Taylor Thomas

New program reduces burnout in dementia caregivers, novel research evaluation proves

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 12:41:27 +0000

New program reduces burnout in dementia caregivers, novel research evaluation proves Taylor Thomas Wed, 10/29/2025 - 08:41

In This Story

Y. Alicia Hong, PhD

As the old saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup. To give time and energy to others, it is vital to attend to one’s own well-being. As the U.S. population ages, there is a growing demand for tools that support the more than 19 million people who serve as caregivers of family members with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD). Family caregivers of individuals with ADRD are vulnerable to poor mental and physical health due to long-term, strenuous caregiving and lack of support.

Kang Shen. Photo provided

A novel process (i.e., delivery and functionality) evaluation developed by Kang Shen, PhD health services research student at ��’s College of Public Health, establishes that user-friendly digital interventions are the solution. WECARE 2.0, a culturally tailored digital health program, is proof as it has enhanced caregivers’ physical and mental health.

“WECARE’s approach—combining cultural relevance with an accessible, widely used technology app—proved to be highly effective and well-accepted by users. High user satisfaction, participant retention, and significant improvements in caregiving skills and positive aspects of caregiving all point to WECARE’s promising early results,” said Shen, who is a first-generation student and also has a bachelor's and master's degrees in health informatics from George Mason.

The study, Process evaluation of a digital health intervention for dementia caregivers: Integrating active and passive measurements, was published in September 2025 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the premier journal of the Alzheimer’s Association and the leading journal in the field.

Participants became more knowledgeable about ADRD, learned problem-solving strategies, improved their personal caregiving skills, reduced stress, increased social support, while being user-friendly.

“This program [WECARE] is so good, easy to understand, even for a 70-year-old. I don’t like reading text and can play the recording instead. I like your how-to videos; I can open them whenever I want and watch them multiple times,” one program participant shared.

WECARE, which was originally designed by Y. Alicia Hong, a Department of Health Administration professor and digital technologies intervention researcher and specialist, was delivered through the social media app WeChat. Through the platform, researchers provide easily accessible educational articles and videos, tips on practicing self-care, and opportunities for social connection with other caregivers.

Innovative Evaluation Methods

Shen’s process evaluation of WECARE 2.0 is the first to employ multiple—qualitative and quantitative—data collection methods. With data from surveys, interviews, self-reported reviews, and website engagement, Shen measured how often participants opened the app and its accompanying resources, how long they spent using the resources, and feedback of the program at the intervention’s conclusion.

Shen’s approach also highlights the importance of creating tools that do not simply exist but are observable to implementers for timely improvement. Unlike previous evaluative methods, her use of short surveys (active measurement) and tracking user activities on the backend (passive measurement) offers program developers comprehensive insight into what works, what doesn’t work, and why throughout the intervention process.

This innovative process evaluation method can facilitate developing more effective digital health interventions for underserved dementia caregivers. Results are being integrated into the next version of WECARE and can inspire future interventions.

“This study serves as a framework for creating and evaluating digital health tools that are culturally grounded and genuinely accessible for diverse, underserved caregiving communities. Our goal is to inspire a shift toward more inclusive and effective support systems that meet caregivers where they are, leveraging familiar technologies to overcome access barriers,” said Shen.

Her research was supported by Hong. Additional co-authors include Yixuan (Janice) Zhang from the College of William and Mary Department of Computer Science, Hae-Ra Han from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Jessica Lin from the George Mason's Department of Computer Science, and Kenneth Hepburn from the Emory University School of Nursing.

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PhD in Health Services Research

Digital Health

Research

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

Alumni

The brain may not be a muscle, but it still needs exercise

Taylor Thomas — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:09:59 +0000

The brain may not be a muscle, but it still needs exercise Taylor Thomas Thu, 10/16/2025 - 10:09

As we age, keeping our bodies active helps us stay healthier for longer and protects against chronic disease. We can also exercise our brains to prevent age-related mental decline with activities like reading aloud, writing by hand, and simple math exercises.

Photo by Getty Images

The idea of “working out” the mind is core to the StrongerMemory program, a rigorous brain training curriculum developed by the Goodwin Living Foundation and tested by �� social workers. Gerontology research specialist Emily Ihara, with co-investigator George Mason Professor of Social Work Catherine J. Tompkins, found that mental exercise such as preventing age-related mental decline resulted in both self-reported and researcher-assessed improvements in key brain health indicators among older adult participants.

“The StrongerMemory program was associated with both objective and subjective improvements in cognitive functioning among older adults. The components stimulated and strengthened working memory, attention, and decision-making processes,” said Ihara, professor and chair in the Department of Social Work at George Mason’s College of Public Health (CPH).

Unlike previous cognitive exercise programs, which focused on a single aspect of brain health (e.g., memory or attention alone), the activities of this program were specifically chosen to stimulate multiple parts of the brain with the goal of combating progression of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD).

“By combining reading aloud, writing by hand, and simple math exercises, the program engages multiple cognitive pathways, offering broader benefits than single-domain approaches. The results can inform practitioners, policymakers, and families about practical, affordable, non-pharmacological ways to possibly mitigate cognitive decline and promote healthy aging,” said Ihara.

Emily Ihara. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding

Older adults in the StrongerMemory program participated in three daily activities for 30 minutes per day: 10 minutes each of reading aloud, writing by hand, and completing simple math problems. The program was tailored, allowing participants choice in reading material and writing content. For example, some older adults chose to write letters to family. At the conclusion, implementers interviewed participants and conducted tests on memory recall, verbal fluency, attention, dates, and location.

Age-related cognitive decline can include memory loss, lapses in attention, trouble performing daily tasks, and confusion, among others that could be warnings of ADRD. Participants were recruited from older adult living communities, and self-reported cognitive decline but did not have a formal ADRD diagnosis.

Can brain exercises mitigate cognitive decline? A quasi-experimental evaluation of the StrongerMemory program was published July 2025 in Educational Gerontology.

Tompkins, who is also associate dean for faculty and staff affairs, and Hyun Kang from the James Madison University, and a former CPH postdoctoral researcher, served as co-authors of the study. Additionally, several George Mason and CPH alumni were contributors, including Francesca A. Keesee, MSW ‘23; McKenzie S. Lauber, BSW ’23, MSW ‘24; Catherine M. Magee, MSW ‘23; Kendall Barrett, BSW ‘20, MSW ‘22; Madeline Holden, MSW ‘22; Harveen Pantleay, MSW ‘22; and Gergana N. Hardy, MA Sociology '24.

Read more about the efficacy of the StrongerMemory program:

I Have Decided to Read Out Loud for the Rest of My Life! Cognitive Health and the StrongerMemory Program

Boosting Cognitive Training through Social Engagement: Impacts on Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline

About the researcher

Emily Ihara is a social work and gerontology researcher focused on developing and evaluating community-based interventions that support cognitive health for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Her expertise bridges practice-based innovation and rigorous research methods, with an emphasis on accessible, scalable solutions to pressing challenges in aging societies.

In This Story

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

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$3 million National Institute on Aging grant will provide much-needed support to underserved dementia caregivers

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:11:07 +0000

$3 million National Institute on Aging grant will provide much-needed support to underserved dementia caregivers Taylor Thomas Wed, 10/15/2025 - 09:11

More than 7 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), supported by 12 million unpaid family caregivers whose contributions are valued at $413 billion annually. As the U.S. population continues to age, the number of people with dementia and their caregivers will nearly triple by 2050. Innovative solutions to support family caregivers are urgently needed.

Y. Alicia Hong. Photo provided.

Now, with a $3 million grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), �� digital health intervention researcher Y. Alicia Hong is poised to change that. Hong led an interdisciplinary team to develop the Wellness Enhancement for Caregivers (WECARE) as a culturally tailored, digital health intervention to enhance caregiving skills and improve the well-being of dementia caregivers. The new grant will allow her team to further refine WECARE using artificial intelligence (AI) and evaluate it with a randomized controlled trial.

“WECARE is one of the first personalized digital interventions for dementia caregivers,” said Hong, a professor in the College of Public Health's Department of Health Administration and Policy. "Though it is designed for Chinese American dementia caregivers, it can be adapted for other groups and serve the growing demand for digital support for dementia caregivers in an aging society

The seven-week program will provide participants with informational ADRD multimedia content, quiz games, social networking with other caregivers, personalized feedback, and additional individualized resources. WECARE’s success will be evaluated by measuring the depressive symptoms reported by participants. The project also intends to identify barriers to and facilitators of WECARE’s adoption and long-term use.

This resource comes at a critical time as the aging population grows, and more people with ADRD require caregivers. Additionally, most family caregivers have chronic conditions due to prolonged and intensive dementia caregiving, causing an increased need for resources that sustain the health of family caregivers.

Hong’s grant titled “WECARE: A Personalized Intervention for Underserved Chinese American Dementia Caregivers” will take place from September 2025 to August 2030, for a total of $3,088,427. WECARE is directly responsive to NIA’s priority of effective interventions for ADRD-affected populations.

Hong studies the intersection of health services delivery and consumer informatics. Her work explores chronic care and self-care solutions through innovative digital technologies to improve patient-centered outcomes and enhance health care accessibility. Hong’s research focuses on implementation and dissemination science and leveraging digital technologies to enhance health services delivery.

In This Story

Y. Alicia Hong, PhD

Grand Challenge Initiative

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Artificial Intelligence

Powerful community partnerships help combat public health challenges

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:06:05 +0000

Powerful community partnerships help combat public health challenges Taylor Thomas Fri, 10/10/2025 - 13:06

The Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics’ Empowered Communities program’s success is driven by dynamic partnerships between �� and community organizations that are transforming public health outcomes in underserved communities.

Initiatives convene networks of nurses, peer specialists, community health workers, and students to bring acute and chronic health care services, immunizations, school health exams, substance misuse treatment, mental health services, and more to low-income, uninsured, or refugee populations. For example, the Empowered Communities Opioid Project helps people involved with the justice system who struggle with opioid use disorders connect with health care providers and community resources.

Photo by Emily Roscher.

Empowered Communities programs exemplify how college-community alliances can directly improve highly targeted public health issues. These collaborations are foundational to delivering sustainable, person-centered care where it’s needed most. By combining academic expertise with on-the-ground community insight, these partnerships are creating scalable models for building healthier communities.

Prince William County and MAP Clinics partner on several initiatives, including the Jail Medication-Assisted Treatment Program, the Peer Internship Project, and Community MAT efforts. The collaboration is rooted in shared goals of expanding access to treatment, strengthening peer support services, and promoting recovery within justice-involved populations. Their remarkable collaboration was recognized with the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations in the category of Partnership Initiative.

“Partnerships like these are essential for building coordinated, comprehensive responses to the opioid epidemic, substance use, and behavioral health challenges in Prince William County, City of Manassas, and Manassas Park. By working together, we can leverage collective expertise, align resources, and deliver consistent, person-centered care across systems,” said Sara Wheeler, division manager of the Adult Behavioral Health and Recovery Services in the Prince William County Government.

Harnessing Tech Partners to Improve Health

Sri Vasireddy, co-founder and CEO of REAN Foundation, leads an organization dedicated to using technology to improve access, affordability, and efficiency in health care. Together, REAN and the MAP Clinics created Mason HealthLink, an AI companion that allows patients to self-manage their own care by connecting them with resources, practitioners, and updated care plans. Their partnership exemplifies the intersection of technology and health care.

“There is tremendous need for what we do and there's a lot that we need to put together. I am a technology entrepreneur, and I have little direct knowledge in health care,” said Vasireddy. "What I know comes from working with organizations and partnerships, meeting people, and learning about their communities’ needs. On the technology side, the technology people process aspects of building a platform. But we need nursing staff and community workers and volunteers to help answer is this contextualized, is this personalized? It’s not just one discipline. We need psychology, we need science, we need technology, we need business in terms of the operations."

These partnerships—between academic institutions, local governments, and technology innovators—are the foundation of Empowered Communities’ success. They demonstrate how collaboration across sectors can drive sustainable public health solutions and improve outcomes for underserved populations.

Over the past two years, the Empowered Communities has hosted a conference that served as a platform for these partners to showcase milestones and reaffirm their shared commitment to providing resources to those most in need.

“Gatherings like the Empowered Communities Conference foster connection, knowledge sharing, and inspiration across sectors. They provide a platform to highlight innovative practices, celebrate progress, and strengthen the collective commitment to recovery, equity, and community resilience,” said Wheeler.

Photo by Emily Roscher.

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Empowered Communities

Mason and Partners (MAP)

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

Helping older adults embrace AI and emerging technologies with a National Science Foundation grant

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:08:43 +0000

Helping older adults embrace AI and emerging technologies with a National Science Foundation grant Taylor Thomas Fri, 09/26/2025 - 12:08

In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more integrated into our lives, older adults are being left behind. Poor digital literacy is more than being unable to use social media. It increases the risk of poor health outcomes as it may exclude anyone, especially older adults, from finding and using information that sustains and promotes health. With a highly competitive grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), digital technologies researcher, Y. Alicia Hong, is helping older adults keep pace with evolving technology and setting them up for success in the future.

Y. Alicia Hong. Photo provided

“Our project equips older adults to adapt to emerging technologies, such as AI, and become more resilient in a rapidly changing digital landscape,” said Hong, professor in ��’s Department of Health Administration and Policy.

From online banking to electronic health records like MyChart, people need to interact with digital technology on a daily basis. Hong’s project will incorporate youth, who are more adept with technology, to aid older adults’ skill-building. At senior centers, a youth and an older adult will walk through scenes where they may encounter AI technology. A web platform will guide them to collaboratively develop a digital life story with realistic scenarios with support from AI tools.

"The project seeks to strengthen AI literacy, social connectedness, and resilience among older adults while cultivating responsible AI awareness in youth," Hong said.

Hong will co-design the web-based platform that facilitates intergenerational engagement between youth and older adults in narrative-style storytelling to improve their understanding of digital technologies and AI. They will use multiple AI-based tools, including ChatGPT for script generation, Runway ML for image creation, Eleven Labs for audio, and Descript for editing.

Hong will work alongside the project’s PI, Dr. Yixuan (Janice) Zhang, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at College of William & Mary. Collaboration with a computer scientist will ensure refined evaluations of usability, accessibility, and participants’ ability to use the web-based platform independently, while also taking into consideration cultural sensitivity. Their interprofessional, intercollegiate partnership will optimize resource allocation and program performance.

“We aim to deliver a community-based model for AI literacy that helps older adults confidently and safely use AI, strengthens intergenerational bonds by positioning youth as tech partners, and gives community-based organizations a practical toolkit they can sustain after the grant,” said Zhang, co-PI with Hong. “The award converts a co-designed concept into a tested, transferable, and sustainable platform and program to enhance AI literacy among older adults.”

“The project will inform future programs aimed at underserved groups and foster more inclusive, accessible, and meaningful engagement with emerging technologies,” said Hong.

NSF grants are awarded to researchers whose projects have demonstrated the capacity for advancing research and education across science and engineering. The project entitled “Enhancing AI Literacy and Resilience through Intergenerational Digital Storytelling among Older Adults” is a three-year, $661,478 grant.

As a digital health behavioral interventionist, Hong studies the intersection of health services delivery and consumer informatics. Her work explores chronic care and self-care solutions through innovative digital technologies to improve patient-centered outcomes and enhance health care accessibility. Hong’s research focuses on implementation and dissemination science and leveraging digital technologies to enhance health services delivery.

Powering Artificial Intelligence at George Mason

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Older Adults

Young Adults

Digital Accessibility

Artificial Intelligence

HAP Faculty

Research

National Science Foundation

Can a mango a day keep diabetes away: A pioneering study shows the benefits of foods with natural sugars versus added sugars

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 17:31:40 +0000

Can a mango a day keep diabetes away: A pioneering study shows the benefits of foods with natural sugars versus added sugars Taylor Thomas Wed, 09/24/2025 - 13:31

If presented with two snacks, one containing seven grams of sugar and another with more than 30 grams of sugar, choosing the healthier option should be a no-brainer, correct? Well, maybe not. Less sugar is not automatically healthier.

Photo by Luhai Feng/pixababy

For the nearly 100 million adults in the United States who are currently living with prediabetes, a tropical fruit that can reduce the risk of diabetes sounds too good to be true. Tropical fruits contain anywhere between 10 to 50 grams of sugar, with mangos on the high end of the spectrum, making them seem a poor snack choice based on that alone. But research by clinical nutrition researcher Raedeh Basiri indicates that mangos, despite having more sugar than many low-sugar snacks, may offer protective factors for adults with prediabetes.

“It is not just the sugar content that matters, but the overall food context that matters,” said Basiri, assistant professor in ��’s Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. This study is the first long-term clinical trial to demonstrate both metabolic and body composition benefits of mangoes in prediabetes.

Simply put, it’s more than the sugar in the food; it’s about the whole food. The sugars naturally found in mangos, and other fruits, are complemented by fiber and other vitamins and nutrients that offer additional health benefits. Food with added sugar, such as breakfast cereals, and even low-sugar snack options, may not have the same nutritional value and can even increase diabetes risk.

“The goal is to encourage people to include whole fruits, like mango, as part of healthy eating behaviors and practical dietary strategies for diabetes prevention,” said Basiri. “Individuals at high risk of diabetes should not only focus on the sugar content of foods, but on how sugars are delivered.”

Basiri and her team split study participants into two groups; one group received a fresh mango daily, while the other group was given a low-sugar granola bar each day. Over six months, researchers measured participants’ blood glucose levels, bodily responses to insulin, and body fat.

At the conclusion of the study, findings revealed that the high-sugar mango (32 grams of sugar) proved more beneficial than a low-sugar granola bar (11 grams of sugar). The group that consumed the daily mango showed improved blood glucose control, enhanced insulin sensitivity, and reduced body fat.

Daily Mango Intake Improves Glycemic and Body Composition Outcomes in Adults with Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Study was published in Foods in August 2025.

This study was funded by the National Mango Board. The authors declare no other potential conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analysis, interpretation of data, or the decision to publish results.

About the researcher

Raedeh Basiri is a registered dietitian and an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason’s College of Public Health. Basiri is a clinical nutrition researcher specializing in personalized nutrition therapy and the use of emerging technologies, such as continuous glucose monitoring, to improve outcomes in individuals with prediabetes, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Her work combines randomized controlled trials and large-scale data analysis to investigate how whole foods and dietary patterns impact insulin resistance, glycemic control, sleep, and both mental and gut health. Basiri takes a rigorous, interdisciplinary approach and is deeply committed to chronic disease prevention, collaborative research, and mentoring future professionals.

Explore Research at George Mason

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For this alumnus, public health and public service are inextricable

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 17:37:56 +0000

For this alumnus, public health and public service are inextricable Taylor Thomas Wed, 09/03/2025 - 13:37

�� alumnus Phazhon Nash, BS in Community Health ’21, has taken his commitment to the intersection of public health and public service to the Roanoke City Council. Nash foresaw his future in community service and complemented his public health major with a global health concentration with an American Government minor from the Schar School of Policy and Government. Health and wellness are at the forefront of his mind when designing policies to uplift people physically, mentally, socially, financially, and environmentally.

Roanoke City Council Member Phazhon Nash, BS in Community Health ’21.

“Public health and public service are inseparable. Whether it is housing, transportation, public safety, or economic development, every policy has an impact on health,” said Nash. "As a council member, I think about how decisions will affect people’s well-being, how they will create healthier neighborhoods, reduce disparities, or improve access to resources. We want to create policies to support the whole person and the whole community."

As the youngest elected council member for Roanoke City, Nash’s fresh perspective is amplifying the voices of future generations. A Roanoke native, Nash grew up seeing the city’s health needs go ignored for decades. He was inspired to run for city council because he wanted to give back in a meaningful way, addressing challenges facing the community today that will benefit generations to come.

“I saw a need for younger voices at the table, voices that reflect the future of our communities. My goal is to make Roanoke City the happiest, healthiest, and safest place for all to call home,” Nash said.

City Council is a part-time role, so Nash also serves as an Operations Consultant in Emergency Services at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke. He leads quality improvement initiatives, throughout efficiency projects, and operational strategies across all six Carilion Clinic Emergency Departments in Southwest Virginia.

“I use my background in community health to ensure that the systems and solutions we implement in the emergency department actively acknowledge and respond to social determinants of health, helping bridge gaps in care and address the broader factors that impact patient outcomes,” Nash said.

Nash credits his education from the College of Public Health at �� for training him in how to implement sustainable, innovative public health solutions. “The most significant aspect of my George Mason and College of Public Health education was the diversity. I met people from so many different backgrounds, which opened my mind and broadened my perspective. The professors also consistently challenged me to think outside the box and become truly creative in the way I approached problems,” he said. “That combination of diversity and intellectual challenge shaped the way I see public health and leadership today.”

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bachelor of science in community health

Department of Global and Community Health

GCH Alumni

Alumni

public policy

For older adults, extreme heat can mean life or death

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:54:37 +0000

For older adults, extreme heat can mean life or death Taylor Thomas Fri, 08/29/2025 - 13:54

In This Story

Li-Mei Chen, PhD

Heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, sunburn, and heat stroke are known to be dangerous for everyone, but older adults are at heightened risk and are likely to suffer more drastic health consequences if those close to them, whether that be family members, friends, or caregivers, are not vigilant.

Healthy aging scholar and gerontologist Li-Mei Chen specializes in the health and well-being of older adults, and how caregivers and systems can better support them. Chen, assistant professor of social work at ��'s College of Public Health, answers pressing questions on how to keep older adults safe in extreme heat, offering actionable preventive measures key to protection from heat exposure.

Why are heat-related illnesses particularly dangerous for older adults?

Failing to understand the dangers of heat-related illnesses can be life-threatening. Compared to younger people, older adults require more water for the body to function properly, such as producing sweat to cool the body. Furthermore, older adults are less sensitive to thirst and will forego drinking water as often as they should. Also, older adults are more likely to have chronic health conditions, which can be exacerbated by extreme heat.

How do common heat-related illnesses manifest differently among seniors?

Heat-related illnesses can manifest differently in older adults. People aged 60 years and older and individuals with obesity, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease or long-standing diabetes are at increased risk of heat-related illness. Aging and chronic diseases may impair the body’s ability to regulate core body temperature in hot conditions.

Additionally, personal circumstances contribute to an increased risk of heat-related illness. Older adults who are unable to leave their homes, lack contact with other people, experience severe mental illness, poverty, and decreased mobility face even greater risk.

What are some early warning signs to look out for?

Early signs of heat-related illness include dizziness, redness in the face, excessive sweating, muscle pain, and leg cramps. As the symptoms worsen, older adults may experience nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakened consciousness, and high body temperature.

If you are with someone showing signs of heat-related illness, remove them from direct sunlight, such as to under the shade of a tree, and try to relocate them to a cooler environment. Placing cold wet clothes on the forehead and neck can help alleviate symptoms and bring body temperature down. If symptoms are not improving, call 911 so medical professionals can render care.

Top 10 Tips to keep older adults safe and healthy in extreme heat

Check the weather before going out.
Ensure any venue is older adult-friendly with access to sitting areas and places to escape the heat periodically.
Hydrate! Take small sips of water regularly, even if not thirsty.
Apply and reapply sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30.
Wear sunglasses and a hat.
Dress in breathable, lightweight clothing.
Monitor indoor temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
Adjust air conditioning as needed to keep indoor spaces cool.
Keep furniture away from direct sunlight.
Have a plan in place in case of emergency with family, friends, and neighbors, and be prepared to take action.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: For reporters who wish to speak to Li-Mei Chen about heat and older adults, please contact media contact Michelle Thompson at mthomp7@gmu.edu.

Li-Mei Chen is a gerontologist and a healthy aging scholar. She is an assistant professor of social work in ��’s College of Public Health. She is also a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. Chen’s teaching and research focus on dementia and aging, productive aging, intersectionality and the role of lifecourse in older ethnic minorities, community gerontology, and social policy. Her recent projects included hosting an international seminar in Japan on person-centered care for dementia, community-based strategies for civic engagement of older adults and the role of structural injustices and social exclusion on minority health and well-being. Her research includes developing a VR-based training for certified nursing assistants that will expand empathy for dementia patients. Recently, Chen took part in the annual Gerontological Society of America’s (GSA) Capitol Hill Advocacy Day to champion aging-related policy priorities.

About ��

�� is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.

About College of Public Health at ��

The College of Public Health at �� is the first College of Public Health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive, interprofessional, public health research, education, and practice. The college is comprised of public health disciplines, health administration and policy, informatics, nursing, nutrition, and social work. The college offers a distinct array of degrees to support research and training of professionals dedicated to ensuring health and well-being for all. The college’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan.

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College of Public Health

Harnessing VR to prevent substance use relapse

Taylor Thomas — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 17:39:05 +0000

Harnessing VR to prevent substance use relapse Taylor Thomas Sat, 08/16/2025 - 13:39

In This Story

Holly Matto, PhD, LCSW-C

Substance use recovery is a lifelong process, but environmental triggers, such as alcohol at social gatherings or pain medication advertisements, can put individuals in recovery at risk of relapse.

Research by �� social work professor Holly Matto, with colleagues from the College of Science and College of Engineering and Computing, and their Brightline Interactive Industry partner, examined how positive stimuli, what they call "recovery cues," can counteract drug cravings and lower relapse risk.

The team equipped individuals in recovery with virtual reality (VR) technology to see how relaxing sensory experiences can regulate their emotional and physical reactions to triggers to ultimately improve behavioral decision-making.

Participants were offered customized recovery cues embedded in a variety of VR scenarios aimed at reducing their bodies’ reactions to drug triggers. Comfort and familiarity were key to recovery cues, Matto emphasized.

“If we can identify an individual’s own set of personally meaningful recovery cues, we have the unique opportunity to present these cues to the individual as a real-time personalized intervention at the time of drug cue exposure and at the onset of craving escalation to help the person stabilize back to a regulated state,” she said.

Recovery cues, such as visualizing a beloved pet or audio messaging with inspirational affirmations, reorient the individual onto the recovery path when faced with something that potentially ignites a drug craving. The most important cue for participants seemed to be the “12-step chip and pamphlet” when presented in the VR scenarios. The “12-steps” refer to the milestones that those overcoming addiction aspire to achieve in their recovery journey. This cue was highly effective, likely due to the recognizability it may elicit in the recovery community.

Developing a “digital best self”

Matto and colleagues are now working on two new research projects, building upon the findings of this study. The team is working on simulations that train individuals to implement their recovery cues so they can control their own reactions to drug cues. The goal is to help them develop a “digital best self” that represents the person they aspire to be in recovery.

“Recovery is a process which requires learning opportunities that create change in the ways an individual engages their thoughts and feelings to motivate behavior in environments that present challenges to their recovery. VR offers an immersive space where that learning can occur and where relapse triggers can be presented in ways that require implementation of learned recovery strategies,” said Matto.

Examining the Power of Recovery Cues to Enhance Real-Time Regulation and Manage Substance Craving was published in Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services in June 2025.

The George Mason research team includes Professor Padmanabhan Seshaiyer from the College of Science and Associate Professor Nathalia Peixoto from the Volgenau School of Engineering, and Bioengineering PhD candidate Bryce Dunn.

Topics

Substance Use

Recovery

Behavioral Health Recovery

virtual reality

Social Work Research

Social Work Faculty

Artificial Intelligence

Research

College of Public Health students deliver cross-disciplinary research on national stage

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:44:56 +0000

College of Public Health students deliver cross-disciplinary research on national stage Taylor Thomas Mon, 06/23/2025 - 10:44

The dissemination of research is pivotal to the advancement of public health. Beginning during their undergraduate career, students across ��'s College of Public Health are trained to hone their skills in conducting and presenting research. At this year’s National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR), six students from the college showcased their work while also building their self-confidence as field practitioners.

“Getting the opportunity to present my research at a national conference during my second year of undergraduate studies truly allowed me to see how capable I am of contributing to bigger things during my time as an undergraduate student,” said community health major and University Scholar Deema Osman, who is working on a clinical science concentration. Overall, my experience at NCUR strengthened my desire to continue devoting my time to the field of public health outside the classroom."

Osman and her co-researcher Daphne Bernal, BS Community Health and Honors College ’25, global health concentration and French minor, presented their work on the effects of (ex)cannabis use on well-being and health communication, through the exploration of Reddit online communities and digital culture.

“Presenting research gave me confidence that I am capable of doing research and presenting it to other students from different subject backgrounds. The college ensured that I had practice presenting and educated me on the context of my research topic,” said Bernal, who will be pursuing a master of public health degree at George Mason.

Nallely Calles Ortega presenting at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Photo provided

Nallely Calles Ortega, BSW ‘25, alongside MSW student Betzy Oviedo, BSW '24 and Honors College alum, showcased the research she has done as a part of her advocacy work securing compensation for social work students during their field placements.

“The conference was not just about sharing our findings, but also about growing as scholars and advocates,” Calles Ortega said. "It was inspiring to see the innovative work other undergraduates were doing, and it motivated us to continue building on our research and explore future opportunities for publication and policy impact."

Their research, which consisted of multiple exploratory surveys here at George Mason targeting BSW seniors and MSW students to better understand how unpaid field placements impact their mental health, finances, and academic performance, contributes to the broader national conversation on equity in social work education. The college was pivotal in preparing her to undertake presenting on a national platform.

“Professors like Dr. Daniel Freedman were instrumental in helping us reach our participant goal and improve our response rates. Additionally, the research courses SOCW 471 and SOCW 472 provided us with a strong foundation in research methods and data analysis. I also briefly worked with the Social Work Integrative Research Lab (SWIRL), which further enhanced my skills and understanding of applied research. The mentorship, resources, and academic training from the college gave us the confidence to present our work on a national stage,” Calles Ortega said.

All college student presenters and topics:

Nalley Calles Ortega (Social Work) and Betzy Oviedo (Social Work): Unpaid Internships: Exploring the Hardships of Social Work Students

Deema Osman (Community Health) and Daphńe Bernal (Community Health): Reddit Netnography Exploring (Ex)Cannabis Users’ Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being Outcomes and Understanding the Role of Online Forums for Informal Health Communication

Sandra Le (Dual Major Community Health and Geographic Information Systems): Spatiotemporal Analysis of Vegetation and Water Dynamics in Libya’s Extreme Flood Event 2023 Using Remote Sensing and Google Earth Engine (GEE)

Paris Stephens (Community Health) and Farah Bahr (Community Health): The Effectiveness of Culturally Relevant Breast Cancer Education Messages Tailored for Young Black Women

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National Conference on Undergraduate Research

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