Dr. Zahra Goodarzi

BHSc. MD. MSc. FRCPC

Pronouns: She/Her

Positions

Full Professor

Cumming School of Medicine

Full Member

Hotchkiss Brain Institute

Associate Member

Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education

Full Member

O'Brien Institute for Public Health

Division Head Geriatric Medicine

University of Calgary

Medical Lead Specialized Geriatric Services and Transition Services

Alberta Health Services

Contact information

zgoodarz@ucalgary.ca

Web presence

Twitter

BHSc Alumni Spotlight

HBI Cognitive Disorders Team

HBI Movement Disorders Team

Background

Biography

Dr. Zahra Goodarzi is an academic geriatrician. She completed residency training in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at the University of Calgary. Dr. Goodarzi completed her Master of Science in Community Health Sciences specializing in Health Services Research. She is currently an Professor in the Section of Geriatrics within the Department of Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences and Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary. She is Division Head for Geriatric Medicine, and Medical Lead for Specialized Geriatric Services and Transition Services.

Her major research interests involve knowledge translation, knowledge synthesis and qualitative methods to improve the lives of older adults. Her specific methodological expertise is in synthesis, qualitative methods, multi methods, pathway development, guideline development, surveys and implementation science.

Her work has focused on mental illness and neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults or those with neurodegenerative disorder. She also examines the experiences of older adults living in supportive living and long term care with frailty, concomitant mood disorders or neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Her current work looks at the development of clinical pathways for mood disorders, frailty and dementia across the care continuum in clinic, long term care and emergency room. She is co-lead for the Geriatric Emergency Medicine Team - working on quality improvement and implementation of evidence based interventions to help older adult care. Lead for national restraints reduction special interest group with he Canadian Geriatrics Society.

Research

Areas of Research

Dementia or Cognitive Disorders, Parkinson's Disease , Geriatric Medicine Across Care Continuum , Long Term Care Evidence Based Practice , Emergency Care or Acute Care Issues for Older Adults, Mood Disorders , Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Guidelines

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Brain and Mental Health (2015-2021)

Awards

Top 40 Under 40 https://www.avenuecalgary.com/top-40-under-40/2021/zahra-goodarzi/, Avenue Magazine. 2021
CIHR Institute of Aging Prize: Yves Joanette Award of Excellence in Research in Aging, CIHR. 2024
Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, UofC. 2024
Outstanding Achievement Award 2021-2022, UofC. 2023
COVID Outstanding Achievement Award, UofC. 2023
2021

Publications

Google Scholar

In the News

New research seeks to enhance palliative and end-of-life care.
Effective Strategies for Managing Anxiety.
U of C research projects chosen to strengthen pandemic preparedness in long-term care homes.
Top 40 Under 40 2021. https://www.avenuecalgary.com/top-40-under-40/2021/zahra-goodarzi/.
Canadian Frailty Network Summer Student Work .
Dr. Zahra Goodarzi: Exploring depression telemedicine interventions for older adults.
How can we best help older adults with depression via remote treatment?.