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Christopher Barrett Bowling

Associate Professor of Medicine
Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care

Overview


I am a geriatrician with research training in population health and chronic disease epidemiology. Through my work, I aim to inform patient-centered care that focuses on optimizing function and quality of life over traditional disease-based approaches. Much of my work has focused on chronic kidney disease, however I have recently broadened the scope of investigation to include other chronic conditions including hypertension and systemic lupus erythematosus. The unifying theme of this work has been applying a geriatric research approach to large studies of chronic disease. As Associate Director of Clinical Programs at the Durham VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, I have also had the opportunity to partner with nephrologists to develop clinical programs in the VA designed to provide patient-centered, geriatric care for older adults with kidney disease.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Medicine · 2022 - Present Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Medicine
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2020 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Senior Fellow of the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development · 2020 - Present Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published August 14, 2025
The Risks of Piling on Medications, According to a Duke Study

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Recent Publications


Illness Experiences of Veterans Reporting Long-Term Symptoms or Health Challenges from COVID-19: Results from the VA COVID-19 Observational Research Collaboratory.

Journal Article J Gen Intern Med · December 1, 2025 BACKGROUND: Our understanding of the illness experience of long COVID comes mostly from studies conducted among long COVID online communities and support groups or participants in cohort studies of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To elicit the illness experiences of ... Full text Link to item Cite

A Patient-Informed Framework of Financial Strain Among Adults with Multimorbidity.

Journal Article J Gen Intern Med · November 3, 2025 BACKGROUND: Over one-quarter of adults have multimorbidity. Patients with multimorbidity are more likely to struggle to afford their care than patients without multimorbidity, but their experiences with financial strain have not been fully described. OBJEC ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Functional limitations during the transition to older age

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2029

Advancing Geriatrics Infrastructure and Network Growth (AGING) Initiative

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by University of Massachusetts Medical School · 2014 - 2028

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Alabama, Birmingham · 2012 M.S.P.H.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Medicine · 2006 M.D.