Espinoza, Sara E.School of Medicine |
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I am an Internist/Geriatrician with the Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, and The Barshop for Longevity and Aging Studies. My research focuses on understanding the geriatric syndrome of frailty through epidemiologic and translational research. I provide clinical care at Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, where I serve as the Associate Director for Clinical Programs with the Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC). In this role, I collaborate with other providers and interdisciplinary team members to design and implement new models of care to improve care for the aging veteran. I am actively engaged in research mentoring and clinical teaching to trainees at all levels through my research and clinical care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. |
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| 3/2011 - Present | Associate Director for Clinical Programs | South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX |
| 8/2010 - Present | Assistant Professor | UTHSCSA, Medicine, San Antonio, TX |
| 11/2008 - Present | Section Chief for Research | UTHSCSA, Medicine, San Antonio, TX |
| 7/2006 - Present | Assistant Professor | UTHSCSA, Medicine, San Antonio, TX |
| 7/2006 - Present | Staff Physician | South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Medicine, San Antonio, TX |
| 7/2006 - Present | Clinical Investigator | South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX |
| Year | Degree | Discipline | Institution |
| 2010 | MS | Clinical Investigation | University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio , TX |
| 2006 | Clinical Fellowship | Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology | The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Baltimore , MD |
| 2003 | Residency | Internal Medicine | Strong Memorial Hospital-University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester , NY |
| 2001 | Internship | Internal Medicine | Strong Memorial Hospital-University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester , NY |
| 2000 | MD | Medicine | University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville , VA |
| 1995 | BS | Psychology (With Distinction) | George Mason University Fairfax , VA |
Frailty- Expertise in conducting clinical investigations in the geriatric syndrome of frailty, including epidemiologic studies using longitudinal cohort data and collaborative translational studies using basic science approaches traditionally used in animal studies of aging for the enhanced understanding of human aging and frailty. |
| Date | Description | Institution | # Students |
| 6/2013 - Present | Individual Instruction | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | |
| 5/2013 - Present | Post-Doctoral Student Supervision | UT Health Science Center San Antonio | |
| 6/2012 - Present | Post-Doctoral Student Supervision | UTHSCSA | |
| 7/2010 - Present | Lecturer, Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy | UT Health Science Center San Antonio | 60 students |
| Annual presenter for this program for gifted high school students enrolled in the Voelcker Biomedical Research Academy at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. Presentation includes a synopsis of personal experiences throughout academic career, including pathway and to medical school, personal struggles and triumphs, decision to pursue a career in academic medicine, and brief description of current research activities. | |||
| 7/2010 - Present | Post-Doctoral Student Supervision | UT Health Science Center San Antonio | |
| 9/2009 - Present | Post Graduate Rotation Supervision | Barshop Institution for Longevity and Aging Studies - UTHSCSA | |
| 7/2009 - Present | Post-Doctoral Student Supervision | University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | |
| 4/2009 - Present | Biology of Aging | The University of Texas Health Science Center | 20 students |
| Course title: Sarcopenia and the Geriatric Syndrome of Frailty | |||
| 1/2008 - Present | Rotation Student Supervision | Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital | |
| 6/2007 - Present | Lecturer, Palliative Care Service | South Texas Veterans Health Care System | 60 students |
| Lecture yearly on palliative care of the frail older adult at the Interdisciplinary Team Meeting of the Palliative Care Service at Audie L. Murphy Veterans Hospital. | |||
| 6/2007 - Present | Lecturer, Summer Institute on Aging | Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center | 600 students |
| Have been a guest lecturer for the Summer Institute on Aging every summer since 2007. Lectures have included research update in frailty and the interdisciplinary management of frailty. Held in San Antonio annually; sponsored by the Geriatrics, Research, Education and Clinical Center and the Geriatrics Education Center. | |||
| 5/2007 - Present | Lecturer, Medical Students in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | 30 students |
| Regular lecturer on developing an important, answerable research question and basic concepts in statistics to medical students in the Medical Students in Aging Research (MSTAR) program. | |||
| 5/2007 - Present | Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio | |
| 7/2006 - Present | Rotation Student Supervision | South Texas Veterans Health Care System | |
Journal Article |
| Shamsi K, Pierce AP, Ashton A, Halade D, Richardson AG, Espinoza SE. Proteomic Screening of Glycoproteins in Human Plasma for Frailty Biomarkers Journals of Gerontology: Biological Sciences 2012 Aug;67(8):853-864. |
| Espinoza SE, Jung I, Hazuda HP. Frailty Transitions in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2012 Mar;60(4):652-660. |
| Villarreal DV, Restrepo MI, Healy JM, Howard B, Tidwell J, Ross JS, Hartronft SR, Jawad M, Sanchez-Reilly SE, Reed K, Espinoza SE. A Model for Increasing Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Unit: Enhancing Interprofessional Consultation Rates and Communication Journal of Pain and symptom management 2011 Nov;42(5):676-679. |
| Patel, Neela K., Akkihebbalu, S., Espinoza SE, Chiodo LK. Perceptions of a Community-based Yoga Intervention for Older Adults Activities, Adaptations, & Aging 2011 Jun;35:151-163. |
| Espinoza SE, Jung, Inkyung, Hazuda HP. Incidence of Frailty is Lower among Mexican American than among European American Older Adults Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2010 Nov;58:2142-2148. |
| Espinoza SE, Hazuda HP. Frailty in Older Mexican-American and European-American Adults: Is There an Ethnic Disparity? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2008 Sep;56(9):1744-1749. |
| Espinoza SE, Guo H, Fedarko N, DeZern A, Fried LP, Xue QL, Leng S, Beamer B, Walston JD. Glutathione Peroxidase Enzyme Activity in Aging J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2008 May;63(5):505-509. |
| Walston JD, Fedarko N, Yang H, Leng S, Beamer B, Espinoza SE, Lipton A, Zheng H, Becker K. The Physical and Molecular Characterization of a Frail Mouse Model Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences 2008 Jan;63(4):391-398. |
Book Chapter |
| Hazuda HP, Espinoza SE. Sociocultural Status and Burden of Disability in Aging Mexican Americans: Findings from the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging. In: Eds: Jacqueline L. Angel, Fernando M. Torres-Gil, and Kyriakos S. Markides. The Emerging Latino Population: Health Care, Longevity and an Aging America. New York: Springer; 2012. p. 125-143. |
Abstract |
| Payton H, Garcia L, Rottman-Sagebiel R, Tschirhart SJ, Espinoza SE. Improving Inappropriate Medication Use Among Elderly Veterans: Impact of Medication Review on Polypharmacy; 2013 May. (Accepted: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society). |
| Nguyen MA, Halade D, Richardson A, Espinoza SE. Protein Biomarkers in Frailty Transitions; 2013 May. (Accepted: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society). |
| Espinoza SE, Darvin K, Halade D, Breeding L, Richardson AG. Protein Biomarkers for Frailty; 2012 Jan. (Journal of American Geriatrics Society; vol. 60, no. 4). |
| Garcia, CH, Espinoza SE, Hazuda H. Strong Association Between Low Health Literacy and Poor Health Status among Hispanic Elderly Patients; 2012 Jan. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 60, no. 4). |
| Guo N, Halade D, Lindsey M, Espinoza SE. Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and the Geriatric Syndrome of Frailty; 2012 Jan. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 60, no. 4). |
| Espinoza SE, Hazuda H. Lower Extremity Function Mediates the Association between Diabetes and Frailty; 2012 Jan. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 60, no. 4). |
| Mather M, Patel T, Espinoza SE. Improving Transitions to Home in Older Veterans after Hospitalization; 2012 Jan. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 60, no. 4). |
| Espinoza SE, Hazuda HP. Neighborhood Context and the Geriatric Syndrome of Frailty; 2012 Jan. (Journal of Frailty and Aging; vol. 1, no. 2). |
| Espinoza SE, Hazuda H. Ethnic Difference in Performance-based Measures of Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; 2011 Nov. (The Gerontologist; vol. 1035, no. 2). |
| Garcia C, Espinoza SE, Hazuda HP. Levels of Health Literacy Among Hispanic Elderly Patients and Their Caregivers; 2011 Nov. (The Gerontologist; vol. 985-2). |
| Espinoza SE, Jung I, Hazuda H. Predictors of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Mexican American and European American Older Adults; 2011 Jan. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 59, no. s1). |
| Lum H, Espinoza SE. Metabolic Profiling of Frail, Pre-Frail, and Non-Frail Older Adults; 2011 Jan. (The Gerontologist; vol. 415, no. 15). |
| Espinoza SE, Hazuda HP. Frailty in Mexican Americans: Where They Live Makes a Difference; 2010 Oct. (The Gerontologist; vol. 50, no. S1). |
| Espinoza SE, Hazuda H. Sex Differences in Predictors of Mortality in Mexican American and European American Older Adults; 2010 Apr. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 58, no. 4). |
| Espinoza SE, Pierce A, Halade D, Richardson A. A Comparative Proteomics Approach to the Geriatric Syndrome of Frailty; 2010 Apr. (Clinical and Translational Science; vol. 3, no. 2). |
| Espinoza SE, Pierce A, Halade D, Richardson A. Plasma Haptoglobin in Pre-Frail Older Adults: a Pilot Study; 2010 Jan. (The Gerontologist; vol. 905, no. 11). |
| Garcia C, Espinoza SE, Hazuda H. Ethnic Differences in Perceived Caregiver Burden between Mexican American and European American Older Caregivers; 2010 Jan. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 59, no. s1). |
| Espinoza SE, Pierce A, Shamsi K, Halade D, Richardson A. A Comparative Glycoproteomics Approach to Frailty Using Lectin Affinity Chromatography: A Pilot Study; 2009 Nov. (The Gerontologist; vol. 2025, no. 3). |
| Espinoza SE, Jung I, Hazuda HP. Is There an Ethnic Disparity in Mortality between Older Mexican Americans and European Americans?; 2009 Nov. (The Gerontologist; vol. 685-2). |
| Espinoza SE, Jung I, Hazuda HP. Targets for the Promotion of Healthy Aging in Mexican American Older Adults: Results from the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging; 2009 Nov. (The Gerontologist; vol. 1085, no. 6). |
| Espinoza SE. A Comparison of Human Plasma Glycoproteome between Pre-frail and Non-frail Older Adults; 2009 May. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 57, no. 4). |
| Shamsi K, Pierce A, Halade D, Richardson A, Espinoza SE. A Comparison of Human Plasma Glycoproteome between Pre-Frail and Non-Frail Older Adults; 2009 Apr. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 57, no. 4). |
| Espinoza SE, Hazuda HP. Frailty transitions in the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging; 2009 Apr. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 57, no. 4). |
| Espinoza SE, Hazuda HP. Incidence of Frailty is Lower Among Mexican Americans than among European American Older Adults; 2008 Oct. (The Gerontologist; vol. 48, no. S1 3). |
| Tardif SD, Ross CN, Davis K, Dobek G, Brasky K, Espinoza SE. Relations among Body Composition, Activity, Hematology and Age in Male Common Marmoset Monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) - Toward a Model of Frailty; 2008 Oct. (The Gerontologist; vol. 48, no. S1 3). |
| Ashton A, Pierce A, Macias D, Chaudhuri A, Richardson A, Espinoza S. Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Plasma Glycoproteins with Age: a Pilot Study; 2008 Apr. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; vol. 56, no. 4). |
| Espinoza SE, Hazuda HP. Characterizing Frailty in Ethnically Diverse Populations: Are Conventional Screening Criteria Adequate?; 2007 Oct. (The Gerontologist; vol. 47, no. SI I). |
Federal |
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| Funding Agency | National Institute on Aging/NIH |
| Title | Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 3/2011 - 4/2016 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | A national multi-site randomized controlled trial of aspirin in the elderly. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of 100mg of daily aspirin in patients 65 years of age and older on physical and cognitive functioning. |
| Funding Agency | Veterans Administration |
| Title | Geriatric Medicine Education at Discharge |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 10/2012 - 10/2014 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | This funding was awarded to implement a post-discharge interdisciplinary pharmacological intervention in high risk older Veterans following admission at the Audie L. Murphy Division of the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System (STVHCS), in order to prevent hospital readmission, emergency department use, and nursing home placement. This is a collaborative with the Boston GRECC who has already successfully implemented a similar program which has been shown to reduce 60-day readmissions and emergency department use. |
| Funding Agency | VA |
| Title | Correction of Glutathione Deficiency for Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 10/2010 - 9/2014 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | To expand to Veterans a NIH-funded study aimed at testing the effect of combined supplementation of N-acetycysteine and Milk Thistle flavonolignans on proteinuria, redox imbalance, and monocyte function in patients with diabetic nephropathy. |
| Funding Agency | Veterans Administration - South Texas Veterans Healthcare System |
| Title | GRECC Connect San Antonio |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 6/2013 - 6/2014 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | Older adults living in rural areas often do not have access to specialized geriatric care, such as comprehensive geriatric assessment and evaluation and treatment of geriatric syndromes and conditions, such as dementia, falls, chronic pain, and advanced care planning. The goal of this project is to improve the healthcare for medically complex older Veterans enrolled in rural community-based outpatient clinics within Veterans Integrated Service Network 17. This will be accomplished by: 1) providing expert, interdisciplinary clinical consultation to medically complex older veterans via video-teleconferencing (VTEL), and 2) providing case-based training in geriatrics for primary care providers practicing in rural CBOCs using SCAN-ECHO (Specialty Care Access Network Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) infrastructure, which will be established by this project. |
| Funding Agency | Veterans Administration |
| Title | Activity Promotion Consultation Clinic to Engage High-risk Older Veterans in Regular Walking |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 10/2012 - 10/2013 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | This funding was awarded to implement an activity promotion consultation clinic to screen older veterans who are interested in increase physical activity, to monitor and encourage patients in an standardized walking exercise program, and monitor benefits of regular exercise including quality of life and improvements in physical function. This is a collaborative effort with Arkansas GRECC who has already successfully implemented this program in their outpatient geriatrics clinic. |
| Funding Agency | Veterans Administration |
| Title | Augment and Convert Existing Staff in our GEM Clinic into a Fully Functional GeriPACT |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 10/2012 - 10/2013 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | This funding was awarded to augment and convert existing staff in the Geriatrics Evaluation and Management (GEM) Clinic at Audie Murphy VA Hospital to function as a patient-aligned care team (PACT), which is a term used by the Veterans Administration to refer to a patient-centered medical home. Additional funds were provided for nursing, pharmacy, and dietician support. |
| Funding Agency | National Institutes of Health/NCRR |
| Title | Institute for Integration of Medicine and Science: A Partnership to Improve Health |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 10/2011 - 9/2013 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | The purpose of this award is to create an Integrated Data Repository (IDR) that will link clinical data and bio-specimens, building upon partnerships with over 20 non-academic primary care office/clinic sites across South Texas through a Practice-Based Research Network. The clinical samples will be obtained from subjects eligible for enrollment in the ASPREE study (Aspirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly). |
| Funding Agency | Veterans Administration, VISN 17 |
| Title | Characterizing Frailty and the Plasma Glycoproteome in Older Veterans |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 7/2010 - 6/2012 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | The objective of this 2-year award is to adapt the latest proteomic biotechnology to study the clinical syndrome of frailty in retired veterans in San Antonio, TX, by comparing the plasma glycoproteome across frailty category (non-frail, pre-frail, and frail). This information will serve to uncover glycoproteins involved in the development and progression of frailty and lay the groundwork for future studies of potential interventions. |
| Funding Agency | National Institutes of Health |
| Title | National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program |
| Status | Complete |
| Period | 10/2006 - 11/2010 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | Selected for repayment of up to $35,000 per year of educational debt in exchange for dedication and commitment to a career in research, after peer-review of proposed research activity. Initially awarded for a 2-year period in Fall of 2006. Recently was competitively renewed through Fall 2010 for an additional 2 years of support. |
Private |
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| Funding Agency | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation |
| Title | Ethnic Differences in the Geriatric Syndrome of Frailty: the San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 7/2010 - 6/2014 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this four-year career development award (Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program) aims to support minority clinical investigators for the purpose of increasing the number of faculty from historically disadvantaged backgrounds who can achieve senior rank in academic medicine. Scholars are expected to spend a minimum of 70% effort on research and participate in annual career development seminar with their mentor. Amos Scholar awards are offered to historically disadvantaged physicians who are committed to developing careers in academic medicine and to serving as role models for students and faculty of similar background. It provides salary support ($75,000 per year) plus an annual grant ($30,000) in support of my research. Amos Scholars are required to spend 70% of their time in research activities. This research aims to determine if ethnic-specific criteria for characterizing frailty in the SALSA cohort better predict adverse health outcomes and to characterize frailty in Mexican Americans. This award is a mentored award under Dr. Helen P. Hazuda. |
| Funding Agency | Hartford Center for Excellence in Geriatric Education |
| Title | American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 7/2011 - 6/2012 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | Serve as research mentor and supervisor to Geriatric Medicine Fellows engaged in mentored research in Geriatrics and Gerontology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. |
| Funding Agency | Semp Russ Foundation of the San Antonio Area Foundation |
| Title | Characterizing Frailty and the Plasma Glycoproteome in Older Adults |
| Status | Complete |
| Period | 6/2010 - 11/2011 |
| Role | Principal Investigator |
| Grant Detail | The objective of this award is to support the clinical study of frailty in retired veterans in San Antonio, TX, comparing the plasma glycoproteome across frailty category. |
State |
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| Funding Agency | Texas Physical Therapy Foundation. |
| Title | Gait Characteristics and Frailty in Community-dwelling Older Adults |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 1/2013 - 1/2014 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | Funded for $1600. |
| Funding Agency | Institute for the Integration of Medicine and Science |
| Title | Development of a Non-human Primate Model of Age-related Functional Decline |
| Status | Active |
| Period | 10/2009 - 11/2010 |
| Role | Co-Investigator |
| Grant Detail | The overarching goal of this research is to develop an efficient nonhuman primate model of age-related functional decline that can be used in the future to test interventions, preventatives or therapeutics prior to moving into human trials. Ultimately, this research program will define a broad spectrum of phenotypes in common marmoset monkeys. Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are small primates with relatively short life spans, making them attractive as an aging model. Ultimately, phenotypes relative to locomotion, daily activities, cognitive function, cardiac function, body composition and inflammatory cytokines will be measured in common marmoset monkeys varying in age and adiposity. Analyses of the relations among these variables will provide operational definitions of health in this species that can be specifically related back to human studies. |