My theoretical interests involve the ways that people create actionable meaning through social interactions. My substantive interests are in health and aging. Taken together, I've focused on the psycho-social impact of chronic health conditions among older adults. I have a PhD in Sociology and an MA in Applied Social Research - both from the University of Michigan. In addition to conducting research, I have worked in a number of administrative positions within academic settings. I also have taught for many years at both research universities and community colleges. Teaching well matters to me because I believe that education is a fundamental path to positive social change.
Courses Taught at Pitt
- SOC 1450 - Health and Illness
- SOC 0475 - Sociology of Aging
Education & Training
- PhD, Sociology - University of Michigan
- MA, Applied Social Research - University of Michigan
Representative Publications
Fultz, N.H., Jenkins, K.R., Ostbye, T., Taylor, D., Kabeto, M.U., & Langa, K.L. (2005). The impact of own and spouse’s urinary incontinence on depressive symptoms. Social Science and Medicine, 60, 2537-2548.
Johnson, T.M., Sattin, R., Parmelee, P., Fultz, N.H., & Ouslander, J.G. (2005). Evaluating potentially modifiable risk factors for prevalent and incident nocturia in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 53, 1011-1016.
Nygaard, I., Girts, T.K., Fultz, N.H., Kinchen, K.S., Pohl, G., & Sternfeld, B. (2005). Is urinary incontinence a barrier to exercise in women? Obstetrics and Gynecology, 106, 307-314.
Langa, K.M, Plassman, B.L., Wallace, R.B., Herzog, A.R., Heeringa, S.G., Ofstedal, M.B., Burke, J.R., Fisher, G.G., Fultz, N.H., Hurd, M.D., Potter, G.P., Rodgers, W.L., Steffens, D.C, & Willis, R.J. (2005). The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study: Study design and methods. Neuroepidemiology, 25, 181-191.
Fultz, N.H., Girts, T.K., Kinchen, K.S., Nygaard, I., Pohl, G., & Sternfeld, B. (2005). Prevalence, management, and impact of urinary incontinence in the workplace. Occupational Medicine, 55, 552-557.
Jenkins, K.R., Kabeto, M.U., Fultz, N.H., & Langa, K.M. (2007). Informal caregiving and body mass index among older adults. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 33, 42-51.