Robert Becher, MD, MS, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery (General, Trauma & Surgical Critical Care)Cards
About
Research
Publications
2024
Population‐based estimates of major forms of housing insecurity among community‐living older Americans
Paredes L, Wang Y, Keene D, Gill T, Becher R. Population‐based estimates of major forms of housing insecurity among community‐living older Americans. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society 2024 PMID: 39229863, DOI: 10.1111/jgs.19167.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPoor housing affordabilityPoor housing qualityPoor neighborhood qualityNational Health and Aging Trends StudyPopulation-based estimatesHousing insecurityOlder AmericansOlder adultsImprove social determinants of healthSocial determinants of healthHigh-risk older adultsStudy of Medicare beneficiariesCalculated population-based estimatesImprove social determinantsDeterminants of healthMultidimensional approachPersons of colorHousing affordabilityNeighborhood qualityAdequate housingHousing qualityDementia statusProspective longitudinal studyTrends StudyMedicare beneficiariesChanges in neighborhood disadvantage over the course of 22 years among community‐living older persons
Gill T, Becher R, Leo‐Summers L, Gahbauer E. Changes in neighborhood disadvantage over the course of 22 years among community‐living older persons. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society 2024 PMID: 39206716, DOI: 10.1111/jgs.19172.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchArea Deprivation IndexArea deprivation index scoreNeighborhood disadvantageDisadvantaged neighborhoodsOlder personsLongitudinal studies of older personsCommunity-living older personsSocial determinants of healthStudy of older personsCommunity-living personsDeterminants of healthFunctional well-beingCensus block levelSouth central ConnecticutDeprivation indexSocial determinantsFollow-upProspective longitudinal studyWell-beingLongitudinal studyDecile changeCentral ConnecticutNeighborhoodParticipantsPersonsAssociation Between Cognitive Trajectories and Subsequent Health Status, Depressive Symptoms, and Mortality Among Older Adults in the United States: Findings From a Nationally Representative Study
Zang E, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Wu B, Fried T, Becher R, Gill T. Association Between Cognitive Trajectories and Subsequent Health Status, Depressive Symptoms, and Mortality Among Older Adults in the United States: Findings From a Nationally Representative Study. The Journals Of Gerontology Series A 2024, 79: glae143. PMID: 38845419, PMCID: PMC11212484, DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glae143.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPoor health statusHealth statusDepressive symptomsOlder adultsHealth outcomesCognitive trajectoriesNational Health and Aging Trends StudyScreening of cognitive functionTrajectory groupsCognitive functionHigher depressive symptomsPopulation-based dataAdverse health outcomesNationally representative cohortGroup-based trajectory modelingHigher mortality riskAssociated with higher riskNationally-representative studyLogistic regression modelsTrends StudyRepresentative cohortGlobal cognitionLiving respondentsRegular screeningMortality riskImmunotherapy Initiation at the End of Life in Patients With Metastatic Cancer in the US
Kerekes D, Frey A, Prsic E, Tran T, Clune J, Sznol M, Kluger H, Forman H, Becher R, Olino K, Khan S. Immunotherapy Initiation at the End of Life in Patients With Metastatic Cancer in the US. JAMA Oncology 2024, 10: 342-351. PMID: 38175659, PMCID: PMC10767643, DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.6025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNon-small cell lung cancerEnd of lifeMonth of deathImmunotherapy initiationCohort studyMAIN OUTCOMEStage IV non-small cell lung cancerCharlson-Deyo comorbidity indexHigh metastatic burdenInitiation of immunotherapyNational prescribing patternsRisk-adjusted patientsImmune checkpoint inhibitorsRetrospective cohort studyStage IV melanomaPercentage of patientsHigh-volume centersLocation of metastasesLow-volume centersOdds of deathCell lung cancerNational Clinical DatabaseLow-volume facilitiesDrug Administration approvalCheckpoint inhibitorsNational Estimates of Short- and Longer-Term Hospital Readmissions After Major Surgery Among Community-Living Older Adults
Wang Y, Leo-Summers L, Vander Wyk B, Davis-Plourde K, Gill T, Becher R. National Estimates of Short- and Longer-Term Hospital Readmissions After Major Surgery Among Community-Living Older Adults. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e240028. PMID: 38416499, PMCID: PMC10902728, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0028.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCenters for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesFee-for-serviceMedicare Advantage beneficiariesHospital readmissionUS residentsNational Health and Aging Trends Study dataCommunity-living older adultsProspective longitudinal cohort studyCommunity-living participantsRate of hospital readmissionLikelihood of hospital readmissionPopulation-based estimatesNationally representative estimatesSex-adjusted modelsCommunity-livingData linkageGeriatric conditionsMedicaid ServicesOlder personsOlder adultsMain OutcomesNational estimatesRepresentative estimatesData analysisCohort study
2023
Relationship Between Distressing Symptoms and Changes in Disability After Major Surgery Among Community-living Older Persons
Gill T, Han L, Feder S, Gahbauer E, Leo-Summers L, Becher R. Relationship Between Distressing Symptoms and Changes in Disability After Major Surgery Among Community-living Older Persons. Annals Of Surgery 2023, 279: 65-70. PMID: 37389893, PMCID: PMC10761592, DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005984.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor surgeryDistressing symptomsElective surgeryFunctional outcomeOlder personsCommunity-living older personsMultiple distressing symptomsSocioeconomic disadvantageCommunity-living personsTiming of surgerySerious health eventsNumber of disabilitiesSurgerySignificant associationSymptomsHealth eventsRate ratioPotential targetDisabilityUnit increaseDeleterious effectsOutcomesPersonsMultimorbidityAdmission
2022
Population-Based Estimates of 1-Year Mortality After Major Surgery Among Community-Living Older US Adults
Gill TM, Vander Wyk B, Leo-Summers L, Murphy TE, Becher RD. Population-Based Estimates of 1-Year Mortality After Major Surgery Among Community-Living Older US Adults. JAMA Surgery 2022, 157: e225155. PMID: 36260323, PMCID: PMC9582971, DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.5155.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPopulation-based estimatesMajor surgeryMean survival timeOlder US adultsProbable dementiaUS adultsSurvival timeSex-adjusted hazard ratioProspective longitudinal cohort studyCommunity-living older adultsLongitudinal cohort studyPotential prognostic valueService Medicare beneficiariesNon-Hispanic blacksNon-Hispanic whitesAging Trends StudyGeriatric characteristicsCohort studyGeriatric surgeryHazard ratioNonelective surgeryElective surgeryGeriatric conditionsPrognostic valueMean ageThe effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on community violence in Connecticut
O'Neill KM, Dodington J, Gawel M, Borrup K, Shapiro DS, Gates J, Gregg S, Becher RD. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on community violence in Connecticut. The American Journal Of Surgery 2022, 225: 775-780. PMID: 36253316, PMCID: PMC9540704, DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.10.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCommunity violenceCOVID-19 pandemicTrauma registry dataViolence-related traumaLarge-scale morbiditySystemic healthPatient presentationRegistry dataPre-COVID periodTraumaLinear regression modelsCOVID periodNegative healthRegression modelsPandemicHealthCOVID pandemicMorbidityInjuryMortalityLatinx communitiesSocial inequitiesFactors Associated With Days Away From Home in the Year After Major Surgery Among Community-living Older Persons
Gill TM, Becher RD, Murphy TE, Gahbauer EA, Leo-Summers L, Han L. Factors Associated With Days Away From Home in the Year After Major Surgery Among Community-living Older Persons. Annals Of Surgery 2022, 278: e13-e19. PMID: 35837967, PMCID: PMC9840715, DOI: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005528.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth care facilitiesMajor surgeryAge 85 yearsCare facilitiesOlder personsRisk factorsNumber of daysLower peak expiratory flowCommunity-living older personsShort Physical Performance BatteryIndependent risk factorCommunity-living personsPhysical Performance BatteryPeak expiratory flowCandidate risk factorsQuality of lifeHospital dischargeMultivariable analysisExpiratory flowMedian numberPerformance BatteryMusculoskeletal surgerySurgeryMean differenceHospitalGeriatric vulnerability and the burden of disability after major surgery
Gill TM, Murphy TE, Gahbauer EA, Leo‐Summers L, Becher RD. Geriatric vulnerability and the burden of disability after major surgery. Journal Of The American Geriatrics Society 2022, 70: 1471-1480. PMID: 35199332, PMCID: PMC9106872, DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17693.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBurden of disabilityMajor surgeryGeriatric vulnerabilitiesHospital dischargeElective surgeryFunctional outcomeLong-term functional outcomeStrong epidemiologic evidenceCommunity-living personsPoor functional outcomeNon-elective surgeryProspective longitudinal studyAdditional vulnerability factorVulnerability factorsMultivariable analysisEpidemiologic evidenceSurgery increasesBlack raceDisability burdenFemale sexMore disabilityAge 85Hispanic ethnicitySurgeryOlder persons
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Overview
Clinical Specialties
General Surgery, Trauma & Surgical Critical Care; Colorectal Surgery; Minimally Invasive Surgery
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Board Certifications
Surgical Critical Care Surgery
- Certification Organization
- AB of Surgery
- Original Certification Date
- 2021
General Surgery
- Certification Organization
- AB of Surgery
- Original Certification Date
- 1972
Yale Medicine News
News
News
- April 03, 2024
Understanding the Risks of Surgery in Older Adults
- March 01, 2024Source: HCPLive
Seniors Have Increased Hospital Readmission Risk Within 180 Days of Major Surgery
- February 28, 2024Source: YaleNews
Risk of Hospital Readmission After Surgery Is High for Older Americans
- January 04, 2024
Immunotherapy for Metastatic Cancer on the Rise, Even Near End of Life