An economist and gerontologist, Dr. Knapp’s current research interests include the experiences of family caregivers including access to informational resources and challenges faced navigating the healthcare system; the implications for healthcare, family caregiving and long-term care of aging and longevity; and program evaluations of the health benefits of Taiji and Qigong practice. Dr. Knapp teaches social determinants of health, health services research, and other doctoral courses and supervises the DrPH Internship requirement. Dr. Knapp was an original member of the interdisciplinary research team at the International Longevity Center, a nonprofit think-tank lead by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and geriatrician Robert N. Butler. He earned a PhD in economics from the Graduate School at the City University of New York, completing his dissertation under the advisement of noted health economist Michael Grossman. Dr. Knapp volunteers as an exercise instructor for the visually impaired in Montclair New Jersey.

Research Scholars

The Center is staffed by an interdisciplinary team of Research Scholars involved in a wide variety of research and policy activities.

Adam E. Block, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, is a health economist with deep experience in the hospital, health plan, and government sectors. He has research interests in how individuals make decisions in health care markets and his research activities focus on patient selection of hospitals, patient selection of insurance plans, and diffusion of innovation in the market.

He worked developing contracting models for value-based purchasing for a major hospital system and has worked extensively performing financial analysis and evaluation of medical management programs for a large Medicaid managed care plan. Dr. Block spent several years developing the legislation on the Affordable Care Act as an Economist at the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation and subsequently wrote regulations and regulatory impact analyses for key parts of the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Block teaches health economics and guest lectures on all aspects of the U.S. Health care system. Dr. Block’s work experience gives him an intimate knowledge of the workings and development of the Affordable Care Act.

Janet P. Dolot, M.S., D.P.T., Dr.P.H. ’14, PT, OCS, assistant professor of clinical physical therapy and chief of the Division of Physical Therapy in the School of Health Sciences and Practice, is a research scholar of the Center for Long-Term Care. Her research interests include: access, barriers and outcomes of rehabilitation for older adults, identification of important factors impacting utilization of physical therapy by patients, and understanding the value of physical therapy for society and individuals. Dr. Dolot earned a Dr.P.H. in Health Care Policy and Management from New York Medical College. She earned both M.S.P.T. and D.P.T. degrees from Simmons College. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. 

Nicholas R. Mercado, DrPH, CHES, HEC-C is a clinical ethicist and program manager in Northwell Health's Division of Medical Ethics. He holds a dual faculty appointment as an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Medicine and Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology, and Prevention at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Mercado is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Population Health in the School of Health Professions and Human Services and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies.

In his current position at Northwell Health, Dr. Mercado conducts clinical ethics consultations, sits on numerous hospital ethics committees, participates in scholarly research projects, and oversees medical ethics educational and clinical services. He serves as curriculum lead and instructor for the Zucker School of Medicine’s ethics and professionalism curriculum and teaches communication skills and public health to medical students. Dr. Mercado is a nationally recognized healthcare ethics consultant certified through the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities.  His teaching interests include Healthcare and Medical Ethics, Healthcare Systems and Services, Health Informatics, Public and Population Health.  His research interests include Bioethics and Public Health, Aging, Long-Term Care, and Caregiving, Health Professions Education and Simulation.  Dr. Mercado holds his B.S. in Community Health from SUNY Potsdam, his Master of Public Health from Hofstra University, and his Doctor of Public Health from New York Medical College.

Denise Serrano Eanelli, DrPH, is an adjunct professor in the Division of Health Policy & Management at the School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College and a Research Scholar of the school’s Center for Long-Term Care. Dr. Serrano-Eanelli has over 30 years of experience in the fields of fitness, clinical nutrition and clinical research. Her previous employment included Director of Fitness Programs, Clinical Registered Dietitian in private practice and hospital settings,  Clinical Project Manager working for CRO’s and pharma, Manager of Palliative Care in a New York based hospital and consumer health research.  Dr. Serrano-Eanelli’s education includes an MS in Human Nutrition (University of New Haven, West Haven, CT), MPH in Public Health (Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH), and DrPH in Health Policy and Management at New York Medical College. Dr. Serrano-Eanelli’s doctorate dissertation topic was titled “Shared Medical Decision Making and Advance Care Planning Using eMOLST in New York State”, for which she was awarded the “Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award”.

Current Research Assistants

Jay Ayar is a General Dental Surgeon from India. He received his dental degree from Gujarat University, India in 2011. Dr. Ayar participated in rural dental outreach and a faculty research project during his internship provided him a true hands-on experience in community dentistry. After finishing dental school, he joined a private dental practice as an associate dental surgeon at Ahmedabad City. Besides serving urban patients, he invested his time in providing dental care to the underserved population of rural parts of India. Providing complimentary dental treatment to poor and underserved people, and bringing back smiles to their faces, in his role as a dentist, was truly rewarding.

Dr. Ayar completed a Master of Public Health from Monroe College, New Rochelle, New York in April 2019 with the honor in recognition of his outstanding academic achievement. He hopes to contribute to oral health globally and aspires to be a leader in Government or International Health Organization to develop effective, innovative, and affordable solutions to health issues.

 Past Research Assistants and Student Volunteers

Jade Bedell, M.H.A. is a Health Policy & Management Doctor of Public Health candidate. Jade moved from Texas to begin the Doctor of Public Health program at NYMC in the fall of 2017 and has been a CLTC Research Assistant since the spring of 2018.  She plans to focus her doctoral research on eliminating health disparities and improving access to health care for minority populations in the US.  Jade holds a B.A. in Biology with a minor focus in Spanish language from Texas A&M University; and a Masters of Health Administration from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. During her master’s program Jade worked at a Federally Qualified Health Center where she gained a passion for public health and working to achieve health equity for minority populations.  At the Center for Long Term Care, Jade assists professors with research and Center events.

Adesola Akinyemi is a Master in Public Health - Health Policy and Management student at the School of Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College. He is President of Student Healthcare Executives, StuHE, and Graduate Assistant for the Department of Health Policy and Management. His prior experiences have been in community medical outreach and various community development programs. At the Center for Long-Term Care, he assists professors and doctoral students with administrative and research work as a Research Assistant.