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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
Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Sanford School of Public Policy · 2022 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2021 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Associate Professor in Medicine · 2021 - Present Medicine, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Medicine
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 Initiatives & Academic Support Units

In the News


Published June 19, 2025
Why I take my kids to punk shows in Trump’s era
Published June 18, 2025
Viewpoints: Federal Attack on Safety Net Jeopardizes Disaster Response
Published June 16, 2025
Aging with Dignity in North Carolina

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Recent Publications


Overhauling US Long-Term Services and Supports: Looking Toward Japan.

Journal Article J Appl Gerontol · June 7, 2025 In the context of a rapidly growing aging population, the United States must address challenges with long term services and supports as that is what the acronym refers to. These challenges include affordability and access to home- and-community-based servi ... Full text Link to item Cite

Using Collective Impact to Examine Direct Service Worker Training and Credentialing in North Carolina: Recommendations for Change.

Journal Article Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society · June 2025 Older adults and people living with disabilities receive home- and community-based services (HCBS) from approximately 113,000 often under-resourced and inadequately supported direct service workers (e.g., personal care aides, direct support professionals, ... Full text Cite

The role of community health workers in enhancing home and community-based services in American Indian communities.

Journal Article PEC Innov · June 2025 OBJECTIVES: Describe the role and benefit of Community Health Workers in American Indian communities as a novel solution to meeting home and community-based service (HCBS) needs. METHODS: Short communication based on extant literature and current policy ch ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Duke/UNC ADAR Program

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

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

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2022 - 2026

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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.