Joan Ilardo, PhD, LMSW is the Director of Research Initiatives for the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine and holds an appointment in the Department of Family Medicine, Division of Geriatrics. She facilitates faculty collaborations in health services research and leads several research projects on patient-provider partnerships and coordinating medical practice and community-based supports and services. Prior to joining the College of Human Medicine in 2009, Dr. Ilardo directed the MSU School of Social Work‚Äôs MSW program and taught graduate courses in Research Methods and Administrative Practice Skills. She was a Senior Consultant at Health Management Associates for 12 years. She was the Director of Patient Information at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Dr. Ilardo is a member of the steering committee of the Michigan Dementia Coalition and co-chairs its Healthcare System and Provider Education Committee. She is serving her second term on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education. She served six years on the 15-member Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging. Dr. Ilardo earned a Bachelor‚Äôs in Finance from the University of Illinois, a Master‚Äôs of Social Work from Michigan State University, and a PhD in Social Work from Michigan State University.