Travis Gagen
Assistant Professor College of Health & Wellness Department of Health Science Providence
Biography
Travis M. Gagen, Ph.D., MPH earned a Master of Public Health and a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Policy & Management at the Arnold School of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is a generalist in medical and public health systems with a special concentration in gerontology. Dr. Gagen is an evidence-based practitioner and educator focused on advancing a home-and-community-based approach to aging well. He examines issues in fall prevention, smart home and tele-technologies, housing and zoning policy, and aging-related Medicare and Medicaid policy to improve one’s ability to remain at home and avoid institutionalization. He has engaged in international public health programs where he examined issues in clean water and sanitation in countries like Ghana and Haiti. He has worked in program implementation and evaluation in both domestic and international programs. He is a dedicated environmentalist who is passionate about helping others see the importance of how the environment impacts human health and served several tours of duty with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Dr. Gagen previously served on the Board of Directors at the Holy Trinity Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Worcester, Massachusetts where he focused on ethics and compliance. In 2026, Dr. Gagen was appointed to a three-year term on the Board of Health for the Town of Southbridge Massachusetts and maintains a position as a member of the Board of Directors for Elder Services of Worcester Area.
Education
PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Public Health – Health Policy & Management
Master of Public Health, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Public Health
BS, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Kinesiology
Hazard & Danger Tree Cutting & Felling Techniques
NORTH AMERICAN TRAINING SOLUTIONS
Technical Tree Cutting & Felling Techniques
NORTH AMERICAN TRAINING SOLUTIONS
RHi360 RESEARCH ETHICS TRAINING CURRICULUM
FHi360
Mental Health First Aid
National Counsel for Mental Wellbeing
Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED
Thryv Consulting Inc.
“Integrating REAL Best Practices into CTL Long-Term Programming.” Gagen, T. (July 15, 2026)
https://view.email.online.jwu.edu/?vawpToken=PCVD4TQYCDZERB2IOVLCGS7TBU.100226
“JWU Students Explore Hippotherapy Through Hands-On Trip.” Gagen, T. (April 29, 2026)
https://www.jwu.edu/news/2026/04/jwu-students-hippotherapy-trip.html
Gagen, T. (2022). A Legal Mapping Analysis and Model Bylaw of Massachusetts Municipal Accessory Dwelling Units. (Journal Article).
Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(9), 2002-2021.
Gagen, T. (2022). Perspectives on the Utilization of Smart Home Technology among Community-Dwelling Older Adults Implications for Emergency Preparedness. (Journal Article).
The International Journal of Technology, Knowledge, and Society, 18(2).
Gagen, T. (2021). Improving Local Service Delivery to Prevent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Translating Research to Practice. (Journal Article).
The Gerontologist, 61(6), 819-825.
Western Massachusetts Elder Care Conference, “Confronting Ageism: Demystifying Myths and Stereotypes of Aging,” WMECC, Holyoke, MA, United States. (June 5, 2026).
REAL Champion Certificate Series, “Gagen, T. M. & Landry B. (October & November 2025). Reimagining Experiential and Applied Learning, REAL Champions Certificate Series, Session 1 and Session III. Providence, RI.,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (November, 2025).
Faculty Mentor Program Steering Committee Annual Update, “Gagen, T. M., Herold, K. M., & Marzini, A. E. (August 2025). 2025 Faculty Mentor Program Updates and Spring Mentor Survey Results, Center for Teaching & Learning, Providence, RI.,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (August, 2025).
Gerontological Society of America, 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting, “Gagen, T. M. (November 2023). A Model Accessory-Dwelling Unit Bylaw: Inclusive Zoning for All. Gerontological Society of America, 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting. Tampa Florida,” Gerontological Society of America, Tampa, FL. (November, 2023).
Social Justice, Equity, Accountability, Transformation (SEAT) conference, “Gagen, T. M. (November 2023). Affirmative Aging across Spaces and Places. The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, 2023 Social Justice, Equity, Accountability, Transformation (SEAT) conference. Springfield College, Springfield, MA.,” Springfield College, Springfield, MA, United States. (November, 2023).
The Council of Independent Colleges, Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, 2022 Regional Gathering, “Gagen, T. M., & Eckenrode, B. (September 2022). Cultivating vocation through internships. Scientific Callings: Mentoring and Vocational Exploration in the Natural and Health Sciences. The Council of Independent Colleges, Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, 2022 Regional Gathering. Worcester, MA.,” Assumption University, Worcester, MA, United States. (September, 2022).
Framingham Heart Study, regional meeting, “Gagen, T. M. (May 2022). Effects of Smart Home Technology among Cardiovascular Patient after Hospital Discharge. Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA.,” Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, United States. (May, 2022).
The Eighteenth International Conference on Technology, Knowledge, and Society., “Gagen, T. M. (April 2022). Perspectives on the Utilization of Smart Home Technology among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Implications for Emergency Preparedness. The Eighteenth International Conference on Technology, Knowledge, and Society. April 15-16, Changhua City, Taiwan.,” International Journal of Technology, Knowledge, and Society, Changhua City, Taiwan. (April, 2022).