She received a Ph.D. in gerontology/public policy at the University of Southern California and a dual master’s in gerontology and social work. Her dissertation was on the effect of marital status on health outcomes among older people, particularly how different marital status, changes of marital status, duration of widowhood, and living arrangements affect health outcomes. She has done research on health and health-related issues in large national data sets. Her current and future research interests include work on socioeconomic status and biological risk, social support and health among older people, and cross-country comparison of health status.