In the United States, demographic shifts have led to an unprecedented expansion of the older adult population, marking an era where the nation is home to its oldest generation ever recorded. This significant demographic transformation is creating complex challenges for families, communities, and healthcare systems, especially regarding the provision and coordination of elder care. Addressing these intricate issues, a groundbreaking new initiative known as the Center for Seniors Uniting Nationwide to Support Health, INtegrated care, and Economics—or Center for SUNSHINE—has emerged as a beacon of interdisciplinary innovation. This center, co-led by the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health (UMD SPH) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), has recently been awarded a $901,000 grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to lay its foundational infrastructure, with the possibility of continued funding for up to six years.
The Center for SUNSHINE represents a pioneering confluence of disciplines including health policy, clinical medicine, economics, epidemiology, artificial intelligence, and health informatics, unified under a mission to redefine aging resilience. The initiative builds upon five decades of prior scholarly work from UMD’s renowned Center on Aging, leveraging computational innovations developed through the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC). This synergy of expertise aims to transform aging care systems by enhancing care coordination, empowering community-level involvement, and reconstructing health and social service frameworks to more effectively meet the needs of aging populations across the country.
At the helm of this ambitious enterprise is Dr. Jie Chen, professor and chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at UMD and director of its Center on Aging. Dr. Chen leads a leadership triad including Dr. Rozalina McCoy, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of UM-IHC’s Center for Population Health, alongside Dr. Stephen Thomas, a distinguished professor of health policy and management at UMD SPH. Together, this team integrates a holistic view of aging resilience, focusing on systemic transformation through interdisciplinary study and innovation. Their collective vision underscores the imperative of creating inclusive, sustainable care ecosystems that not only extend lifespan but imbed quality and dignity into the aging experience.
Central to the Center for SUNSHINE’s mandate is the harnessing of large-scale health data, including anonymized Medicare claims, electronic health records, and geospatial data, combined with analytic and modeling expertise. By enabling unprecedented access to these rich data resources, SUNSHINE empowers investigators nationwide to conduct pioneering research that informs evidence-based interventions and policy reforms. In addition to providing data access, the center offers tailored development and mentorship opportunities to emerging scholars, ensuring a robust pipeline of expertise dedicated to aging resilience and health systems innovation.
The center’s inclusion of expertise from fields as diverse as artificial intelligence and population health reflects a broader trend in gerontological research toward computationally sophisticated, data-driven approaches. AI and machine learning models are being advanced to predict health trajectories, optimize care delivery pathways, and identify social determinants that contribute to disparate aging outcomes. By integrating these technologies with clinical insights and policy analysis, SUNSHINE aims to develop scalable innovations capable of reshaping national standards for elder care.
Moreover, community engagement remains a pillar of SUNSHINE’s operational philosophy. Dr. Stephen Thomas emphasizes that older adults and their families are more than mere research subjects; they are vital collaborators who help shape research agendas, policy frameworks, and intervention strategies. This commitment to participatory research ensures that the center’s work remains relevant, responsive, and grounded in the lived realities of those it aims to serve. Such engagement enhances trust, cultural competence, and ultimately the effectiveness of health innovations designed for diverse aging populations.
In its immediate future, the center has prioritized two pilot projects with direct implications for health and wellbeing among older adults. One project, led by Dr. Shelby Steuart at UMD College Park, investigates the role of telehealth and behavioral health care modalities in expanding access and improving outcomes for older populations. This research is timely given the accelerated adoption of telemedicine catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing need to overcome barriers such as digital literacy and infrastructure gaps. The other pilot, spearheaded by Dr. Margaret Connolly at UMSOM, focuses on access to novel therapeutic interventions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a prevalent and debilitating respiratory condition affecting many elders. Both pilots exemplify SUNSHINE’s commitment to actionable research with tangible clinical and social impact.
The organizational structure of the Center for SUNSHINE is extensive and collaborative, encompassing ten academic units within UMD, ranging from the School of Engineering to the Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM). Partnerships extend beyond the university system, incorporating Howard University, the Erickson School of Aging Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and regional institutions like Georgetown University and Virginia Commonwealth University. National and community organizations such as the PATIENTS Program at UMB, Maryland CRAB, Maryland Extension, Encore Creativity for Older Adults, and AARP participate to ensure the center’s outreach and impact span academic, clinical, social, and policy domains.
This multi-institutional and multi-sector collaboration epitomizes the center’s interdisciplinary and translational approach. Addressing aging resilience necessitates not only robust research but also integrated education and training paradigms. The Center for SUNSHINE is committed to cultivating the next generation of scholars, providing mentorship and career development in aging-related health systems research. By doing so, it aims to perpetuate a cadre of informed professionals capable of navigating and influencing the evolving landscape of elder care.
Technological innovation is at the heart of the center’s strategic initiatives. The integration of geospatial analyses with health data promises new insights into how environments and social determinants impact aging processes and health outcomes. These spatial methodologies enable researchers to pinpoint areas of care inequity, identify community resources, and tailor interventions that reflect local contexts. As the field of aging research increasingly recognizes the interplay between biology, behavior, and environment, SUNSHINE’s analytical capabilities contribute essential dimensions to this complex picture.
From a policy perspective, the Center for SUNSHINE is positioned to inform reforms that enhance care coordination and resource allocation. By generating evidence on effective models of integrated care, economic analyses, and system efficiencies, the center’s work will support policymakers and health system leaders in making data-driven decisions that improve care delivery. This alignment of research and policy is crucial as the United States grapples with rising healthcare costs amid an aging populace demanding compassionate, accessible, and quality services.
In summary, the development of the Center for SUNSHINE marks a transformative moment in the national strategy to support healthy aging. Through its interdisciplinary, data-driven, and community-engaged framework, the center advances the frontiers of geriatric care, systems resilience, and health equity. Its commitment to fostering collaborative innovation promises to elevate the science of aging and forge new pathways toward empowering older adults to live healthier, fuller lives. As SUNSHINE continues to expand its research portfolio and deepen partnerships, it stands poised to become a vital national resource accelerating progress in aging science and care.
Subject of Research: Health systems innovation and aging resilience through interdisciplinary research and integrated care models.
Article Title: Center for SUNSHINE Pioneers Interdisciplinary Innovations to Transform Aging Resilience and Care Systems in America
News Publication Date: 2024
Web References:
- American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Article
- University of Maryland School of Public Health Center on Aging
- University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing
Image Credits: UMD
