Myra Sabir

Curriculum Vitae

 

ADDRESS

 

OFFICE:                                                                      HOME:             

                        Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center               167-5 Calkins Rd

                        Cornell University                                                        Ithaca, NY 14850

                        Ithaca, NY 14853                                                         (607) 273-2930

                        (607) 254-8523

 

                        FAX:  (607) 254-2903

INTERNET:  mgs16@cornell.edu

 

EDUCATION

 

            Ph.D.               Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

                        August, 2004  Major:  Human Development & Family Studies

Dissertation Title:  Intrinsic and Extrinsic Self-Expression:  The Role of Self-Acceptance

Committee Chair:  Elaine Wethington

MA                   Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

                        May, 2001  Major:  Human Development & Family Studies

Thesis Title:  When Do Opposites Attract?  Predictors of Successful Relationships in a Peer Support Program for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

Thesis Advisor:  Karl Pillemer

MTS                 Emory University,  Atlanta, GA

May, 1996  Major: Theological Studies & Human Development       

                                    Magna Cum Laude

Thesis Title:  Uncrippling the I AM:  Fostering the Shift from Dependency to Independency/Interdependency in Personality and Behavior

Thesis Advisor:  James Fowler

BA                   Georgia State University,  Atlanta, GA

                                    March, 1984 Major: Philosophy

           

RESEARCH INTERESTS

 

Integrative reminiscence, coherence, and well-being in midlife and old age; Generativity and coherence in midlife and old age; Life review in midlife and old age; Resourcefulness in midlife and old age; Lifespan Development; Applied intervention research.

 

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

 

Jack Boozer Community Development Award – Emory University, 1995

Mobley Award for Academic Excellence & Significant Community Concern-Emory, 1996

Flemmie Kittrell Fellowship-Cornell University, 2000

Flora Rose Fellowship-Cornell University, 2000

Cornell Careers Institute Research Partnership Grant-Cornell University, 2002

Summer Workshop on African-American Aging Award, University of Michigan, 2002

Georgia Micro-Enterprise Network Visionary Award, June 2002

Sloan Fellowship-Cornell University, 2002

Provost’s Diversity Fellowship, 2003

Research Assistantship, Cornell Gerontology Research Institute- Cornell, 2000-2004

Research Assistantship, Bronfenbrenner Life Course Center – Cornell, 2004-2005

Post-Doctoral Fellowship, National Institute on Aging, 2005-2007

TAW Award, National Institute on Aging, 2006

 

FUNDED RESEARCH

 

3 P30 AG022845-03S1

National Institute on Aging                                                                               Pillemer (P.I.)

Using reminiscence and life review to increase the social integration of older adults (Renamed “The Harlem Life Review and Health in Later Life (HLR & HLL) Study”)

This preventive intervention research project uses integrative reminiscence to help reduce health disparities between older African- and European-American adults by increasing coherence, which is associated with a variety of psychological and physical well-being outcomes.

Role: Post-Doctoral Investigator

 

51605/P001

The Columbia Center for the Active Life of Minority Elders (CALME)            Sabir (P.I.)

The Harlem Life Review and Health in Later Life Study (HLR & HLL).

These pilot grant funds cover non-salary expenses connected to the HLR & HLL Study.

Role:  Pilot Study Principal Investigator

 

 

RAND/Hartford Foundation                                                                             Sabir (P.I.)

Life Review and Social Integration among Homebound Elders

This pilot grant  was received through the Cornell Interdisciplinary Geriatric Health Care Research Center, and funds structured life review in a group format using teleconferencing technology with homebound older adults living in New York City.

Role: Pilot Study Principal Investigator

 

 

 

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS 

 

Sabir, M., Breckman, R., Meador, R., Wethington, E., Reid, M., Pillemer, K. (2006). The CITRA Research-Practice Consensus Workshop Model: Exploring a New Method of Research Translation in Aging.  The Gerontologist, 46, 833-839.

 

Sabir, M., Pillemer, K., Suitor, J. & Patterson, M. (2003).  Predictors of Successful Relationships in a Peer Support Program for Alzheimer’s Caregivers.  American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, 18, 115-122.

 

Pillemer, K., Suitor, J., Mock, S., Sabir, M., Sechrist, J. (in press).  Capturing the Complexity of Intergenerational Relations:  Exploring Ambivalence within Later-Life Families.

 

Chen, C., Sabir, M.,  Zimmerman, S., Pillemer, K., & Suitor, J. (under review),.  Nursing Facility Staff/Family Relations, Caregiver Burden, and Caregiver Depression. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences

 

PAPERS IN PROGRESS

 

Sabir, M.  (in preparation). Recruitment and Retention in the Harlem Life Review and Health in Later Life Study.

 

Sabir, M., Wethington, E., Pillemer, K., Breckman, R., Meador, R. (in preparation). Research-Practice Disconnect around Social Isolation Interventions for Older Adults - Expert Practitioner Feedback

 

Sabir, M., Pillemer, K.,Wethington, E., Stewart, T., Currie, J.  (in preparation).  Matching reminiscence types with reminiscence outcomes:  A sorting of previous studies.

 

Wethington, E., Breckman, R., Meador, R.,Sabir, M., Pillemer, K (in preparation). The CITRA Research-Practice Consensus Workshop Model: The Pilot Studies Component

 

SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS

 

“The CITRA Research-Practice Consensus Workshop Model: Exploring a New Method of Research Translation in Aging.”  Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America.  Dallas, Texas, November, 2006.

 

“Within-family differences in mother’s support to adult children in Black and White families.”  Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. Orlando, Florida. November, 2005.

 

The Levinsonian Dream versus the American Dream:  Revisiting Eudaimonia’s Promise.  Poster accepted for the American Psychological Association Convention.  Honolulu, Hawaii.  2004

 

Specifying the association between psychological coherence and adult well-being.  Poster accepted for the Gerontological Society of America Convention. Washington, DC. November, 2004

 

INVITED ADDRESSES

 

From Research to Practice:  How Can Scientific Evidence Help Us Foster Connectedness and Reduce Social Isolation Among Older Persons?” Presentation at the 11th Annual Jarvie Colloquium:  The Many Ways of Being Connected: Social Strengths of Older People. Jarvie Commonweal, New York, New York, June 9, 2006.

 

 “The CITRA Research-Practice Consensus Workshop Model: Exploring a New Method of Research Translation in Aging.” Presentation at the Annual Human Development Research Update to Cooperative Extension Educators. Ithaca, New York, June 2, 2006.

 

 “Social Isolation among Older Adults.”  Presentation to CITRA’s Semi-Annual Consensus Workshop involving aging researchers, practitioners, and state and community organizations in New York.  New York.  March, 2006.

 

“Fall Prevention Among Community-Dwelling Elders”  Presentation to CITRA’s Semi-Annual Consensus Workshop involving aging researchers and practitioners,and state and community organizations in New York.  New York.  March, 2005.

 

The Research Review Process. Presentation to the Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City Annual Conference. January, 2005

 

 “When do opposites attract?  Predictors of successful relationships in a peer support program for Alzheimer’s caregivers.”  Thesis research findings presented to the Tompkins County Aging Network, Ithaca, NY, May 10, 2002.

 

 “When do opposites attract?  Predictors of successful relationships in a peer support program for Alzheimer’s caregivers.”  Poster presentation at the Cornell Gerontology Research Institute Annual Conference, Cornell University,  2002.

 

“Me in the Family and the Family in Me.”  Presentation to the Third Annual Parents’ and Youth Convocation at ITC/Atlanta University,  Atlanta, GA, February 4, 1996.

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

Postdoctoral:

 

Instructor:  Human Development 418:  Aging:  Contemporary Issues, Cornell 

 

Undergraduate:

 

Co-Instructor: Human Development 455:  Social Interventions to Promote Optimal Human Development, Cornell

 

Teaching Assistant: Human Development 115:  Introduction to Human Development, Cornell

 

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

 

            The American Psychological Association

            The Gerontological Society of America

 

RECENT UNIVERSITY SERVICE

 

College of Human Ecology Diversity Committee, 2000-2001, 2001-2002

Graduate Student Orientation Committee, 1999-2000, 2000-2001

Graduate Student Committee, 2001-2002, 2002-2003

Graduate Community Assistant, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004

Senior Graduate Student Mentor, 2000-2002

Public Safety Advisory Committee, 2003-2004