VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Greater Los Angeles GRECC
 
Sepulveda Campus:
Sepulveda GRECC (11E)
Building #25
16111 Plummer Street
Sepulveda, CA 91343
Phone: (818) 895-9311
Fax: (818) 895-9519
 
West Los Angeles Campus:
West Los Angeles GRECC (11G)
11301 Wilshire Blvd, Bldg B220
West Los Angeles, CA 90073
Phone: (310) 268-4110
Fax: (310) 268-4842
Phone: (310) 268-4110
Fax: (310) 268-4842

Affiliation:

University of California at Los Angeles

GRECC Director:

Cathy Alessi, MD

Associate Director for Basic Science - Laboratory Research:

Greg Cole, PhD

Associate Director for Education/Evaluation:

B. Josea Kramer, PhD

Associate Director for Clinical Programs:

Steve Castle, MD

Greater Los Angeles GRECC Research:  Endocrinology of Aging, Molecular biology of brain, bone,  and Alzheimer’s disease,  osteoporosis, Immunology of infectious diseases in advanced againg, falls and instability.

Accomplishments:  The Greater Los Angeles GRECC serves elderly Veterans in southern California and southern Nevada. It has two locations in the Los Angeles area- Sepulveda and West Los Angeles. In fiscal year 2009 this GRECC was heading the second year of a nationwide geriatric education initiative for healthcare providers in rural areas. It also published 60 peer reviewed papers, provided 475 person hours of geriatric education, and expended $5,128,336 in research awards. Currently the Greater Los Angeles GRECC focuses its research interests on: endocrine system disorders and aging; molecular biology of bones, the brain, and Alzheimer's disease; osteoporosis; cellular and molecular basis for osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and the gradual deterioration of the immune system brought on by aging; infectious diseases in advanced age; falls and instability; sleep regimens in nursing homes; evaluation clinical problems for older adults; utilization of healthcare by minority elders; assessing the health and well being of elders; cost efficacy of geriatric care; quality of care for elders; and geriatric rehabilitation. 

 Education: Provides national, local and network continuing education programs in geriatric primary care and selected topics of national importance (e.g., pain management); coordinates associated health professionals training in pharmacy, nursing, social work, occupational therapy, ophthalmology, physicians, physicians assistants and allied healthcare professionals.  Offers community outreach and education in a monthly conference on elders at risk that addressess multidemensional approaches to reducing the incidence of elder abuse.

 Clinical: A system of comprehensive geriatric care has been developed with a special emphasis on outpatient care and includes geriatric consultation consultation service, geriatric specialty clinics, geropsychiatry service, home-based primary care, outpatient rehabilitation and an academic nursing home.