Dr. Karan J. Kota is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Geriatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. His research focuses on improving medical decision-making for older adults, particularly in end-of-life care and cognitive disorders.
Dr. Kota’s work examines how communication, clinical data, and health system tools influence patient decisions about life-sustaining treatments. He led the Choice of Diction’s Effect (CODE) Study, a randomized clinical trial investigating how language used during code status discussions affects decision-making among hospitalized older adults. His broader goal is to develop evidence-based approaches that help patients and families make more informed, values-aligned decisions about care at the end of life.
In addition to his work in medical decision-making, Dr. Kota studies aging and brain health in diverse populations. He collaborates with investigators at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School on research exploring cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease among underrepresented groups, including South Asian Americans. His research has identified unique cultural and immigration-related factors that influence participation in brain imaging research and neurocognitive studies.
Clinically, Dr. Kota cares for hospitalized patients on the Medical Teaching Service and the Geriatric Consult Service at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He also evaluates patients with cognitive disorders—including mild cognitive impairment and dementia—through the Rutgers Cognitive Neurology Clinic. In addition, he helped develop a transitional care program supporting older adults with memory disorders.
Dr. Kota serves as Chair of the Bioethics Committee at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Geriatrics Society, Society of General Internal Medicine, and American College of Physicians. His research has been supported by multiple NIH-funded collaborative initiatives focused on aging and minority health.