Randall W. Rupper
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Randall W. Rupper, MD, MPH

Languages spoken: English, German

Randall Rupper, MD, MPH, is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, at the University of Utah. He joined the University of Utah’s Division of Geriatrics and the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center in 2003. Dr. Rupper is a geriatrician and health services researcher whose work focuses on improving care delivery for older adults, particularly rural patients and individuals living with dementia, as well as their caregivers.

Dr. Rupper serves as Director of the Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), where he leads interdisciplinary efforts in geriatric research, education, and clinical innovation. He provides geriatric medicine services through the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center and University of Utah Health. In addition, he is an investigator at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and a member of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences program. He also contributes to aging policy and advocacy as a board member of the Utah Commission on Aging.

Dr. Rupper’s primary research involves developing and evaluating clinical systems that 1) provide for surveillance of the medical decision-making needs of elderly patients and their caregivers and 2) deliver appropriately personalized decision support. His work involves the demonstration of new models of access, especially within Federal programs, including Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. Examples of outreach models include the use of community navigators to improve cancer care among Native Americans and the use of internet-based support for caregivers of dementia patients. Dr. Rupper was co-principal investigator of an HCI project aimed at improving cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for underserved American Indians by removing barriers, both local and institutional, to receiving appropriate care.

Dr. Rupper earned his medical degree from Stanford University and completed his residency at the University of Washington. He earned a master’s in public health from the University of North Carolina and completed fellowships at UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Utah.

Specialties

Randall Rupper, MD, MPH, is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, at the University of Utah. He joined the University of Utah’s Division of Geriatrics and the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center in 2003. Dr. Rupper is a geriatrician and health services researcher whose work focuses on improving care delivery for older adults, particularly rural patients and individuals living with dementia, as well as their caregivers.

Dr. Rupper serves as Director of the Salt Lake City Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), where he leads interdisciplinary efforts in geriatric research, education, and clinical innovation. He provides geriatric medicine services through the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center and University of Utah Health. In addition, he is an investigator at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and a member of the Cancer Control and Population Sciences program. He also contributes to aging policy and advocacy as a board member of the Utah Commission on Aging.

Dr. Rupper’s primary research involves developing and evaluating clinical systems that 1) provide for surveillance of the medical decision-making needs of elderly patients and their caregivers and 2) deliver appropriately personalized decision support. His work involves the demonstration of new models of access, especially within Federal programs, including Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. Examples of outreach models include the use of community navigators to improve cancer care among Native Americans and the use of internet-based support for caregivers of dementia patients. Dr. Rupper was co-principal investigator of an HCI project aimed at improving cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for underserved American Indians by removing barriers, both local and institutional, to receiving appropriate care.

Dr. Rupper earned his medical degree from Stanford University and completed his residency at the University of Washington. He earned a master’s in public health from the University of North Carolina and completed fellowships at UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Utah.

Board Certification and Academic Information

Academic Departments Internal Medicine -Professor (Clinical)
Academic Divisions Geriatrics

Education history

Fellowship Geriatrics - University of Utah School of Medicine Fellow
Fellowship University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Fellow
Graduate Training University of North Carolina M.P.H.
Residency Internal Medicine - University of Washington Resident
Internship Internal Medicine - University of Washington Intern
Professional Medical Medicine - Stanford University, School of Medicine M.D.
Undergraduate Molecular Biology - Brigham Young University B.S.

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Panahi S, Kennedy E, Mayo J, Christensen L, Kamineni S, Sagiraju HKR, Cooper T, Saleh S, Losciale JM, Peters A, Rupper R, Pugh MJ (2026). Cognitive and neurobehavioral phenotypes of post 9/11 veterans with epilepsy and mild traumatic brain injury. Front Neurol, 16, 1706223.
  2. Ozmen O, Rush E, Park BH, Jones M, Trafton J, Brenner L, Rupper RW, Ward M, Nebeker JR, Pizer SD (2025). Combining Machine Learning and Comparative Effectiveness Methodology to Study Primary Care Pharmacotherapy Pathways for Veterans With Depression. Med Care, 63(6), 422-429.
  3. Nol PH, Penney LS, Finley EP, Parish J, Pugh JA, Delgado RE, Peacock KS, Dang S, Trivedi R, Bouldin ED, Pugh MJ, Rupper RW, Kalvesmaki A, Leykum LK, Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research Team (2024). Caregiver-specific quality measures for home- and community-based services: Environmental scan and stakeholder priorities. J Am Geriatr Soc, 72(12), 3656-3667.
  4. Garcia-Davis S, Tyagi P, Bouldin ED, Hansen J, Brintz BJ, Noel P, Rupper R, Trivedi R, Kinosian B, Intrator O, Pugh MJ, Leykum LK, Dang S (2024). Sex differences in unmet needs between male and female older Veterans. J Women Aging, 36(6), 518-533.
  5. Farrell TW, Hogans BB, Moo L, Jump R, Markland A, Alessi C, Barczi S, Bej T, Bonomo RA, Butler J, Eleazer GP, Flinton P, Rupper RW, Supiano MA, Shaughnessy M, GRECC Directors Association (2024). Impact of Veterans Affairs Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers: Incubators of innovation in geriatrics. J Am Geriatr Soc, 72(11), 3315-3326.
  6. Henion A, Cheney A, Pugh MJ, Leykum LK, Trivedi RB, Dang S, Kalvesmaki A, Sundstrom K, Rupper R, Bouldin ED (2024). Women Veterans as caregivers: Characteristics and comparisons with women non-veterans using BRFSS. J Women Aging, 36(6), 534-545.
  7. Bouldin ED, Brintz BJ, Hansen J, Rupper R, Brenner R, Intrator O, Kinosian B, Viny M, Dang S, Pugh MJ, Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research Team (2024). Trajectories and Transitions in Service Use Among Older Veterans at High Risk of Long-Term Institutional Care. Med Care, 62(10), 650-659.
  8. Scannell GA, Bevan DJ, Cowan A, Weiss RJ, Brenner RJ, Farrell TW, Yarbrough PM, Rupper RW, Eleazer GP (2024). A Clinical Pharmacist-Led Transitions of Care Program for Veterans with Two Planned Care Transitions (Hospital to Skilled Care and Skilled Care to Home) amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 25(7), 105006.
  9. Panahi S, Mayo J, Kennedy E, Christensen L, Kamineni S, Sagiraju HKR, Cooper T, Tate DF, Rupper R, Pugh MJ (2024). Identifying clinical phenotypes of frontotemporal dementia in post-9/11 era veterans using natural language processing. Front Neurol, 15, 1270688.
  10. Dang S, Garcia-Davis S, Nol PH, Hansen J, Brintz BJ, Munoz R, Valencia Rodrigo WM, Rupper R, Bouldin ED, Trivedi R, Penney LS, Pugh MJ, Kinosian B, Intrator O, Leykum LK, Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence for Veteran and Caregiver Research Team (2023). Measuring the unmet needs of American military Veterans and their caregivers: Survey protocol of the HERO CARE survey. J Am Geriatr Soc, 71(12), 3814-3825.
  11. Lassell RKF, Lin SY, Convery K, Fletcher J, Chippendale T, Jones T, Durga A, Galvin JE, Rupper RW, Brody AA (2023). Neuropsychiatric symptoms in people living with dementia receiving home health services. J Am Geriatr Soc.
  12. Brenner RJ, Hansen J, Brintz BJ, Bouldin ED, Pugh MJ, Rupper R, Munoz R, Garcia-Davis S, Dang S (2023). Association between specific unmet functional needs and desire to institutionalize among caregivers of older veterans. J Am Geriatr Soc, 71(7), 2264-2270.
  13. Farrell TW, Volden TA, Butler JM, Eleazer GP, Rupper RW, Echt KV, Shaughnessy M, Supiano MA (2022). Age-friendly care in the Veterans Health Administration: Past, present, and future. J Am Geriatr Soc, 71(1), 18-25.
  14. Butler JM, Gibson B, Lewis L, Reiber G, Kramer H, Rupper R, Herout J, Long B, Massaro D, Nebeker J (2020). Patient-centered care and the electronic health record: exploring functionality and gaps. JAMIA Open, 3(3), 360-368.
  15. Bristol AA, Convery KA, Sotelo V, Schneider CE, Lin SY, Fletcher J, Rupper R, Galvin JE, Brody AA (2020). Protocol for an embedded pragmatic clinical trial to test the effectiveness of Aliviado Dementia Care in improving quality of life for persons living with dementia and their informal caregivers. Contemp Clin Trials, 93, 106005.
  16. Manley NA, Hicken BL, Rupper RW (2019). Veterans as Caregivers: Those Who Continue to Serve. Fed Pract, 34(4), 28-34.
  17. Parry KJ, Hicken BL, Morgan J, Rupper R (2019). COVER to COVER: Connecting Older Veterans (Especially Rural) to Community or Veteran-Eligible Resources. Fed Pract, 34(2), 46-49.
  18. Zheng, R, Smith, D, Luptak, M, Hill, RD, Hill, J, Rupper, R (06/28/2016). Does Visual Redundancy Inhibit Older Persons' Information Processing in Learning. Educ Gerontol.
  19. Zheng, R, Hicken BL, Hill RD, Luptak M, Daniel CM, Grant M, and Rupper R (2016). Digital Technology and Caregiver Training for Older Persons: Cognitive and Affective Perspectives. Educ Gerontol.
  20. Call VR, Erickson LD, Dailey NK, Hicken BL, Rupper R, Yorgason JB, Bair B (2015). Attitudes Toward Telemedicine in Urban, Rural, and Highly Rural Communities. Telemed J E Health, 21(8), 644-51.
  21. Wright P, Malcolm C, Hicken B, Rupper R (2015). The VA Caregiver Support Line: A Gateway of Support for Caregivers of Veterans. J Gerontol Soc Work, 58(4), 386-98.
  22. Sauer B, Nebeker J, Shen S, Rupper R, West S, Shinogle JA, Xu W, Lohr KN, Samore M (2014). Methodological framework to identify possible adverse drug reactions using population-based administrative data. F1000Res, 3, 258.
  23. Nelson RE, Hicken B, Cai B, Dahal A, West A, Rupper R (2014). Utilization of travel reimbursement in the Veterans Health Administration. J Rural Health, 30(2), 128-38.
  24. McKoy JM, Burhenn PS, Browner IS, Loeser KL, Tulas KM, Oden MR, Rupper RW (2014). Assessing cognitive function and capacity in older adults with cancer. J Natl Compr Canc Netw, 12(1), 138-44.
  25. Hurria A, Wildes T, Blair SL, Browner IS, Cohen HJ, Deshazo M, Dotan E, Edil BH, Extermann M, Ganti AK, Holmes HM, Jagsi R, Karlekar MB, Keating NL, Korc-Grodzicki B, McKoy JM, Medeiros BC, Mrozek E, OConnor T, Rugo HS, Rupper RW, Silliman RA, Stirewalt DL, Tew WP, Walter LC, Weir AB 3rd, Bergman MA, Sundar H (2014). Senior adult oncology, version 2.2014: clinical practice guidelines in oncology . J Natl Compr Canc Netw, 12(1), 82-126.
  26. Zheng, RZ, Daniel, CM, Hill, RD, Luptak, M, Hicken, BL, Grant, M, Rupper R (Fall 2013). The Effects of High and Low Technologies on Emotional Support for Caregivers: An Exploratory Study. 3(3), 34-45.
  27. Juretic M, Hill R, Hicken B, Luptak M, Rupper R, Bair B (2012). Predictors of attrition in older users of a home-based monitoring and health information delivery system. Telemed J E Health, 18(9), 709-12.
  28. Nelson RE, Hicken B, West A, Rupper R (2012). The effect of increased travel reimbursement rates on health care utilization in the VA. J Rural Health, 28(2), 192-201.
  29. Daniel CM, Hill RD, Luptak M, Hicken BL, Zheng R, Turner CM, Rupper R (November 2011). Reaching Out to Caregivers of Veterans With Dementia. Fed Pract, 28(11), 43-47.
  30. Oderda L, Holman C, Nichols B, Rupper R, Bair B, Hoffman M, Hicken B (2011). Pharmacist-managed telephone clinic review of antidementia medication effectiveness. Consult Pharm, 26(4), 264-73.
  31. Hill RD, Luptak MK, Rupper RW, Bair B, Peterson C, Dailey N, Hicken BL (12/16/2010). Review of Veterans Health Administration Telemedicine Interventions. 16(Suppl HIT), 302-310.
  32. Hill RD, Luptak MK, Rupper RW, Bair B, Peterson C, Dailey N, Hicken BL (2011). Review of Veterans Health Administration telemedicine interventions. Am J Manag Care, 16(12 Suppl HIT), e302-10.
  33. Rupper RW, Bair BD, Sauer BC, Nebeker JR, Shinogle J, Samore M (2007). Out-of-pocket pharmacy expenditures for veterans under medicare part D. Med Care, 45(10 Supl 2), S77-80.
  34. Kim TS, DeKruyff RH, Rupper R, Maecker HT, Levy S, Umetsu DT (1997). An ovalbumin-IL-12 fusion protein is more effective than ovalbumin plus free recombinant IL-12 in inducing a T helper cell type 1-dominated immune response and inhibiting antigen-specific IgE production. J Immunol, 158(9), 4137-44.
  35. Masuda A, Burton GF, Fuchs BA, Bhogal BS, Rupper R, Szakal AK, Tew JG (1994). Follicular dendritic cell function and murine AIDS. Immunology, 81(1), 41-6.
  36. Erin Bouldin, Benjamin Brintz, Jared Hansen, Randall Rupper, Rachel Brenner, Orna Intrator, Bruce Kinosian, and Mary Jo Pugh (Nov 2022). Geriatric and Extended Care Trajectories and Transitions Among Veterans With Long-Term Care Needs. Innovation in Aging, 6(Supplement 1), 45.

Book Chapter

  1. Candice M Daniel, Bret Hicken, Marilyn Luptak, Marren Grant, Randall Rupper (8/2012). Using Technology to Reach Caregivers of Veterans with Dementia. In Robert Z. Zheng, Robert D. Hill, Michael K. Gardner (Eds.), Engaging Older Adults with Modern Technology: Internet Use and Information Access Needs. IGI Global.

Conference Proceedings

  1. Sauer B, Nebeker J, Rupper R, Samore M (2007). Serum Potassium Monitoring and Hyperkalemia in Veterans using Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone Inhibitors. HSR&D National Meeting, Arlington, VA.

Editorial

  1. Leykum LK, Penney LS, Dang S, Trivedi RB, Nol PH, Pugh JA, Shepherd-Banigan ME, Pugh MJ, Rupper R, Finley E, Parish-Johnson J, Delgado R, Peacock K, Kalvesmaki A, Van Houtven CH (2022). Recommendations to Improve Health Outcomes Through Recognizing and Supporting Caregivers. J Gen Intern Med, 37(5), 1265-1269.