Women in Medicine and Science at Upstate

Sharon A. Brangman MD attended Nottingham High School in Syracuse, NY before pursing her undergraduate degree in biology at Syracuse University. She completed her MD at Upstate in 1981 and her residency and fellowship in internal medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

Dr. Brangman became an assistant professor of Medicine at Upstate in October 1989. She was made section chief of Geriatrics in 1991 and also became director of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship program. She would grow that department from a section into a division and eventually into a stand-alone department, of which she was the inaugural chair beginning in 2018. She was promoted to associate professor in 1996 and to full professor in 2003. She was honored by SUNY as a Distinguished Service Professor in 2015.

Dr. Brangman has served in numerous regional roles, including as director of the Central New York Alzeimer’s Disease Assistance Center (ADAC) from 2002-2016 (co-director 1998-2001 and associate director 1995-1998). Prior to that, she was the co-director of the New York Statewide Resource Center for Geriatric Education (1998-2003). She has held appointments at many local healthcare facilities including: the VA hospital (1989-present), the Vivian Teal Howard Residential Health Care Facility (1999-2002), Loretto Geriatric Center (1989-1996), and Rosewood Heights Health Center (1996-2005).

She has attained leadership roles at the national level, being elected to the Board of the American Geriatrics Society in 2002 and serving as chair from 2011-2012. She was also elected president of the AGS (2010-2011) and led efforts to develop the AGS’s Doorway Thoughts series focused on helping healthcare professionals communicate and care for people from disparate ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Dr. Brangman was also president of the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs from 2015-2017 and was elected to the board in 2013 where she currently serves as chair.

Her many accolades include: the Women Who Mean Business Award from the American Red Cross of Central New York (2011), the Legendary Women of Syracuse Award from the Syracuse Community Health Center (2011), Physician Service to Medicine and the Community Award from the Onondaga County Medical Society (2011), the Elder Care Accomplished Professional Award from the Eldercare Foundation (2009), the Chancellor’s Citation for Achievement in Medicine from Syracuse University (1995), and was included in Best Doctors of the North East Region (1996, 1999, 2002-2015), among many others.

Dr. Brangman’s research has included such projects as “Building Status – Similar Social Networks for Family Caregivers: A Randomized Control-Group Experiment”, which was funded by the National Institute of Aging.

1. Biographical Information on Sharon A. Brangman MD

• SUNY Honors Sharon Brangman MD as Distinguished Service Professor 

  News from Upstate – Upstate Medical University

• Ruth S. Weinstock MD PhD Section Editor 

  Mayo Clinic Proceedings

• Triple Triumph: Three Women in Medicine 

  Samuel Gorovitz and Catherine Newton eds. - Syracuse Unbound - Syracuse University Press

2. Videos Featuring Sharon A. Brangman MD 

• Asking questions, researching answers to help improve medical care 

  HealthLink on Air - WRVO Radio

• The holidays are a chance to check in on aging loved ones 

  Healthlink on Air - WRVO Radio

• Ways to help older people, who are vulnerable, during the coronavirus outbreak 

  HealthLink on Air - WRVO Radio

3. Other Information Related to Sharon A. Brangman MD

• Leading the Nation’s Geriatricians 

  Clinical Update - Upstate Medical University

• Making the Golden Years Glitter by Sharon Brangman MD 

  55 Plus Magazine

• Elder care the focus of new department at Upstate University Hospital 

  In the News – Upstate Medical University

• Alzheimer’s Specialization: Upstate earns $2.35 million grant, center of excellence designation 

  Upstate University Hospital News

• Department of Geriatrics 

  Upstate Medical University

• Geriatrics ECHO 

  Upstate Medical University

1. Moderator, Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs Annual Leadership Conferences 2014-2018, Orlando, FL, National Harbor, MD, Long Beach, CA, San Antonio, TX, Orlando, FL
2. Moderator, “The Interface between Geriatrics Education and Geriatrics Models of Care”  Reynolds Grantee 12th Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV October 2014.
3. “Alzheimer’s Disease: Managing Difficult Behaviors in Nursing Home Residents”, Defense Research Institute, Nursing Home/ALF Seminar, September 2013.
4. “Differentiating Normal Aging from Neurological Diseases and Implications for Causation”, CNA Healthpro Annual Meeting, September 2011.
5. “The Behavior-Problem Resident”, Defense Research Institute, Nursing Home/ALF Seminar, September 2011.
6. “Doorway Thoughts: Crossing the Threshold to Cultural Competence”, University of Nebraska, July 2010.
7. “Doorway Thoughts: Crossing the Threshold to Cultural Competence”, University of Rochester, October 2009.
8. “Alzheimer’s Disease: Diagnosis and Management in the Nursing Home Setting”, Nursing Home/ALF Seminar, DRI Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee September 2009.
9. “Family Caregiving: A Cultural Perspective”, American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, May 2009.
10. “Alzheimer’s Disease: A Look at the Benefits of Early Diagnosis”, National Medical Association Annual Meeting, August 2006.
11. “Recognizing and Treating Dementia in the Geriatric Patient: Current Options for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease”, National Medical Association Annual Meeting, July 2005.
12. “Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease in African American Patients”, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Meeting, March 2005.
13. “Breaking the Silver Ceiling: A New Generation of Older Americans Redefining the New Rules of the Workplace”, United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, September 2004.
14. “Reaping the Benefits of Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease”, National Medical Association Annual Meeting, August 2004.
15. “Doorway Thoughts: Crossing the Threshold to Cultural Competency”, American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, May 2004.
16. “Beating the Clock: New Paradigms in Dementia Diagnosis and Treatment”, National Medical Association Annual Meeting, August 2003.
17. “Curricular Framework: Core Competencies in Multicultural Geriatric Care”, American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, May 2003.
18. “The Syndrome Called Aging: Perspectives on Chronic Disease”, National Medical Association Annual Meeting, August 2001.
19. “End-of-Life Decision Making in a Multicultural Society”, International Association of Gerontology, July 2001.
20. “Managing Alzheimer’s Disease Across the Continuum”, AGS Annual Meeting, May 2001.
21. Alzheimer’s Disease: Cultural Considerations in Evaluation and Diagnosis”, National Medical Association Annual Meeting, August 2000.
22. Moderator, Osteoporosis in Ethnic Elders: Dispelling Medical Myths, American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, May 2000.
23. Gerontological Society of America, November 1999, Discussant, “Multidisciplinary Care in a Multicultural World: Geriatric Care for Refugees from the Former Soviet Union,”, The Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting, November, 1999.
24. Moderator, “Diversity Issues in the Long Term Care Setting”, American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, May 1998.
25. “Impact of Cultural and Minority Issues on Diagnosis, Treatment and Caregiving in Alzheimer’s Disease”, American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, May 1998.
26. “Ethnicity Issues in Long Term Care,” American Medical Directors Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, February 1997.
27. "Assessment of Caregiver Stress: Perspectives Regarding Methods, Setting and Caregiver Race", Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting, November 1995.
28. "Office Evaluation of Alzheimer's Disease," National Medical Association Annual Meeting, July 1994.
29. "Use of Assessment Instruments in Ethnic Elders: Current Concepts and Future Directions", American Geriatrics Society Ethnogeriatrics Advisory Committee Symposium, American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, November, 1992.
30. "Health Status and Issues of Access in Elderly African-Americans," American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, May, 1991.
31. “Doorway Thoughts: Crossing the Threshold to Cultural Competence”. 35th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Public Affairs Lecture. Syracuse University, March 2018
32. “Choosing Wisely in Geriatrics”. American Society of Consultant Pharmacists NY Mid State Meeting, Syracuse, NY. June 2015.
33. “Alzheimer’s Disease: Challenges in the Primary Care Setting”. Alzheimer’s Association Central New York Chapter and the Finger Lakes Geriatric Education Center. Syracuse, NY. June 2015.
34. “Approach to the Hospitalized Geriatric Patient”, Nursing Grand Rounds, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, June 2013
35. “The Silver TsunamI”, SUNY Binghamton, October 2010
36. “Approach to the Geriatric Patient”, Central and Western New York Community Health Foundation Lecture Series, Syracuse, NY, January 2010.
37. “Management of the Agitated Geriatric Patient in the Hospital Setting”, Nursing Grand Rounds, SUNY Upstate Medical University, December 2009.
38. “Doorway Thoughts: Crossing the Threshold to Cultural Competence”, Kern Lecture, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, October 2009.
39. “The Geriatrics Perspective”, American Medical Writer’s Association, New York City, April 2007.
40. “Managing Delirium in the Elderly”, Nephrology Rounds, SUNY Upstate Medical University, April 2007.
41. “Aging and Mental Health: An Overview”, National Association of Social Workers, Genesee Grand Hotel, Syracuse, NY, June 2006.
42. “Alzheimer’s Disease and Caregiver Stress”, Caregiver’s Institute, Onondaga County Office of Youth and Aging, June 2006.
43. “Those Senior Moments: When To Be Concerned About Memory Loss”, Project Café, June 2006.
44. “Alzheimer’s Disease: Current Management Issues”, Family Medicine Grand Rounds, St. Joseph’s Hospital, April 2006.
45. “Doorway Thoughts: African American Elders”, Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds, SUNY Upstate Medical University March, 2006.
46. “Alzheimer’s Disease”, Mini Medical School Program, Health Links, SUNY Upstate Medical University, March 2006.
47. “Alzheimer’s Disease”, Medicine Grand Rounds, Seneca Falls Hospital, June 2006.
48. “Stress and Depression in the Elderly”, Onondaga County Office of Youth and Aging, November 2005.
49. “Doorway Thoughts: Crossing the Threshold to Cultural Competence”, Grand Rounds, Wilson Memorial Hospital, March 2005.
50. “Alzheimer’s Disease: Current Therapeutic Challenges”, The 9^th Annual Central New York Psychopharmacology Update, October 2004.
51. “Current Topics in Alzheimer’s Disease Management”, Family Medicine Grand Rounds, Community General Hospital”, March 2004.
52. “Medical Issues of the Elderly”, Vera House, Elder Abuse Conference, November 2002.
53. “Meeting the Needs of an Increasingly Diverse, Aging Society: The Medical School Perspective”, Syracuse University, November 2002.
54. “The Agitated Patient with Dementia”, Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, Community General Hospital, November 2002.
55. “Therapeutic Aspirations for Stem Cell Research”, Tenth Annual President’s Ethics Symposium, Upstate Medical University, October 2002.
56. “Where Did I Put My Car Keys: The Science of AD”, Frontiers in Science Lecture Series, Syracuse University, October 2002 .
57. “For Women of Color: Strategies for Breaking the Glass Ceiling and Moving Up”, Syracuse University, September 2002.
58. “AD: Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies”, National Medical Association, Annual Meeting, August 2002.
59. “Current Issues in Alzheimer’s Disease”, Family Medicine Grand Rounds, Community General Hospital, June 2002.
60. “Alzheimer’s Disease: Diagnosis & Management”, ACP-SGIM representative, NYS Office for Aging Conference, June 2002.
61. “Managing Difficult Behaviors in Alzheimer’s Disease”, Regional Meeting, Alzheimer’s Association, April 2002
62. “Current Treatment Options for Alzheimer’s Disease”, Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Managers, January 2002.

1. Tudiver F, Grant W, Brangman SA, Guibert R, Woodside J, Ferguson K: “Does Patient or Physician Race Influence Who Gets Cancer Screening?” Annual STFM Conference, April 2002.
2. Simon DG, Newman N, Brangman SA:  Routine imaging in suspected dementia:  Diagnostic and therapeutic yield.  Clin Res 1992; 40(2): 563A.

1. Brangman, SA, "Extensive Cutaneous Scalp Angiosarcoma," Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine, vol. 2018, Article ID 8409820, 3 pages, 2018.
2. Leff, B, Lundjeberg, N, Brangman, SA, Dubow, J, Levine, S, Morgan-Gouveia, M, Schlaudecker, J, Lynn, L, McDonald, F, and Geriatric Medicine Board of ABIM.  “Helping Move Geriatrics Forward”.  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, September 7, 2017.
3. Roy Cohen, James P. Lata, Yurim Lee, Jean C. Cruz Hernández, Nozomi Nishimura,
4. Chris B. Schaffer, Chinatsu Mukai, Jacquelyn L. Nelson, Sharon A. Brangman,
5. Yash Agrawal, Alexander J. Travis,  “Use of Tethered Enzymes as a Platform
6. Technology for Rapid Analyte Detection”. November 25, 2015, PLoS ONE 10(11): e014326. Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142326
7. Guharoy R, Noviasky J, Brangman SA, “Erectile Dysfunction: Management Update 2007”. New York Journal of Health-system Pharmacy 2007;26(1):7-15.
8. Brangman, SA, “Alzheimer’s Disease: Focusing on the Caregiver”. Patient Care December 2006.
9. Brangman, SA, “ The AAMC-Hartford Geriatrics Curriculum Program: Reports from 40 Schools. SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine”. Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges 79:S135- S140.
10. Besdine, R, Boult C, Brangman, SA et al. Caring for Older Americans: the future of Geriatric Medicine. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53:S245-56.
11. Xakellis G, Brangman, SA, Hinton WL, Jones VY, et al: Curricular Framework: Core Competencies in Multicultural Geriatric Care. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 52: 137-142, 2004
12. Brangman SA, Yeo G, Pan C, Walhagen M:  “Curricular Framework: Core Competencies in Ethnogeriatrics”, Academic Geriatric Resource Center, University of California, 2001.
13. Reuben DB, Sullivan G, Robbins L, Murphy J, Brangman SA: Curriculum Guidelines on the Care of the Elderly for Internal Medicine Residency Training Programs.  The American Journal of Medicine 103: 260-262, 1997.
14. Brangman SA: Position Paper on Ethnogeriatrics, American Geriatrics Society, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 44:326-27, 1996.
15. Brangman, SA, Kennedy G, Kelman H, Thomas C: Differences in the prevalence of cognitive impairment between elderly blacks, whites and Hispanics.  Proceedings of the Gerontological Society of America, November 1987.
16. Tab 5: Book Chapters
17. Brangman SA, Resnick B, Geriatric Medicine and Gerontological Nursing, In Gerontology: Perspectives and Issues, 4^th edition .J. Wilmoth and K. Ferraro, Eds. Springer. 2013.
18. Brangman SA. African- Americans. In Doorway Thoughts: Cross-Cultural Health Care for Older Adults. Blackwell Publishing, 2004.
19. Pillemer K, Suitor J, Landreneau L, Henderson C, Brangman SA: “Peer Support for Alzheimer’s Caregivers: Lessons from an Intervention Study”. Social Integration in the Second Half of Life, The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2000.
20. Brangman SA.  Geriatric Depression: Management in Primary Practice, The Practicing Physician Education Project, The John A. Hartford Foundation and American Geriatrics Society, 2000.
21. Brangman SA: Minority Elders: In Ham RJ (ed.): Primary Care Geriatrics: A Case Based Learning Program. Third Edition. Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, 1996.
22. Brangman SA: African-American Elders: Implications for the Health Care Provider.  In Espino DV (ed.): Geriatric Medicine Clinics, W.B. Saunders Co. Publishers, Philadelphia, February, 1995.
23. Brangman SA:  The feet.  In Ham RJ (ed.):  Primary Care Geriatrics: A Case Based Learning Program.  Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, 1992.
24. Brangman SA:  Oral health.  In Ham RJ (ed.):  Primary Care Geriatrics: A Case Based Learning Program.  Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, 1992.

1. Brangman, SA. Book Review: Caring for Our Elders: Multicultural Experiences with Nursing Home Placement, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 52:1391-1392, 2004.
2. Brangman SA.  Book Review: Twenty Common Problems in Geriatrics, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 50:1904, 2002.
3. Reviewer, Assessing the Care of Vulnerable Elders (ACOVE), American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, 2000.
4. Reviewer, Diagnosis, Management and Treatment of Dementia: A Practical Guide For Primary Care Physicians, American Medical Association, 1999.
5. Brangman SA, Agronin M, Baker FM, et al. Psychiatry Self-Assessment Program, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa, 1999.
6. Brangman, S.A. Book Review: Ethnic Elderly and Long Term Care.  Charles M. Barresi, editor. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 42:8, 1994.

1. “Diffuse Lewy Body Dementia (DLBD): Missed diagnosis can be life threatening”, N. Bansal, D. Manocha, S. Brangman.   American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, 2012
2. “Safety profile of high dose statin therapy in geriatric patients with stroke”, D. Manocha, N. Bansal, Z. El Zammar, S. Brangman.  American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, 2012
3. “The Inappropriate Use of Brain Imaging in the Evaluation of Syncope in Adults”, Jad Bou-Abdallah, M.D., S. Brangman, American Geriatrics Society Meeting, May 2010.
4. “Linkages” at SUNY Upstate and OASIS: A Cooperative Community and Academic Medical Center Educational Program.   L.M. Cleary, S. Brangman, S.J. Grethlein, K. Mevec,  and J. Jackson-Young American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting,  May 2002.
5. “Enhancing Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine Education in Undergraduate Medical Education”,  S. Brangman, J. Bishop,  L. Cleary, K. Mevec, Charles R. Ross Research Poster Session, SUNY Upstate Medical University, December 2001.
6. “Peer Support to AD Caregivers: Results of a Randomized, Controlled Experiment”, K. Pillemer, J.J. Suitor, L.T. Landreneau, C. Henderson, S. Brangman, The Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting, November 1999.