LAC Leadership

Olivia Okereke, MD

Core Lead

Dr. Okereke is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Associate Professor in Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH), Director of Geriatric Psychiatry at MGH, and Director of the MGH Psychiatry Center for Racial Equity and Justice. Her research is focused on identifying modifiable risk factors in adverse mental aging, prevention, and community-engaged research for promotion of equity and reduction of health disparities.

Dr. Okereke has been an NIH-funded PI since 2008, has been co-investigator of the Clinical Core the MADRC NIA P50/P30 grant since 2004, is PI or co-investigator of several NIH-funded ADRD-related grants, is a past PI of an Alzheimer’s Association New Investigator Research Grant, and is currently the primary Mentor for an Alzheimer’s Association Clinician Scientist Development award recipient. She also serves on 2 T32 (mentor) and 2 R25 (Steering Committee and mentor) NIH grants. She has been widely recognized as an expert in ADRD, including invitations as a Speaker Panelist at an NIA Geroscience Summit and service as a standing member (2013-2019 term) for the APDA (Adult Psychopathology and Disorders of Aging) NIH study section that frequently reviews ADRD-related applications.

Finally, she been extensively involved in organizational leadership and community volunteering and education in ADRD over the past two decades, including past service as a Director on the Board of the Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH Chapter (reached 6-year term limit) and as a member and Chair of the Chapter’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee, as well as past Chair of Chapter’s Annual Meeting. Currently she is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) and Chair of the AAGP Research Committee.

Andrew E. Budson, MD

Associate Director/ Co-lead

Dr. Budson is Professor of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, and Chief, Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology and Associate Chief of Staff for Education, VA Boston Healthcare System. He also serves as both Associate Director and Lead of the Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement (ORE) Core of the BU-ADRC.

Dr. Budson has over three decades of experience as a prolific researcher and highly innovative and effective educator in ADRD, with over 150 publications and numerous awards. He has also served in major hospital leadership positions (at the level of Department Chair or above) for the last 15 years. Dr. Budson will work with Dr. Okereke to provide leadership, strategic planning, and day-to-day management of the LAC and the overall Mass-ENVISION program. His expertise will be particularly essential efforts in the LAC to ensure community focus in all work.