Francesca Nicosia, PhD
Associate Professor
Institute for Health & Aging
School of Nursing

As a medical anthropologist, health services researcher, and certified yoga therapist, my research focuses on improving pain, function, and quality of life outcomes for older adults, women, and veterans through nonpharmacologic and complementary and integrative health (CIH) interventions and care models. I have broad expertise in research methodology related to the design of mixed methods studies in aging, CIH, and implementation science.

Education & Training

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• PhD Medical Anthropology University of California, San Francisco 06/2017
• MA Medical Anthropology University of Colorado, Denver 05/2010
• BA Sociology & Anthropology DePauw University 05/2002

Interests

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• Yoga
• Qualitative Methods
• Chronic Pain
• Functional Status
• Medical Anthropology
• Mind-body Movement
• Women's Health
• Mixed Methods
• Aging
• Menopause
• Implementation Science
• Complementary & Integrative Health
• Dementia
• Intervention Development

Websites

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• Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise (PLIÉ) (plie4dementia.com)

Grants and Projects

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• The Center for Data to Discovery and Delivery Innovation (3DI), VA HSR, 2024-2029
• A Randomized Trial of a Telehealth-Based Group Yoga Program for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, NIH/NCCIH, 2024-2029
• Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise in Community Living Centers: An Effectiveness-Implementation Trial, VA HSR, 2025-2028
• Gaps in Identification, Referral and Treatment of Cannabis Use in VA Primary Care, VA HSR, 2024-2028
• Development and Feasibility of a Telehealth Mind-Body Menopause Program, VA Office of Rural Health, 2023-2026
• Telehealth delivery of the Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise Program (Tele-PLIÉ) for rural Veterans with dementia and their caregivers, VA Office of Rural Health, 2023-2026
• A Partnered Evaluation to Improve Identification and Management of Functional Impairment and Frailty for Older Veterans in VA Primary Care, VA HSR/QUERI, 2023-2026
• TeleYoga: Expanding Access to Complementary and Integrative Health for Rural Veterans, VA Office of Rural Health, 2020-2023
• Preventing Loss of Independence through Exercise in Community Living Centers (PLIÉ -CLC), VA Health Services Research & Development, 2020-2023
• Yoga as a therapeutic modality for women across the aging spectrum: advancing understanding of self-efficacy, observed success, and barriers to practicing yoga, NIH/NCATS, 2021-2022
• Extending Independence and Quality of Life for People with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia through Telehealth Program Delivery, NIH/NIA, 2020-2022

Publications (39)

Top publication keywords:
Transitional CareGeriatric AssessmentHealth Plan ImplementationActivities of Daily LivingCommunication BarriersPrimary Health CarePharmacistsDelivery of Health Care, IntegratedQualitative ResearchUrinary IncontinenceVeteransCommunity NetworksDrug-Related Side Effects and Adverse ReactionsYogaSelf Efficacy

• Study protocol: type II hybrid effectiveness-implementation study of routine functional status screening in VA primary care.
  Implementation science communications 2025 Nicosia FM, Zamora K, Ashcraft L, Krautner G, Groot M, Kinosian B, Schubert CC, Chhatre S, Moriarty H, Intrator O, Schwartz AW, Orkaby AR, Prigge J, Brown RT
• Effect of telehealth yoga on loneliness and social isolation among rural older adults: a randomized controlled trial
  Aging & Mental Health 2025 Teo, A. R., Benton, M. C., Hooker, E. R., Zaccari, B., Hidalgo, N. J., Newell, S., … Nicosia, F. M.
• Effect of telehealth yoga on loneliness and social isolation among rural older adults: a randomized controlled trial.
  Aging & mental health 2025 Teo AR, Benton MC, Hooker ER, Zaccari B, Hidalgo NJ, Newell S, Tuepker A, Greaves DW, Nicosia FM
• Type II hybrid effectiveness-implementation study of routine functional status screening in VA primary care
  Imp Sci Comm 2025 Nicosia FM, Zamora K, Ashcraft LE, Krautner G, Groot M, Kinosian B, Schubert CC, Chhatre S, Moriarty H, Intrator O, Schwartz AW, Orkaby AR, Prigge J, Brown RT.
• Implementation of Virtual, Livestream Yoga Classes for Veterans at Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Program Evaluation.
  Global advances in integrative medicine and health 2024 Pham C, Hildebrand C, Tarasovsky G, Purcell N, Seal K, Nicosia F

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• Implementing a new multidisciplinary, remote, dementia staff training program for Veterans affairs nursing homes.
  BMC health services research 2024 Shirsat NR, Lee JA, Pham C, Miller MJ, Chesney MA, Nicosia FM, Chao L, Barnes DE
• Evaluation of a New Integrative Health and Wellness Clinic for Veterans at the San Francisco VA Health Care System: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study.
  Global advances in integrative medicine and health 2024 Nicosia FM, Purcell N, Bertenthal D, Usman H, Seidel I, McGrath S, Hildebrand C, McCarthy B, Seal KH
• Improving measurement of functional status among older adults in primary care: A pilot study.
  PloS one 2024 Brown RT, Zamora K, Rizzo A, Spar MJ, Fung KZ, Santiago L, Campbell A, Nicosia FM
• Livestream, group movement program for people living with cognitive impairment and care partners: A randomized clinical trial.
  Alzheimer's & dementia (New York, N. Y.) 2024 Barnes DE, Jiang F, Benjamin C, Lee JA, Sudore RL, Mehling WE, Chesney MA, Chao LL, Nicosia FM
• Remote Delivery of Mindful Movement Within Healthcare Systems: Lessons Learned From the Veterans Health Administration.
  Global advances in integrative medicine and health 2024 Whitehead AM, Mullur R, Sullivan MB, Nicosia FM
• Caring for Patients with Functional Impairment in Middle Age: Perspectives from Primary Care Providers and Geriatricians.
  Journal of general internal medicine 2024 Schmucker AM, Reyes-Farias D, Nicosia FM, Xu E, B Potter M, Karliner LS, Brown RT
• Livestream, group movement program for people living with cognitive impairment and care partners: A randomized clinical trial
  Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions 2024 Deborah E Barnes, Fei Jiang, Cynthia Benjamin, Jennifer A Lee, Rebecca L Sudore, Wolf E Mehling, Margaret A Chesney, Linda L Chao, Francesca M Nicosia
• Improving measurement of functional status among older adults in primary care: A pilot study
  PLOS ONE 2024 Rebecca T. Brown, Kara Zamora, Anael Rizzo, Malena J. Spar, Kathy Z. Fung, Lea Santiago, Annie Campbell, Francesca M. Nicosia
• Adaptation of an In-Person Mind-Body Movement Program for People with Cognitive Impairment or Dementia and Care Partners for Online Delivery: Feasibility, Satisfaction and Participant-Reported Outcomes.
  Global advances in integrative medicine and health 2023 Nicosia FM, Lee JA, Chesney MA, Benjamin C, Lee AN, Mehling W, Sudore RL, Barnes DE
• Using multiple qualitative methods to inform intervention development: Improving functional status measurement for older veterans in primary care settings.
  PloS one 2023 Nicosia FM, Zamora K, Rizzo A, Spar MJ, Silvestrini M, Brown RT
• When Functional Impairment Develops Early: Perspectives from Middle-Aged Adults.
  Journal of general internal medicine 2022 Xu E, Nicosia FM, Zamora K, Barrientos M, Spar MJ, Reyes-Farias D, Karliner LS, Potter MB, Brown RT
• "You have to be sure that the patient has the full picture": Adaptation of the Best Case/Worst Case communication tool for geriatric oncology.
  Journal of geriatric oncology 2022 Wong ML, Nicosia FM, Smith AK, Walter LC, Lam V, Cohen HJ, Loh KP, Mohile SG, Ursem CJ, Schwarze ML
• Rapid Conversion of a Group-Based Yoga Trial for Diverse Older Women to Home-Based Telehealth: Lessons Learned Using Zoom to Deliver Movement-Based Interventions.
  Journal of integrative and complementary medicine 2022 Huang AJ, Chesney MA, Schembri M, Pawlowsky S, Nicosia F, Subak LL
• Barriers and facilitators to older adults' use of nonpharmacologic approaches for chronic pain: a person-focused model.
  Pain 2021 Garrett SB, Nicosia F, Thompson N, Miaskowski C, Ritchie CS
• Implementation of an integrative movement program for residents with dementia in a VA nursing home.
  BMC geriatrics 2021 Akram A, Nicosia F, Lee J, Lee M, Martin L, Martinez S, Ordoñez C, Woo M, Barnes DE
• Women Veterans' Experiences with Integrated, Biopsychosocial Pain Care: A Qualitative Study.
  Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) 2021 Nicosia FM, Gibson CJ, Purcell N, Zamora K, Tighe J, Seal KH
• Advancing health equity through a theoretically critical implementation science.
  Translational behavioral medicine 2021 Snell-Rood C, Jaramillo ET, Hamilton AB, Raskin SE, Nicosia FM, Willging C
• Guys and dolls: Two case reports of spontaneous interactions with dolls in male veterans with dementia.
  Psychological services 2021 Malinowski SD, Nicosia F, Mehling W, Woodstock R, Barnes DE
• Resilience in the Face of Disaster: Psychosocial Effects of the 2017 Northern California Wildfires in Caregivers and Persons with Cognitive Impairment Participating in an Integrative Group Movement Program at an Adult Day Center
  Activities, Adaptation & Aging 2021 Nicosia FM, Williams SL, Dannenbaum TP, Barnes DE
• Leveraging Telehealth to improve access to care: a qualitative evaluation of Veterans' experience with the VA TeleSleep program.
  BMC health services research 2021 Nicosia FM, Kaul B, Totten AM, Silvestrini MC, Williams K, Whooley MA, Sarmiento KF
• A Biopsychosocial Model of Chronic Pain for Older Adults.
  Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) 2020 Miaskowski C, Blyth F, Nicosia F, Haan M, Keefe F, Smith A, Ritchie C
• An Integrated Pain Team Model: Impact on Pain-Related Outcomes and Opioid Misuse in Patients with Chronic Pain.
  Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) 2020 Gibson CJ, Grasso J, Li Y, Purcell N, Tighe J, Zamora K, Nicosia F, Seal KH
• Patient Perspectives on Declining to Participate in Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY.
  Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention 2020 Schopfer DW, Nicosia FM, Ottoboni L, Whooley MA
• "The More They Know, the Better Care They Can Give": Patient Perspectives on Measuring Functional Status in Primary Care.
  Journal of general internal medicine 2020 Nicosia FM, Spar MJ, Neumann A, Silvestrini MC, Barrientos M, Brown RT
• Strategies for evaluating self-efficacy and observed success in the practice of yoga postures for therapeutic indications: methods from a yoga intervention for urinary incontinence among middle-aged and older women.
  BMC complementary medicine and therapies 2020 Nicosia FM, Lisha NE, Chesney MA, Subak LL, Plaut TM, Huang A
• "We Have a Long Way to Go:" A Case Study Examination of Older Women Veterans' Experiences in VA Primary Care.
  Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing 2020 Silvestrini M, Nicosia F, Spar MJ, Gibson CJ, Brown RT
• What Is a Medication-Related Problem? A Qualitative Study of Older Adults and Primary Care Clinicians.
  Journal of general internal medicine 2019 Nicosia FM, Spar MJ, Stebbins M, Sudore RL, Ritchie CS, Lee KP, Rodondi K, Steinman MA
• Making Function Part of the Conversation: Clinician Perspectives on Measuring Functional Status in Primary Care.
  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2018 Nicosia FM, Spar MJ, Steinman MA, Lee SJ, Brown RT
• Nurses' Perspectives on Lean Redesigns to Patient Flow and Inpatient Discharge Process Efficiency.
  Global qualitative nursing research 2018 Nicosia FM, Park LG, Gray CP, Yakir MJ, Hung DY
• Hospital-Community Partnerships to Aid Transitions for Older Adults: Applying the Care Transitions Framework.
  Journal of nursing care quality 2018 Hung D, Truong Q, Yakir M, Nicosia F
• Current approaches to measuring functional status among older adults in VA primary care clinics.
  Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS 2017 Spar MJ, Nicosia FM, Steinman MA, Brown RT
• The Turn Toward Value: An ethnography of efficiency and satisfaction in the American hospital
  The Turn Toward Value: An ethnography of efficiency and satisfaction in the American hospital 2017 Nicosia, FM
• Documentary Effects on Medical Student Attitudes and Skills Regarding Nutrition at the End of life
  Creative Education 2014 Scott De La Cruz, Francesca Nicosia, Eva Aagaard
• Ecology, embodiment and aesthetics of death in Hurricane Katrina
  Mortality 2009 Nicosia, FM