Raymond Romano, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, FNP-BC
Raymond R. Romano III, PhD, MPH, MSN, FNP-BC, is a Nurse Practitioner and clinical researcher at Vanderbilt University Medical Center specializing in dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive aging. He is dedicated to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of individuals with cognitive disorders. Dr. Romano serves as Director of the Tennessee Dementia ECHO program, a statewide initiative designed to expand access to high-quality dementia care through provider education and collaboration.
Dr. Romano combines clinical practice with a nationally recognized research program focused on dementia care delivery and health services research. He serves as principal investigator on multiple funded projects, including strategies for improving dementia care across Tennessee. His work has focused on quality improvement initiatives aimed at accelerating the accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and expanding access to evidence-based dementia care.
A respected educator and leader, Dr. Romano has delivered invited lectures nationally on dementia care, Alzheimer’s disease therapies, decision-making capacity, elder abuse, and evidence-based nursing practices. He is an active member of the Tennessee Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia Advisory Council, serves on several Vanderbilt committees, and contributes to the scientific community as a reviewer for leading nursing and gerontology journals. His accomplishments have been recognized through numerous honors, including the AACN Excellence in Advancing Nursing Science Award and selection for the BrightFocus Alzheimer’s Fast Track Program.
Dr. Romano earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Marymount Manhattan College, a Master of Public Health from Boston University, a Master of Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and a PhD in Nursing Science from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He has been a Vanderbilt nurse practitioner since 2016 and has contributed to Alzheimer’s disease research and clinical care for more than a decade.
Research Information
Dr. Romano’s research focuses on Alzheimer’s disease, dementia diagnosis, cognitive aging, biomarker disclosure, and healthcare delivery for individuals living with cognitive impairment. His work has examined systems-level barriers to dementia detection, the development of educational materials supporting disclosure of Alzheimer’s disease biomarker results, and approaches to improving research participation among underrepresented populations. He has also investigated sensory and pain-related changes as potential biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease risk. Through clinical, translational, and implementation research, Dr. Romano seeks to improve dementia diagnosis, enhance patient and caregiver education, and expand access to high-quality dementia care across diverse communities.