Faculty

Laura A. Mosqueda, MD, FAAFP, AGSF

Professor of Family Medicine and Geriatrics and Gerontology

Overview

Laura Mosqueda, MD, FAAFP, AGSF, is a widely respected authority on geriatric and family medicine, elder abuse, and care of the elderly and underserved. She is also an expert on medical education curricula design, development and implementation. Prior to joining USC, Mosqueda served the past 16 years at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine as associate dean of primary care, chair and professor of family medicine and geriatrics, and holder of the the Ronald W. Reagan Endowed Chair in Geriatrics. She was the principal investigator on a four-year, $2 million grant from the Reynolds Foundation that led to integration of geriatrics education throughout the UCI School of Medicine and was chair of the school’s committee that provided oversight of all medical education activities. Mosqueda is the co-director of the National Center on Elder Abuse, a federally-funded initiative that serves as the nation’s coordinating body and clearinghouse for information on research, training, best practices, news and resources on elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. She is the principal investigator for a major Health and Human Services-funded study that addresses primary and secondary prevention of the abuse of people who have a dementing illness, and is the leader of numerous other activities related to elder justice.

Philosophy of Care

My job is to help my patients be their best. It is important for me to understand the impact of health and illness on a patient and on those who love them. My person-centered approach to care necessitates understanding not only the medical problems a person may have, but also their emotional and social circumstance so that we are able to share in a decision-making process. I utilize a holistic attitude to providing care, making sure that the health care service I offer is in harmony with my patient’s goals, values, and philosophy.