Faika Zanjani, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research
Professor
Brain Health Lab
Gerontology Virginia Center on Aging
Dr. Faika Zanjani is an Associate Professor in the Department of Gerontology at the VCU College of Health Professionals. She has a PhD in Human Development And Family Studies, with a concentration in Gerontology, from Pennsylvania State University, with postdoctoral training in Geriatric Psychiatry from the University of Pennsylvania. She also has had appointments as NIH/NIMH Predoctoral Fellow, APA Minority Health Fellow, NIH/NIMH Geriatric Postdoctoral Fellow, NIH BIRWCH Scholar, USDA Grant Awardee and NIH/NIDA K Awardee.
Zanjani has worked in geriatric public health issues, particularly within the areas of health behavior change and health promotion; mental health and substance abuse/use; and community health interventions, in both urban and rural community applications. Her research covers the behavioral and public health spectrum, including examining process (change), predictors, outcomes, treatment and community health promotion issues. She has been actively involved in promoting prescription drug safety, specifically alcohol-interactive medication safety and preventing mental health/substance misuse, among older community-dwelling adults using principles of community behavioral change. At the basic level, she explores the consequences of moderate/healthy levels of alcohol consumption throughout the adult life span.
Here at VCU, she conducts research and oversees ongoing academic programs and research training at the graduate, undergraduate and postdoctoral levels, to reduce community health disparities within the Center of Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation.