Todd B. Monroe

Image

First Name

Todd

Last Name

Monroe

Credentials

PhD, RN-BC, FNAP, FGSA, FAAN

Distinguished Professor of Aging Research

monroe.1181@osu.edu

614-514-5845

Address

378 Newton Hall

Address (Line 2)

295 W. 10th Ave.

City

Columbus

State

Zip Code

43210

Dr. Todd B. Monroe has a distinguished academic background, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1998. Subsequently, he obtained his Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Alabama College of Nursing in 2002, where he was honored with the Sigma Theta Tau Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

In 2010, Dr. Monroe completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). During his time at UTHSC, he was recognized for his dissertation work on cancer pain in individuals with dementia at the end of life and received the Alma and Hal Regan Pre-Doctoral Fellowship.

Post-graduation, Dr. Monroe was selected as a Claire M. Fagin & Atlantic Philanthropies Post-Doctoral Fellow in 2011. His academic journey continued, and in 2018, he became a part of The Ohio State University College of Nursing, where he currently holds the position of Distinguished Professor of Aging Research and Research Professor.

Dr. Monroe's research focuses on the neurobiology of pain, particularly exploring the impact of sex and gender on pain perception in older adults with and without dementia. His contributions to the field are evident through six National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging (NIH/NIA) awards as a Principal Investigator, as well as his role as a co-investigator on numerous other research projects.

Recognizing his expertise and achievements, Dr. Monroe has been honored with fellowships in the National Academies of Practice, the Gerontological Society of America, and the American Academy of Nursing.

Publications

Wang, J., Dietrich, M. S., Simmons, S. F., Cowan, R. L., & Monroe, T. B. (2018). Pain interference and depressive symptoms in communicative people with Alzheimer's disease: a pilot study. Aging & mental health, 22(6), 808–812. doi:10.1080/13607863.2017.1318258
Monroe, T. B., Beach, P. A., Bruehl, S. P., Dietrich, M. S., Rogers, B. P., Gore, J. C., … Cowan, R. L. (2017). The Impact of Alzheimer's Disease on the Resting State Functional Connectivity of Brain Regions Modulating Pain: A Cross Sectional Study. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 57(1), 71–83. doi:10.3233/JAD-161187
Cowan, R. L., Beach, P. A., Atalla, S. W., Dietrich, M. S., Bruehl, S. P., Deng, J., … Monroe, T. B. (2017). Sex Differences in the Psychophysical Response to Contact Heat in Moderate Cognitive Impairment Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Brief Report. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 60(4), 1633–1640. doi:10.3233/JAD-170532
Anderson, A. R., Deng, J., Anthony, R. S., Atalla, S. A., & Monroe, T. B. (2017). Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine to Treat Pain and Agitation in Dementia: A Review of Randomized Controlled Trials from Long-Term Care with Potential Use in Critical Care. Critical care nursing clinics of North America, 29(4), 519–537. doi:10.1016/j.cnc.2017.08.010
Paulson, C. M., Monroe, T., McDougall, G. J., Jr, & Fick, D. M. (2016). A Family-Focused Delirium Educational Initiative With Practice and Research Implications. Gerontology & geriatrics education, 37(1), 4–11. doi:10.1080/02701960.2015.1031896
Monroe, T. B., Gibson, S. J., Bruehl, S. P., Gore, J. C., Dietrich, M. S., Newhouse, P., … Cowan, R. L. (2016). Contact heat sensitivity and reports of unpleasantness in communicative people with mild to moderate cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease: a cross-sectional study. BMC medicine, 14, 74. doi:10.1186/s12916-016-0619-1
Monroe, T. B., Gore, J. C., Bruehl, S. P., Benningfield, M. M., Dietrich, M. S., Chen, L. M., … Cowan, R. L. (2015). Sex differences in psychophysical and neurophysiological responses to pain in older adults: a cross-sectional study. Biology of sex differences, 6, 25. doi:10.1186/s13293-015-0041-y
Monroe, T. B., Parish, A., & Mion, L. C. (2015). Decision Factors Nurses Use to Assess Pain in Nursing Home Residents With Dementia. Archives of psychiatric nursing, 29(5), 316–320. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2015.05.007
Monroe, T. B., Misra, S. K., Habermann, R. C., Dietrich, M. S., Cowan, R. L., & Simmons, S. F. (2014). Pain reports and pain medication treatment in nursing home residents with and without dementia. Geriatrics & gerontology international, 14(3), 541–548. doi:10.1111/ggi.12130
Paulson, C. M., Monroe, T., & Mion, L. C. (2014). Pain assessment in hospitalized older adults with dementia and delirium. Journal of gerontological nursing, 40(6), 10–15. doi:10.3928/00989134-20140428-02
Monroe, T. B., Carter, M. A., Feldt, K. S., Dietrich, M. S., & Cowan, R. L. (2013). Pain and hospice care in nursing home residents with dementia and terminal cancer. Geriatrics & gerontology international, 13(4), 1018–1025. doi:10.1111/ggi.12049
Monroe, T. B., Herr, K. A., Mion, L. C., & Cowan, R. L. (2013). Ethical and legal issues in pain research in cognitively impaired older adults. International journal of nursing studies, 50(9), 1283–1287. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.11.023
Monroe, T. B., Gore, J. C., Chen, L. M., Mion, L. C., & Cowan, R. L. (2012). Pain in people with Alzheimer disease: potential applications for psychophysical and neurophysiological research. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology, 25(4), 240–255. doi:10.1177/0891988712466457
Monroe, T., & Carter, M. (2012). Using the Folstein Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) to explore methodological issues in cognitive aging research. European journal of ageing, 9(3), 265–274. doi:10.1007/s10433-012-0234-8
Monroe, T., Carter, M., Feldt, K., Tolley, B., & Cowan, R. L. (2012). Assessing advanced cancer pain in older adults with dementia at the end-of-life. Journal of advanced nursing, 68(9), 2070–2078. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05929.x

Recent Research Activities

Sex Differences in Pain Reports and Brain Activation in Older Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease
NIH/NIA (R01 AG059861)
$2,456,000 (Direct Cost)
09/15/2018 – 09/30/2023
Role: PI (45% effort)
Differences in Pain Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia in Older Females
NIH/NIA (R21 AG049332-01A1)
$275,000 (Direct Costs)
09/30/16 – 07/31/19
Role: PI (Cowan, MPI) (5% effort)
Pain Reports and Brain Activation Patterns in People with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
NIH/NIA (K23 AG046379-01A1)
$607,716 (Direct Costs)
10/01/2015 – 5/31/2019 (50% effort)
Role: PI
Age-Related Differences in Psychophysical and Neurobiological Response to Pain
NIH/NIA (R21 AG045735-01A1)
$275,000 (Direct Cost)
07/01/2014 – 06/30/2017
Role: PI (Cowan, MPI)

Funded Research Grants

Differences in Pain Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia in Older Females
NIH/NIA (R21 AG049332-01A1)
$275,000 (Direct Costs)
09/30/16 – 10/01/18
Role: PI (Cowan, MPI)
Pain Reports and Brain Activation Patterns in People with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
NIH/NIA (K23 AG046379-01A1)
$607,716 (Direct Costs)
10/01/2015 – 5/31/2019
Role: PI
Age-Related Differences in Psychophysical and Neurobiological Response to Pain
NIH/NIA (R21 AG045735)
$275,000 (Direct Cost)
07/01/2014 – 06/30/2017
Role: PI (Cowan, MPI)
The Psychophysical and Neurophysiological Response to Pain in People with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
Vanderbilt VICTR (KL2)
$450,000
10/01/2014 – 9/30/2017 (terminated early when external K23 awarded)
Role: PI
Early Nurse Detection of Delirium Superimposed on Dementia – END DSD
NIH/NINR (R01 NR011042; subcontract with Pennsylvania State University)
04/01/2010 – 03/31/2014
Role: Nurse Interventionist (20% Effort; PI: Fick, Site PI: Lorraine Mion)
Sex Differences in the Psychophysical and Neurophysiological Response to Experimental Thermal Pain in Healthy Older Adults
Vanderbilt VICTR V4007
$2,000
05/01/12 – 05/01/13
Role: PI
A Descriptive Study about Decision Factors that Nurses Make in Order to Administer Medications to People with Dementia
Vanderbilt VICTR V4099
$1,600
08/01/12 to 08/01/13
Role: PI
A Family-Focused Delirium Educational Initiative with Practice and Research Implications
Quality Improvement Project
Supported with funds from the Independence Foundation Chair (Co-PI: Lorraine Mion)
$1,200
08/01/2013 – 02/01/2015
Role: PI
Psychophysical and Neurophysiological Response to Experimental Pain in Communicative Women with Alzheimer’s Disease
American Academy of Nursing/BAGNC
$120,000
07/01/2011 – 06/30/2013
Role: PI
Psychophysical and Neurophysiological Response to Experimental Pain in Communicative Women with Alzheimer’s Disease
American Academy of Nursing/BAGNC – May Day Fund
$5,000
07/01/2011 – 06/30/2013
Role: PI
Nursing Home Residents with Cancer and Dementia with and without Hospice Services
Dissertation Funded by the Alma and Hal Regan Fellowship
$50,000
05/01/2007 – 03/3/2010
Role: PI
NIH LRP (Loan Repayment Program)
08/01/2011 – (awarded through 08/01/2019)
Role: Recipient

Honors

2016 Selected as a Fellow in the Gerontological Society of American (FGSA)
2015 Recipient of the March of Dimes Research Nurse of the Year Award
2013 Selected as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)
2013 Selected as a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow in the National Academies of Practice
2012 Recipient of the Judith V. Braun Clinical Research for Advancing the Practice of Gerontological Nursing Award

Professional Society Memberships

Gerontological Society of America, Member since 2008
American Academy of Nursing, Member since 2013
National Academies of Practice, Member since 2012
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Member since 1998

News

January 13, 2026

Community health workers are changing local care

Joyce Calamese put off scheduling a routine preventive medical procedure for more than a decade until an Ohio State-trained community health worker strongly encouraged her to make the appointment. That intervention likely saved her life, the 67-year-old said.

December 16, 2025

Fritter named a Fellow of clinical research association

Faculty member recognized for impact and influence in the healthcare field

The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) named faculty member Jessica Fritter, DHSc, MACPR, ACRP-CP, FACRP, as part of its 2026 class of Fellows.

Lewy Body Dementia Patient Support Group

January 22, 10:00 a.m.

Virtual Tai Chi for Mind and Body

January 22, 2:00 p.m.

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Todd B. Monroe

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