419GG-1080200Expanding the Vulnerable Elder Protection Team to Improve Acute Management of Elder Abuse and Neglect (Renewal)United States Department of Justice · 2022–2026 · via New York State Office of Victim Services
- Sub-PI2024-0117National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment, Phase IV: Integrating Elder Mistreatment Prevention and Intervention in Mainstream Health and Social CareJohn A. Hartford Foundation, Inc. · 2024–2026 · via Education Development Center, Inc
Completed grants (28)
- Co-IR37CA246703-03Planning Advance Care Together (PACT) to Improve Engagement in Advance Care Planning among Advanced Cancer PatientsNational Cancer Institute · 2020–2025 · via Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center· 3 renewals
- Co-IR01AG060086-01Identifying Patterns of Health Care Utilization among Physical Elder Abuse Victims Using Medicare Data and Legally Adjudicated CasesNational Institute on Aging · 2018–2025
- PIKDCF 220623-01RESTATED AND AMENDED AGREEMENT FOR CORNELL-PENN INTERVIEW FOR DECISIONAL ABILITIES (IDA) TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM BETWEEN KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND CORNELL UNIVERSITY FOR AND ON BEHALF OF WEILL CORNELL MEDICAL COLLEGEKANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES · 2021–2025Contract
- Sub-PI5964.02/12703National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment.Moore (Gordon and Betty) Foundation · 2021–2024 · via Education Development Center, Inc
- PISF 227576-01"Adapting the Interview for Decisional Abilities (IDA) for Hospital Discharge Planner"Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc. · 2022–2023
- Co-IUSDOJ 2019-MU-GX-K037National Elder Abuse MDT Training and Technical Assistance CenterUnited States Department of Justice · 2019–2023
- Co-IOVS01-C11114GG-1080200Elder Abuse Helpline for Concerned PersonsUnited States Department of Justice · 2019–2022 · via New York State Office of Victim Services
- KPOVS01-C11113GG-1080200Expanding the Vulnerable Elder Protection Team to Improve Acute Management of Elder Abuse and NeglectUnited States Department of Justice · 2019–2022 · via New York State Office of Victim Services
- MPIR01AG057389-05Resident-to-Resident Elder Mistreatment Intervention for Dementia Care in Assisted LivingNational Institute on Aging · 2017–2022 · via Hebrew Home for the Aged
- KPK76AG054866-05Identifying Injury Patterns and Forensic Biomarkers Diagnostic of Physical Elder AbuseNational Institute on Aging · 2016–2022Career
- Sub-PIR01AG060080-03Understanding the Causes, Consequences, and Severity of Elder Mistreatment: A Longitudinal, Population-Based StudyNational Institute on Aging · 2018–2022 · via University of Toronto
- Sub-PI2018-0088National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment. 12346John A. Hartford Foundation, Inc. · 2019–2021 · via Education Development Center, Inc
- Sub-PI5964.01National Collaboratory to Address Elder Mistreatment. 12339Moore (Gordon and Betty) Foundation · 2019–2021 · via Education Development Center, Inc
- PICA 200253-01Consulting Agreement for Julie Rowan under NIJ Grant (Taxonomy Project)National Institute of Justice · 2019–2020Contract
- PICA 184563-01CA for Leah Ridley re: Grant [2017-VF-GX-0002]National Institute of Justice · 2018–2020Contract
- PI2017-VF-GX-0002Developing a Taxonomy To Understand and Measure Outcomes of Success in Community-Based Elder Mistreatment InterventionsNational Institute of Justice · 2018–2020
- PICA 184562-01CA for Shanee Stepakoff re: Grant [2017-VF-GX-0002]National Institute of Justice · 2018–2019Contract
- PICA 184564-01CA for Beth Labbe re: Grant [2017-VF-GX-0002]National Institute of Justice · 2018–2019Contract
- KPR03AG053284-02 EWOFIdentifying Correlates of Symptom Burden Experienced by Home Hospice Patients and its Association With Patient and CaregiverNational Institute on Aging · 2016–2019
- Sub-PI12114National Co-Laboratory to Address Elder MistreatmentJohn A. Hartford Foundation, Inc. · 2017–2018 · via Education Development Center, Inc
- Sub-PI12139National Collaboratory to Address Elder MistreatmentMoore (Gordon and Betty) Foundation · 2017–2018 · via Education Development Center, Inc
- PICA 190379-01Consulting agreement for Bluebird AdvisorsNew York City Department for the Aging · 2018–2018Contract
- KPSF 2016-17Helpline for Concerned Others in the Lives of Elder Abuse VictimsFan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc. · 2016–2018
- Co-I90EJSG0009-01-00Massachusetts EOEA Protective Services ProjectUnited States Department of Health & Human Services · 2016–2018 · via Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- KPR03AG048109-02 EWImproving Recognition of Elder Abuse Through Analysis of Highly Adjudicated CasesNational Institute on Aging · 2014–2017
- PIK24AG022399-10Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented ResearchNIA · 2003–2017 · via NIH RePORTER
- PIR01AG014299-09Resident to Resident Elder Mistreatment in Long Term Care FacilitiesNational Institute on Aging · 2008–2014
News mentions
- Improving Lives Through Academic Innovation, Commercialization and EntrepreneurshipDecember 5, 2025
Weill Cornell Medicine’s Ninth Annual Dean’s Symposium on Innovation and Entrepreneurship celebrated and fostered the entrepreneurial spirit on Nov. 17 at Weill Cornell's Griffis Faculty Club.
- Dr. Anais Rameau Wins Beeson Career Development AwardAugust 24, 2022
Dr. Anaїs Rameau, an assistant professor of otolaryngology and an attending laryngologist at the Sean Parker Institute for the Voice at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been awarded a Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging.
- Commentary: Longitudinal Data Should Guide Medical Schools’ Efforts to Reduce Medical Education Costs, Solve Specialty ImbalancesDecember 30, 2019
Medical schools evaluating the merits of eliminating tuition, as opposed to pursuing debt-free initiatives, should approach the debate in the same way physicians and scientists engage in medicine: with empirical data, according to new commentary by leaders at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Media highlights
- When Should You Step In To Help Aging Parents?ABC News · November 2, 2026
- 3 Sleep Facts You May Not Have KnownThe Washington Post · August 24, 2026
- How To Keep Older Adults In Care Facilities Safe From AbusePsychology Today · August 20, 2026
Mentoring
- RBRana BarghoutMD mentee · Class of 2026
External relationships
Leadership Roles
American Federation for Aging Research · Compass Care
Ownership
Hera Health INC
Advisory/Scientific Board Member
Consonance Capital Management LP · Hera Health INC · The Estée Lauder Companies INC
Other
Boller & Vaughan, LLC · KAUFMAN BORGEEST & RYAN LLP · Levin & Perconti · Reminger Co., LPA