Kathleen Wilber
Ph.D.Mary Pickford Foundation
Professor of Gerontology,
Professor of Health Services Administration.
Research focus: Health Services (Long-term care, managed care), elder abuse, conservatorship/ guardianship.
Kathleen Wilber is the University of Southern California Mary Pickford Foundation Professor of Gerontology and holds a joint appointment in Health Services Administration in the School of Planning, Policy, and Development. Her research has focused on improving the quality of life of people with chronic physical and mental health conditions, by improving the formal health and long term care delivery system. Her work on collaborative relationships among providers has examined cost effectiveness and health outcomes of different service delivery structures. Her research interests include outcomes research for older adults in managed care, the development and evaluation of chronic care models that link acute and long-term care, and the translation of evidence-based long-term care interventions. In addition to health care, Dr. Wilber's research has focused on protective services including guardianship and conservatorship as well as financial management services for older persons. As a subset of this research her research and writing have explored the problem of elder abuse, specifically focusing on financial elder abuse. She has published over 60 articles, books, and book chapters including, A Secure Old Age: Approaches to Long-Term Care Financing with Edward L. Schneider and Donna Polisar published by Springer Publishing Company in 1997. Dr. Wilber regularly teaches courses in public policy, administration, systems management, managed care, and long-term care.
As a trainer and consultant, she has worked with a number of organizations including, AARP; the Administration on Aging; the California Office of the Attorney General; California Department on Aging; Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Community and Senior Services; Los Angeles City Area Agency on Aging; Bet Tzedek Legal Services; City of Santa Monica Adult Services; and William M. Mercer, Inc. She is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the recipient of a faculty fellowship from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation. She was awarded the Excellence in Teaching award from her department in 1992 and in 2000. She is on the editorial boards of Aging & Mental Health and Home Health Care Services Quarterly. In addition she serves on the California Olmstead Advisory Committee, the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of the Alzheimer’s Association, the USC Health Collaborative, the board of Directors of St. Barnabas Senior Services, and is the Chair of the Los Angeles County Long-Term Care Coordinating Council. From 2000 to 2004, she served as the Director of the Center for Long Term Care Integration funded by the California Department of Health Services.
Dr. Wilber has a PhD in Public Administration, a Masters in Social Work and a certificate in gerontology from the University of Southern California and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned her BA degree in American Social History from Manhattanville College.
As a trainer and consultant, she has worked with a number of organizations including, AARP; the Administration on Aging; the California Office of the Attorney General; California Department on Aging; Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Community and Senior Services; Los Angeles City Area Agency on Aging; Bet Tzedek Legal Services; City of Santa Monica Adult Services; and William M. Mercer, Inc. She is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the recipient of a faculty fellowship from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation. She was awarded the Excellence in Teaching award from her department in 1992 and in 2000. She is on the editorial boards of Aging & Mental Health and Home Health Care Services Quarterly. In addition she serves on the California Olmstead Advisory Committee, the Medical and Scientific Advisory Council of the Alzheimer’s Association, the USC Health Collaborative, the board of Directors of St. Barnabas Senior Services, and is the Chair of the Los Angeles County Long-Term Care Coordinating Council. From 2000 to 2004, she served as the Director of the Center for Long Term Care Integration funded by the California Department of Health Services.
Dr. Wilber has a PhD in Public Administration, a Masters in Social Work and a certificate in gerontology from the University of Southern California and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned her BA degree in American Social History from Manhattanville College.
