About

Cherie P. Brunker, MD, grew up in Salt Lake City and is a faculty member at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Chemistry from the University of Utah, where she was a Presidential Scholar and a member of Phi Betta Kappa. Following her fellowship in Geriatrics, she joined the University of Utah Division of Geriatrics in 1993 as an instructor in medicine and became an Associate Professor of Medicine in 2010. She is part of the full-time faculty at Intermountain Healthcare, where she has served as Chief of Geriatrics since 2003. Dr. Brunker is a member of the Center of Aging and the Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence. Her research interests include care management, medical home, quality measures, and healthcare delivery for older adults.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Bioinformatics
• Biology
• Internal medicine
• Endocrinology
• Physical therapy
• Genetics
• Surgery

Selected publications

• Implementation of Care Management: An Analysis of Recent AHRQ Research

  UNC Libraries · 2025-07-24

  articleOpen access

  Care management (CM) is a promising team-based, patient-centered approach "designed to assist patients and their support systems in managing medical conditions more effectively." As little is known about its implementation, this article describes CM implementation and associated lessons from 12 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-sponsored projects. Two rounds of data collection resulted in project-specific narratives that were analyzed using an iterative approach analogous to framework analysis. Informants also participated as coauthors. Variation emerged across practices and over time regarding CM services provided, personnel delivering these services, target populations, and setting(s). Successful implementation was characterized by resource availability (both monetary and nonmonetary), identifying as well as training employees with the right technical expertise and interpersonal skills, and embedding CM within practices. Our findings facilitate future context-specific implementation of CM within medical homes. They also inform the development of medical home recognition programs that anticipate and allow for contextual variation.

  PublisherDOI

• IMPACT OF PROJECT ECHO ON SELF-ASSESSED KNOWLEDGE IN LONG-TERM CARE AND PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCES

  Innovation in Aging · 2024-12-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Project ECHO is a widely accepted method for transforming care through education. The Utah Geriatric Education Consortium (UGEC), a Health Resources and Services Administration funded Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, developed a monthly Age-Friendly ECHO series to educated clinicians about the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Age-Friendly Health Systems Initiative 4M’s Framework. The purpose of this program evaluation was to measure knowledge gained over the 12-month series ending in June 2024. Methods We used retrospective pre-post testing via Zoom polling to measure knowledge gained for each ECHO topic. This approach measures participants’ learning after the session by asking them to assess their knowledge from two viewpoints – BEFORE and AFTER participating. Results The UGEC hosted 11 ECHOs with a total of 461 participants: Allied Health (3.04%), Behavioral Health (20.61%), Medicine (10.63%), Nursing (20.17%), Paraprofessionals (6.07%), and other professions including facility administrators, informal caregivers, etc. (39.48%); students made up 3.08% across all disciplines. Overall, results revealed significant improvements in knowledge gained (t = -12.5273, df = 208, p < 0.001). The greatest changes were observed for presentations about Advanced Treatment Options for Parkinson’s Disease (t = -5.9847, df = 18, p < 0.001), Helping Patients Age Well (t = -5.4349, df = 20, p < 0.001), and Keys to Addressing Ageism (t = -4.8190, df = 18, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Retrospective pre-post is a valid method to measure learning compared to a traditional pre-post approach. Project ECHO is an effective learning model for best-practice dissemination to increase knowledge about the 4Ms Framework.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Randomized controlled trial of once-per-week intermittent fasting for health improvement: the WONDERFUL trial

  European Heart Journal Open · 2021 · 34 citations

  • Medicine
  • Physical therapy
  • Surgery

  Aims: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) predicts heart disease onset and may be reduced by intermittent fasting. Some studies, though, reported that fasting increased LDL-C; however, no study evaluated LDL-C as the primary endpoint. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of low-frequency intermittent fasting on LDL-C and other biomarkers. Methods and results: = 0.06) were unchanged. Conclusions: A low-frequency intermittent fasting regimen did not reduce LDL-C or improve cognitive function but significantly reduced both HOMA-IR and MSS. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02770313.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Virtual Transitions and Opportunities in LTSS education Post-Pandemic

  Innovation in Aging · 2021-12-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract The Utah Geriatric Education Consortium Learning Community transitioned to the Age-Friendly Long-Term Services and Support (LTSS) ECHO with support from Comagine Health, our local QIN-QIO. ECHO sessions utilize case-based learning and mentorship to help community providers gain the expertise required to provide needed care and/or services to older adults. Since March 2020, and in response to the needs of our partners, four ECHO sessions (average of 47 attendees per session) have focused on COVID-19 training including COVID-19 briefings, infection prevention, positive thinking and coping with stress. With our partners, we also co-created a 3-part LTSS telehealth ECHO series to illustrate how telehealth can address the unique challenges of COVID-19. We will discuss 1) how we met the educational needs of our partners during a health crisis 2) the process we took to develop the LTSS telehealth ECHO series, and 3) opportunities for continued virtual education application.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A role for the <i>MEGF6</i> gene in predisposition to osteoporosis

  Annals of Human Genetics · 2020 · 20 citations

  • Genetics
  • Biology
  • Bioinformatics

  Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disorder characterized by deterioration of bone tissue. The set of genetic factors contributing to osteoporosis is not completely specified. High-risk osteoporosis pedigrees were analyzed to identify genes that may confer susceptibility to disease. Candidate predisposition variants were identified initially by whole exome sequencing of affected-relative pairs, approximately cousins, from 10 pedigrees. Variants were filtered on the basis of population frequency, concordance between pairs of cousins, affecting a gene associated with osteoporosis, and likelihood to have functionally damaging, pathogenic consequences. Subsequently, variants were tested for segregation in 68 additional relatives of the index carriers. A rare variant in MEGF6 (rs755467862) showed strong evidence of segregation with the disease phenotype. Predicted protein folding indicated the variant (Cys200Tyr) may disrupt structure of an EGF-like calcium-binding domain of MEGF6. Functional analyses demonstrated that complete loss of the paralogous genes megf6a and megf6b in zebrafish resulted in significant delay of cartilage and bone formation. Segregation analyses, in silico protein structure modeling, and functional assays support a role for MEGF6 in predisposition to osteoporosis.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A role for the <i>MEGF6</i> gene in predisposition to osteoporosis

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2020-01-09 · 2 citations

  preprintOpen access

  ABSTRACT Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disorder characterized by deterioration of bone tissue in later life. The set of genetic factors contributing to osteoporosis is not completely specified. High-risk osteoporosis pedigrees were analyzed to identify genes that may confer susceptibility to disease. Candidate predisposition variants were identified initially by whole exome sequencing of affected-relative-pairs, approximately cousins, from ten pedigrees. Variants were filtered on the basis of population frequency, concordance between pairs of cousins, affecting a gene associated with osteoporosis, and likelihood to have functionally damaging, pathogenic consequences. Subsequently variants were tested for segregation in 68 additional relatives of the index carriers. A rare variant in MEGF6 (rs755467862) showed strong evidence of segregation with the disease phenotype. Predicted protein folding indicated the variant (Cys200Tyr) may disrupt structure of an EGF-like calcium-binding domain of MEGF6. Functional analyses demonstrated that complete loss of the paralogous genes megf6a and megf6b in zebrafish resulted in significant delay of cartilage and bone formation. Segregation analyses, in-silico protein structure modeling, and functional assays support a role for MEGF6 in predisposition to osteoporosis.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Abstract 14607: Randomized Controlled Trial of Once-Per-Week Intermittent Fasting for the Reduction of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

  Circulation · 2020-11-12

  article

  Introduction: High-frequency intermittent fasting (IF) diets reduce weight similarly to continuous calorie restriction (CR). In patients with type 2 diabetes, twice-weekly IF and CR equivalently reduced HbA1c. IF may improve chronic disease risk factors, but no controlled trial has evaluated whether IF reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), regardless of weight loss, in patients with elevated LDL-C. Hypothesis: The Weekly ONe-Day watER-only Fasting interventionaL (WONDERFUL) randomized (1:1) controlled trial (NCT02770313) tested whether IF reduced LDL-C compared to ad libitum control over 6 months. Methods: Subjects (N=103) were ages 21-70 years, not taking a statin, had elevated baseline LDL-C (90-189 mg/dL for ages 21-39, 90-159 mg/dL for ages 40-70, ≥90 mg/dL for statin intolerant/contraindicated), and had diet-controlled type 2 diabetes or ≥1 metabolic syndrome feature but no anti-diabetes medication. The water-only IF regimen was 4 weeks of 2/week 24-hour IF followed by 22 weeks of 1/week 24-hour IF. Exclusions included pregnant, lactating, or chronic disease (e.g., CAD, MI, stroke/TIA, CKD, COPD, cancer, PE, PAD, DVT, dementia, type 1 diabetes). Results: At baseline, IF (n=50) and control (n=53) were, respectively, 49.3±12.0 and 47.0±9.8 years of age, 66.0% and 67.9% females, weight 103±24 and 100±21 kg, and LDL-C 124±19 and 128±20 mg/dL. Lost to follow-up (n=5 IF, n=4 control) and withdrawals (n=7 IF, n=16 control) gave a final sample of n=71 (n=38 IF, n=33 control). LDL-C change from baseline to 6 months was not different between IF and control (Table). HOMA-IR, one of 4 pre-specified secondary endpoints, was improved (-0.75 vs. -0.10) at p≤0.01 vs. control (Table). Conclusions: A once-per-week IF regimen did not reduce LDL-C compared to control, but HOMA-IR was significantly reduced. This more sustainable IF regimen may reduce some chronic cardiometabolic disease risks (e.g., HOMA-IR) with minimal effects on cholesterol and weight.

  PublisherDOI

• Online Opioid Stewardship Training for Long-Term Care Staff

  Innovation in Aging · 2020-12-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Opioids are often the first-line chronic pain management strategy for long-term care (LTC) residents who are also at increased risk for opioid-related adverse events. Therefore, there is a need to train LTC providers and staff about appropriate opioid use and alternative treatment strategies. Our interdisciplinary team worked with LTC partners to identify staff educational needs around opioid stewardship. Based on this need’s assessment, we developed eight modules about opioid use and risks for older adults, including those with dementia, recommendations for de-prescribing including other pharmacological and non-pharmacological alternatives, SBIRT, and motivational interviewing to determine “what matters”. Each 20-minute module contains didactic and video content that is appropriate for group staff training or individuals and provides rural LTC facilities access to needed training in their home communities. Within the first month of launching online, the program received over 1100 hits and LTC partners are incorporating modules into clinical staff training schedules.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Successes and Challenges of Fostering Age-Friendly Health Systems Through a Long-Term Services and Supports ECHO

  Innovation in Aging · 2020-12-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract Launched in June 2016, the Utah Geriatric Education Consortium (UGEC) inter-professional Learning Community was developed by faculty in collaboration with primary care and community partners with a focus on Long Term Care. In 2019, UGEC expanded to include Assisted Living, Home Care and Hospice -5 primary care and 6 community long-term services and supports (LTSS) partners in rural and urban Utah with a primary objective of developing and training existing LTSS healthcare providers and direct care workers on the elements of age-friendly health systems (“4Ms”: mentation, medication, mobility, and what matters) to enhance care and improve outcomes for older adults across the continuum of LTSS. Attendance in the monthly distance learning sessions averages 27.5. Sessions are rated highly and engage nurses, behavioral health workers, administrators, physicians, nursing assistants, occupational and physical therapists. The process, challenges, successes of transitioning to a LTSS ECHO (Extension for Community HealthCare Outcomes) will be discussed.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Individual versus interprofessional team performance in formulating care transition plans: A randomised study of trainees from five professional groups

  Journal of Interprofessional Care · 2017-11-28 · 4 citations

  articleSenior author

  Health professions trainees' performance in teams is rarely evaluated, but increasingly important as the healthcare delivery systems in which they will practice move towards team-based care. Effective management of care transitions is an important aspect of interprofessional teamwork. This mixed-methods study used a crossover design to randomise health professions trainees to work as individuals and as teams to formulate written care transition plans. Experienced external raters assessed the quality of the written care transition plans as well as both the quality of team process and overall team performance. Written care transition plan quality did not vary between individuals and teams (21.8 vs. 24.4, respectively, p = 0.42). The quality of team process did not correlate with the quality of the team-generated written care transition plans (r = -0.172, p = 0.659). However, there was a significant correlation between the quality of team process and overall team performance (r = 0.692, p = 0.039). Teams with highly engaged recorders, performing an internal team debrief, had higher-quality care transition plans. These results suggest that high-quality interprofessional care transition plans may require advance instruction as well as teamwork in finalising the plan.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Charlene Weir

  University of Utah

  12 shared

• Lisa Cannon‐Albright

  University of Utah

  12 shared

• Adam B. Wilcox

  Washington University in St. Louis

  11 shared

• Timothy W. Farrell

  VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System

  9 shared

• David A. Dorr

  Oregon Health & Science University

  9 shared

• Mark A. Supiano

  8 shared

• Michael D. Buck

  The Francis Crick Institute

  8 shared

• Ramona O. Hopkins

  5 shared

Education

• B.S., Chemistry

  University of Utah

• M.D.

  University of Utah

Awards & honors

• Presidential Scholar
• member of Phi Betta Kappa at the University of Utah