Biography

Dr. Appaneal is a pharmacist-scientist with expertise in appropriate and safe antimicrobial use in older adults.  She received her PharmD from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and a PhD in Health Services Research from Brown University School of Public Health. She completed a pharmacy practice residency and a two-year VA funded post-doctoral fellowship in infectious diseases clinical outcomes with a focus on the appropriate and safe use of antimicrobials and vaccines.  Dr. Appaneal is a health services investigator with mixed methods experience with the Rhode Island ID (RIID) Research Program of the Providence Healthcare System.  Dr. Appaneal’s research has focused on advancing antimicrobial stewardship in all settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics.  Dr. Appaneal completed a national VA HSR&D Career Development award on improving antibiotic use in VA CLCs. Her work focuses on studying antimicrobial use, approaches to improve antimicrobial use, and the unintended consequences, such as Clostridioides difficile infection and antimicrobial resistance, notably in older vulnerable adults.  Dr. Appaneal is also interested in reducing disparities in antimicrobial use among vulnerable populations.