Thomas M. Gill

Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology & Investigative Medicine
Co–Director of the Yale Program on Aging
Co–Director of the Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Director, Research Career Development Core, Pepper Center
Co–Director, Yale Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology
Director, Yale Center for Disability and Disabling Disorders
Humana Foundation Professor of Geriatric Medicine
Section of Geriatrics

Research Interests

Dr. Gill's research is directed towards understanding the mechanisms underlying the development of functional decline and disability among community-living older persons and towards developing preventive strategies to forestall the onset and progression of disability among at-risk elders who are frail. The results from the Yale Precipitating Events Project (PEP), Dr. Gill's ongoing NIA-funded cohort study, which includes monthly assessments of functional status for over 12 years, are revolutionizing our understanding of disability, a problem of immense importance to older persons, their families, and society. In a landmark clinical trial, Dr. Gill's research group demonstrated that functional decline among frail older persons can be prevented through a prehabilitation program targeting underlying impairments in physical capabilities.

Dr. Gill's other research interests include: (1) the epidemiology and prevention of bathing disability; and (2) the epidemiology of frailty. Current research includes a multi-site clinical trial to determine the benefit of testosterone treatment in symptomatic older men with low serum testosterone and the development and testing of strategies to promote independent bathing among community-living older persons. Future research will include a multi-site clinical trial to prevent major mobility disability in at-risk older persons.

Community of Science Expertise

Selected Recent Publications

• Gill TM, DiPietro L, Krumholz HM. Role of Exercise Stress Testing and Safety Monitoring for Older Persons Starting an Exercise Program. JAMA 2000; 284:342–349.
• Gill TM, Desai MM, Gahbauer EA, Holford TR, Williams CS. Restricted activity among community–living older persons: incidence, precipitants, and health care utilization. Ann Intern Med 2001; 135:313–21.
• Gill TM, Baker DI, Gottschalk M, Peduzzi PN, Allore H, Byers A. A Program to Prevent Functional Decline in Physically Frail Elderly Persons Who Live at Home. N Engl J Med 2002; 347:1068–1074.
• Hardy SE, Gill TM. Recovery from Disability Among Community–Dwelling Older Persons. JAMA 2004; 291:1596–1602.
• Gill TM, Allore HG, Holford TR, Guo Z. Hospitalization, Restricted Activity, and the Development of Disability Among Older Persons. JAMA 2004;292:2115–2124.
• Gill TM, Gahbauer EA. Overestimation of Chronic Disability Among Elderly Persons. Arch Intern Med 2005; 165:2625–2630.
• Gill TM, Gahbauer EA, Allore HG, Han L. Transitions Between Frailty States Among Community–living Older Persons. Arch Intern Med 2006; 166:418–423.
• Gill TM, Allore HG, Han L. Bathing Disability and the Risk of Long–Term Admission to a Nursing Home. J Gerontol Med Sci 2006;61A:821–825.
• Bartali B, Frongillo EA, Guralnik JM, Stipanuk MH, Allore HG, Cherubini A, Bandinelli S, Ferrucci L, Gill TM. Serum Micronutrient Concentrations and Decline in Physical Function among Older Persons. JAMA 2008; 299:308-315.
• Gill TM, Gahbauer EA. Evaluating Disability over Discrete Periods of Time. J Gerontol Med Sci 2008; 63A:588-594.
• Gill TM, Gahbauer EA, Han L, Allore HG. Functional Trajectories in Older Persons Admitted to a Nursing Home with Disability after an Acute Hospitalization. J Am Geriatr Soc 2009; 57:195-201.

Education:	BA, Loyola University, 1983 BS, Loyola University, 1985 MD, University of Chicago, 1987
Training:	Residency: University of Washington Fellowship: Yale University

Contact

Mailing Address
Section of Geriatrics
Department of Internal Medicine
Yale School of Medicine
20 York Street
New Haven, CT 06510

E-mail
thomas.gill@yale.edu

Office Phone
203-688-3344

Fax
203-688-4209