Jana M. Mossey received her B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, her M.P.H. and Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina and her MSN in psychiatric nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She worked as a public health nurse with Spanish-speaking immigrants in New York City before pursuing her graduate studies in epidemiology. Prior to joining the faculty of the Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1986, she held faculty positions at the University of Manitoba in Canada and Temple University in Philadelphia. While at these universities, she developed several important research initiatives related to the psychosocial health of older individuals. Her initial studies of the relationship of self-rated health and mortality in older Manitobans produced the seminal paper on this topic, "The Manitoba longitudinal study on aging: description and methods," Mossey et al., Gerontologist (1981), that has stimulated many national and international studies and has provided the focus for the work of many other researchers. Likewise, her groundbreaking study of the psychosocial determinants of recovery from hip fracture, a study conducted in Philadelphia, has provided the basis for the work of a substantial number of other researchers. Having received her MSN in Psychiatric Nursing in 1993, her research has focused more directly on mental health issues that affect both elderly and younger populations. Her clinical trial of a treatment program for sub-threshold depression in the elderly has provided the scientific basis for the implementation of comparable treatment programs with older individuals who suffer such levels of depression. Dr. Mossey has taught public health and epidemiology courses in schools of public health, medicine, and nursing. She was a member of the "founding committee" of the Drexel University School of Public Health. She currently is engaged in teaching and research within the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and chairs the School of Public Health Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committees. Her current research includes studies of the meaning of self-rated health among elders, the relationship and consequences of pain and mood, and the factors affecting the quality of life of elders. Most recently she has been the Principal Investigator of two studies funded by the National Institute of Aging and served on the scientific advisory committee for the American Academy of Pain Medicine’s Uniform Outcomes Measures Project. Currently Dr. Mossey is involved in studies related to the incidence, risk factors for, and consequences of pain, depression, and poor self-rated health in community dwelling individuals over age 18. As well, she is a member of the editorial board of the journals Pain Medicine and Behavioral Medicine, and contributes to the epidemiology of aging initiative within the Gerontological Society of America.
Research Interests: Mental health; sub-threshold depression; minor depression; pain, elderly; aging, minority elderly; health status measurement; pain measurement.
Principal Investigator: Funding Agency: National Institute of Aging: Quality of Life, Health, and Valuation of Life by Elders: 2001 – 2004. (Annual project award $350,000) The purpose of this longitudinal study of older individuals is to investigate the factors that affect an individual’s quality of life in his or her later years. Dr. Mossey was asked to assume the role of Principal Investigator after the death of Dr. Powell Lawton, the initial investigator. During the remaining years of the study, the surviving members of the initial cohort of 600 persons will be interviewed for the fourth time. This will permit evaluation of changes in health states, attitudes, and life quality over a 6 year period.
Principal Investigator, Quantitative Studies: Funding Agency: National Institute of Aging, U.S.D.H.H.S. "The Meaning of Self-Rated Health," 1997-2003. (@250,000 direct costs through 7/02). This study is conducted with Dr. Mark Luborsky, Wayne State University, Detroit Michigan. This longitudinal study of community-dwelling elderly aims to identify the meanings individuals ascribe to their self-rated health, the factors that lead to change in self-rated health, and the consequences of such change. Since the publication in 1982 of the paper by Mossey and Shapiro showing a strong, independent relationship between risk of dying and self-rated health, many investigators have studied the importance of self-rated health for mortality,morbidity and use of health services. While the studies consistently confirm the initial findings of Mossey and Shapiro, no comprehensive study has been conducted to identify the meanings individuals ascribe to their self-rated health. This proposed research is the first of its kind. Quantitative and qualitative research methods will be used.
Moss MS. Hoffman CJ. Mossey J. Rovine M. Changes over 4 years in health, quality Of life, mental health, and valuation of life. Journal of Aging & Health. 19(6):1025-44; 2007 Dec.
Rosso AL. Gallagher RM. Luborsky M. Mossey JM. Depression and self-rated health are proximal predictors of episodes of sustained change in pain in independently living, community dwelling elders. [Journal Article] Pain Medicine. 9(8):1035-49, 2008 Nov.
Ambroggio, L, Lorch, SA, Mohamad, Z, Mossey, J Shah, SS..Congenital anomalies and resource utilization in neonates infected with herpes simplex virus. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. In Press 2009.
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