Ashley Kuzmik, DrPH, MPH
ASST PROFESSOR
Accepting Students
College of Pharmacy
1007 E Huron St
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1628
2312 Pharm
Role Overview and Bio
Ashley Kuzmik, DrPH, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy in the Health Services Research (HSR) Program at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. Her research focuses on improving care transitions, healthcare delivery, and health outcomes for persons living with dementia and their care partners. She has built an interdisciplinary research program that integrates epidemiology, gerontology, health services research, nursing, and population health to understand the social, structural, and clinical factors that influence dementia care and outcomes.
Her research includes healthcare utilization, medication use during care transitions, mobility and functional outcomes, care partner outcomes, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and delirium. She develops and evaluates interventions to strengthen care transitions for persons living with dementia and their care partners.
Dr. Kuzmik earned a Master of Public Health in epidemiology from the University of Cincinnati and a Doctor of Public Health in epidemiology from Pennsylvania State University, where she also completed postdoctoral training. She has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and serves on the editorial board of Aging & Mental Health. Her work has been recognized with the 2026 Fox Graduate School Alumni Society Early Career Award from Pennsylvania State University and the 2024 Health Sciences Research Award from the Gerontological Society of America.
Research Interests
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Older adults and persons living with dementia
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Hospitalization, care transitions, and post-acute care
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Healthcare delivery and health outcomes
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Care partners, family caregiving, and social support
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Intervention research
Awards
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2026 Fox Graduate School Alumni Society Early Career Award, Pennsylvania State University
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2024 Health Sciences Research Award, Gerontological Society of America
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2022 Pilot Study Award, Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, Pennsylvania State University
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2021 Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pennsylvania State University
Selected Publications
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- Kuzmik, A., Rodriguez, M., Wellington, J., Yahaya, A.R., & Boltz, M. (2026). Dementia Care Partner Health Literacy as a Mediator Between Education and Burden at Hospital Discharge. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 45(3), 424-432.
- Kuzmik, A., Resnick, B., McPherson, R., Galik, E., & Boltz, M. (2025). Clinical Factors Mediating Physical Function and Participation in Function Focused Care Among Hospitalized Persons With Dementia. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 39(4), 244-249.
- Kuzmik, A., & Boltz, M. (2025). Dementia Care Partner Preparedness and Desire to Seek Long-Term Care at Hospital Discharge: Mediating Roles of Care Receiver Clinical Factors. Clinical Gerontologist, 48(5), 1057-1068.
- Kuzmik, A., Rodriguez, M., Hannan, J., & Boltz, M. (2024). Designing a mobile application to promote physical activity in spousal care partners of persons living with dementia and their care-recipient. Dementia, 24(3), 408-423.
- Kuzmik, A., Best, I., Al Harrasi, A.M., & Boltz, M. (2024). Mediating role of care partner burden among dementia care partners during post-hospital transition. Aging & Mental Health, 28(12), 1753-1759.
- Kuzmik, A., Boltz, M., Resnick, B., McPherson, R., Rodriguez, M., Drazich, B.F., & Galik, E. (2024). Delirium Severity and Physical Function in Hospitalized Persons Living with Dementia: Moderation by Age, Sex, and Race. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 38(1), 28-33.
- Kuzmik, A., BeLue, R., Resnick, B., Rodriguez, M., Berish, D., Galvin, J.E., & Boltz, M. (2023). Caregiver preparedness is associated with desire to seek long‐term care admission of hospitalized persons with dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 38(9), e6006.
- Kuzmik, A., Boltz, M., Kim, K., Ma, Y., Weng, X., & Wang, L. (2023). Physical Activity Level and Specific Type of Exercises Among US Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 20(6), 500-507.
- Kuzmik, A., Boltz, M., BeLue, R., Resnick, B., Scott, J., Mogle, J., Leslie, D., & Galvin, J.E. (2023). The Modified Caregiver Strain Index in Black and White Dementia Care Partners at Hospital Discharge. Clinical Gerontologist, 46(4), 574-584.
- Kuzmik, A., Boltz, M., Resnick, B., & BeLue, R. (2021). Evaluation of the Caregiver Preparedness Scale in African American and White Caregivers of Persons with Dementia During Post-Hospitalization Transition. Journal of Nursing Measurement.