Cognitive Status and Initiation of Lifestyle Changes Following Acute Coronary Heart Syndrome: A Dissertation

The signature of the Chair of the Committee signifies that the written dissertation meets the requirements of the dissertation committee i This work is dedicated to my parents and grandparents, who escaped the oppression of communist Europe to seek freedom and a better life in the United States. It is only through their sacrifices that I've had the opportunity to pursue my dreams. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation could not have been completed without the support, guidance, and cooperation of several people to which I will be forever indebted. First and foremost, to Dr. Jane Saczynski, my dissertation advisor, words cannot express how grateful I am to have worked under you mentorship. You have taught me so much, not just about research, but also about pursuing dreams with passion, pushing past perceived boundaries, and achieving work-life balance. I know at times I tested your patience, but through it all you showed genuine care and faith in me. I will surely miss being in your " nest " but, because of your guidance, I just might be ready to fly. To Dr. Catarina Kiefe, chair of my dissertation committee and PI of the TRACE-CORE study, thank you for fostering my involvement in TRACE-CORE and for all the guidance you've provided along the way. Your adroit steering of TRACE-CORE toward success exemplifies powerful and effective leadership in research, and I will carry the lessons learned from you into the next phases of my research career. To Dr. Joel Gore, dissertation committee member, thank you for sharing your expertise and experience in cardiology with me. From the moment we met it was apparent to me that you truly care about the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of your patients. I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to seek advice and guidance from such a well-rounded physician. To Dr. Sharina Person, dissertation committee member, thank you very much for all your statistical guidance during both coursework and my dissertation. You are a cherished member of CPHR faculty and I'm very grateful for having had the opportunity to work with you. To Dr. Beth Dugan, dissertation committee member, thank you for your service as the external reviewer of my dissertation. I'm so inspired by your dedication to improving the health and wellness of older adults and hope that my future research will make as much of an impact as yours has. To Dr. Jerry …