skip navigation

Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH, MACP
Executive Director and Senior Investigator

Research Interests:
Dr. Larson became the director of Group Health Center for Health Studies in 2002. A general internist, he has pursued an array of research interests, ranging from clinical topics like Alzheimer's disease to health services research involving technology assessment, cost-effectiveness analysis and quality improvement.

Larson's work in aging includes a longstanding project at Group Health called the "University of Washington/Group Health Alzheimer's Disease Patient Registry/Adult Changes in Thought Study." He also works on research projects related to promoting "successful" aging and high functioning in seniors. Since coming to the Center he has started new initiatives, including a National Institutes of Health Roadmap project to expand the capacity of the HMO Research Network, research in health informatics, studies of the Group Health Access initiative, research in physical activity, nutrition and obesity, and efforts to translate prevention of diabetes into everyday practice.

Formerly the medical director at the University of Washington (UW) Medical Center, Larson has considerable experience and expertise in quality improvement, patient safety, and risk reduction. He has established improved relationships with UW affiliate faculty, a formal affiliation agreement with the UW School of Public Health, and strengthened relationships with our partners in the Group Health/Group Health Permanente delivery system.

Larson has been a leader in medical professional organizations serving as president of the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM), current commissioner on the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and past chair of the American College of Physicians (ACP), Board of Regents. ACP is a 119,000 member organization of internal medicine specialists, devoted to improving care of patients and public health—the largest specialty society in the United States and, with an international membership, in the world.

Other clinical topics Larson has researched include "fever of unknown origin," and the prevention and treatment of acute mountain sickness and high-altitude pulmonary edema.

He maintains a small, but long-standing general internal medicine practice.

Contact Dr. Larson:
Voice Mail: 206-287-2988 
E-Mail: larson.e@ghc.org

Curriculum Vitae (CV)
View Dr. Larson's CV. You'll need Adobe Reader to view the CV.

Recent Publications:
Crane PK, Narasimhalu K, Gibbons LE, Mungas DM, Haneuse S, Larson EB, Kuller L, Hall K, van Belle G. Item response theory facilitated cocalibrating cognitive tests and reduced bias in estimated rates of decline. J Clin Epidemiol. 2008; [Epub ahead of print]. Abstract

Langa KM, Larson EB, Karlawish JH, Cutler DM, Kabeto MU, Kim SY, Hu HM, Rosen AB. Trends it the prevalence and mortality of cognitive impairment in the United States: 1993-2004. Alzheimer Dement. 2008:4(2):134-44.

Leverenz JB, Hamilton R, Tsuang DW, Schantz A, Vavrek D, Larson EB, Kukull WA, Lopez O, Galasko D, Masliah E, Kaye J, Nixon R, Clark C, Trojanowski J, Montine TJ. Empiric refinement of the pathologic assessment of lewy-related pathology in the dementia patient. Brain Pathol. 2008 Apr;18(2):220-4. Epub 2008 Jan 29. Abstract

Lovasi GS, Moudon AV, Pearson AL, Hurvitz PM, Larson EB, Siscovick DS, Berke EM, Lumley T, Psaty BM. Using built environment characteristics to predict walking for exercise. Int J Health Geogr. 2008;7(1):10. Abstract

White AA, Gallagher TH, Krauss MJ, Garbutt J, Waterman AD, Dunagan WC, Fraser VJ, Levinson W, Larson EB. The attitudes and experiences of trainees regarding disclosing medical errors to patients. Acad Med. 2008;83(3):250-256. Abstract

2007
Berke EM, Gottlieg LM, Moudon AV, Larson EB. Protective association between neighborhood walkability and depression in older men. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007;55(4):526-33. Epub 2007 26 Feb. Abstract

Berke EM, Koepsell TD, Moudon AV, Hoskins RE, Larson EB. Association of the built environment with physical activity and obesity in older persons. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(3):486-92. Epub 2007 Jan 31. Abstract

Gray SL, Anderson ML, Crane PK, Breitner JC, McCormick W, Bowen JD, Teri L, Larson E. Antioxidant vitamin supplement use and risk of dementia or alzheimer's disease in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008;56(2):291-5. Epub 2007 Nov 27. Abstract

Larson E, McCurry S. Olanzapine, quetiapine, or risperidone did not differ from placebo for Alzheimer disease. ACP J Club. 2007;146(2):35. Details

Larson EB. Becoming an exceptional medical professional versus a medical knowledge worker. In: Basto F, editor. ARS Medicine. 1st ed. Lisbon; 2007. p. 23-37 (English); 38-55 (Portuguese).

Larson EB. Developing the test bed: how the HMO Research Network can improve development and application of evidence in health care decision making. In: Olsen L, Aisner D, McGinnis JM, editors. The learning healthcare system: workshop summary (IOM roundtable on evidence-based medicine). Washington DC: National Academies Press; 2007. p. 223-32.

Larson EB. Physicians should be civic professionals, not just knowledge workers. Am J Med. 2007;120(11):1005-9. Details

Larson EB, McDonough K. Evidence-based admitting orders and therapeutics. Fifth Edition, Saunders - Elsevier, St. Louis, 2007.

Larson EB, Wang L. Exercise reduces risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Nutr Geriatr. 2007; 17(3):4-6.

Larson EB, Wang L. Exercise reduces risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Research Pract Alzheimers Dis Cog Decline. 2007;12:38-41.

Li G, Larson EB, Sonnen JA, Shofer JB, Petrie EC, Schantz A, Peskind ER, Raskind MA, Breitner JC, Montine TJ. Statin therapy is associated with reduced neuropathologic changes of Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2007;69(9):878-85. Abstract

Li G, Rhew IC, Shofer JB, Kukull WA, Breitner JC, Peskind E, Bowen JD, McCormick W, Teri L, Crane PK, Larson EB. Age-varying association between blood pressure and risk of dementia in those aged 65 and older: a community-based prospective cohort study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007;55(8):1161-7. Abstract

Lovasi GS, Moudon AV, Smith NL, Lumley T, Larson EB, Sohn DW, Siscovick DS, Psaty BM. Evaluating options for measurement of neighborhood socioeconomic context: evidence from a myocardial infarction case-control study. Health Place. 2008;14(3):453-67. Epub 2007 Sep 21. Abstract

Morden NE, Zerzan JT, Larson EB. Alzheimer's disease medication: use and cost projections for medicare part d. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007;55(4):622-4. Details

Sonnen JA, Larson EB, Crane PK, Haneuse S, Li G, Schellenberg GD, Craft S, Leverenz JB, Montine TJ. Pathological correlates of dementia in a longitudinal, population-based sample of aging. Ann Neurol. 2007; [Epub ahead of print]. Abstract

2006
Dai Q, Borenstein AR, Wu Y, Jackson JC, Larson EB. Fruit and vegetable juices and Alzheimer's disease: the Kame Project. Am J Med. 2006;119(9):751-9. Abstract

Gallagher TH, Garbutt JM, Waterman AD, Flum DR, Larson EB, Waterman BM, Dunagan WC, Fraser VJ, Levinson W. Choosing your words carefully: how physicians would disclose harmful medical errors to patients. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(15):1585-93. Abstract

Kurland BF, Gill TM, Patrick DL, Larson EB, Phelan EA. Longitudinal change in positive affect in community-dwelling older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54(12):1846-53. Abstract

Larson EB, Wang L, Bowen JD, McCormick WC, Teri L, Crane P, Kukull W. Exercise is associated with reduced risk for incident dementia among persons 65 years of age and older. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144(2):73-81. Abstract

Lemaitre RN, Weiss NS, Smith NL, Psaty BM, Lumley T, Larson EB, Heckbert SR. Esterified estrogen and conjugated equine estrogen and the risk of incident myocardial infarction and stroke. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(4):399-404. Abstract

Ramos EM, Lin MT, Larson EB, Maezawa I, Tseng LH, Edwards KL, Schellenberg GD, Hansen JA, Kukull WA, Jin LW. Tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 10 promoter region polymorphisms and risk of late-onset Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol. 2006;63(8):1165-9. Abstract

Shadlen MF, Larson EB. Predictors of Alzheimer’s Disease mortality. Alzheimer Actualites 2006 (Mar-Jun):8-12.

Tsuang D, Simpson K, Larson EB, Peskind E, Kukull W, Bowen JB, McCormick W, Teri L, Montine T, Thompson ML, Leverenz JB. Predicting lewy body pathology in a community-based sample with clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2006;19(4):195-201. Abstract

Wang L, Larson EB, Bowen JD, van Belle G. Performance-based physical function and future dementia in older people. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1115-20. Abstract

2005
Bond GE, Burr R, McCurry SM, Rice MM, Borenstein AR, Larson EB. Alcohol and cognitive performance: a longitudinal study of older Japanese Americans: the Kame Project. Int Psychogeriatr. 2005;17(4):653-68. Epub 2005 Sep 27. Abstract

Borenstein AR, Wu Y, Mortimer JA, Schellenberg GD, McCormick WC, Bowen JD, McCurty S, Larson EB. Developmental and vascular risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2005;26:325-34. Abstract

Elmore JG, Nakano CY, Linden HM, Reisch LM, Ayanian JZ, Larson EB. Racial inequities in the timing of breast cancer detection, diagnosis, and initiation of treatment. Med Care. 2005;43(2):141-8. Abstract

Greene SM, Larson EB, Boudreau DM, Johnson K, Ralston J, Reid R, Fishman P. The Coordinated Clinical Studies Network: a multidisciplinary alliance to facilitate research and improve care. The Permanente Journal. 2005;95(4):33-5.

Jackson LA, Nelson JC, Benson P, Neuzil KM, Reid RJ, Psaty BM, Heckbert SR, Larson EB, Weiss NS. Functional status is a confounder of the association of influenza vaccine and risk of all cause mortality in seniors. Int J Epidemiol. 2006;35(2):345-52. Epub 2005 Dec 20. Abstract

Larson EB. Preface In: Best Pills Worst Pills. New York: Pocket Books, 2005.

Larson EB, Grumbach K, Roberts KB. The future of generalism in medicine. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(8):689-90. Details

Larson EB, Roberts KB, Grumbach K. Primary care, generalism, public good: deja vu? Again! Ann Intern Med. 2005;142(8):671-4. Details

Larson EB, Roberts KB, Grumbach K, Laine C. The future of generalism in medicine. Ann Intern Med. 2005;687-724 (suppl).

Larson EB, Yao X. Clinical empathy as emotional labor in the patient-physician relationship. JAMA. 2005;293(9):1100-6. Abstract

Li G, Shofer JB, Kukull WA, Peskind ER, Tsuang DW, Breitner JC, McCormick W, Bowen JD, Teri L, Schellenberg GD, Larson EB. Serum cholesterol and risk of Alzheimer disease: a community-based cohort study. Neurology. 2005;65(7):1045-50. Abstract

Ralston JD, Larson EB. Crossing to safety: transforming healthcare organizations for patient safety. J Postgrad Med. 2005;51(1):61-7. Abstract

Shadlen MF, Larson EB, Wang L, Phelan EA, McCormick WC, Jolley L, Teri L, van Belle G. Education modifies the effect of APOE4 on cognitive decline. Neurobiol Aging. 2005;26(1):17-24. Abstract

Sheffield JV, Larson EB. Update in general internal medicine. Ann Intern Med. 2005;143(3):212-21. Abstract

Tsuang D, Simpson KL, Li G, Barnhart RL, Edland SD, Bowen J, McCormick W, Teri L, Nochlin D, Larson EB, Thompson ML, Leverenz JB. Evaluation of selection bias in an incedent-based dementia autopsy case series. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2005;19(2):67-73. Abstract

Woltjer RL, Cimino PJ, Boutte AM, Schantz AM, Montine KS, Larson EB, Bird T, Quinn JF, Zhang J, Montine TJ. Proteomic determination of widespread detergent insolubility, including Abeta but not tau, early in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. FASEB J. 2005;19(13):1923-5. Epub 2005 Aug 29. Abstract

Top