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Nathan Adam Boucher

Associate Research Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy
Sanford School of Public Policy
Box 90312, Durham, NC 27708
206 Rubenstein Hall, Box 90312, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


I am a Research Health Scientist at Durham VA Health System’s Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT) and Duke University faculty at Sanford School of Public Policy, the Medical School, and the Nursing School. I am also a Senior Fellow at the Duke Center for the Study of Aging & Human Development as well as Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy Core Faculty. 

I have extensive experience in clinical medicine (licensed physician assistant in critical care and emergency medicine), health care administration, health professions education, hospice and palliative care quality improvement, and community-based research. Challenges and opportunities at the intersection of social care and health care inform my research agenda. My collaborations across disciplines at VA and Duke and with community organizations have afforded me deep insights into the lives and challenges of community members and family/friend care partners.

My research has been funded by Veterans Administration, NIH, Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services, several foundations, and Duke University. Recent research includes 1) describing care partners’ social and health needs related to caring for older adults re-entering the community from prison; 2) designing and testing community health worker programs focused on older adults; 3) characterizing concerns care partners and people living with dementia have regarding the quality of care settings as well as emerging technologies; 4) systems approaches to homelessness among Veterans, and 5) defining and realigning training and employment for NC direct care workers serving in home- and community-based services.

Let's collaborate: nathan.boucher@duke.edu

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Research Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy · 2021 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Associate Professor in Medicine · 2021 - Present Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Medicine
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2021 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Associate Research Professor in the School of Nursing · 2023 - Present School of Nursing
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy · 2024 - Present Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published October 17, 2025
Fall 2025 GRECC Forum on Aging
Published September 23, 2025
Grant Supports Caring for Caregivers of Rural Veterans
Published August 1, 2025
North Carolina values truth, integrity, service — that is not Donald Trump.

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Recent Publications


Characterizing Intervention Components and Complexity of Nonpharmacologic Healthcare Interventions to Manage Distress Behaviors in Older Adults.

Journal Article J Appl Gerontol · January 2026 Distress behaviors are common in residential care settings and contribute to staff burnout and poor quality of life for older adults. While nonpharmacologic interventions reduce distress behaviors, implementation in routine care remains challenging. Our st ... Full text Link to item Cite

Strategies for improving the quality of caregiving in Qatar.

Journal Article East Mediterr Health J · December 7, 2025 Full text Link to item Cite

Perception of Support, Communication, and Burnout: Cross-Sectional Analysis of a National Survey of Veterans Administration Safety Professionals.

Journal Article Medical care · December 2025 ObjectiveTo assess the relationship between burnout scores for patient safety professionals and perceived support from the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS) and direct communication with medical center directors in the Veterans Health Admi ... Full text Cite
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Recent Grants


Duke/UNC ADAR Program

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

Improving the lives of persons living with dementia and their families through person-centered measurement of home time

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2021 - 2027

WECARE: Workforce Engagement with Care workers to Assist, Recognize, and Educate

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2022 - 2027

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Education, Training & Certifications


Duke University, School of Medicine · 2020 C.
State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center · 2015 DrPH
Baruch College · 2011 M.P.A.
Northeastern University · 2004 M.S.