The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) has been one of the John A. Hartford Foundation’s key grantee partners for more than 20 years. The organization is now the home of the John A. Hartford Foundation Change AGEnts Initiative, which is helping interprofessional alumni of our programs work together in exciting new ways to make practice and policy changes that improve the care of older adults.
As a Fellow of the society who had the privilege of serving as president of the organization’s board, I know first-hand how important GSA is to the entire field of aging. The GSA annual scientific meeting has always been a highlight for me, and that’s especially true this year, as it’s my first time attending as President of the John A. Hartford Foundation. As always, I am thrilled to learn about the latest aging science across the spectrum of academic disciplines. And at this year’s conference in Orlando, I also get to engage with grantees to learn more about their work, and with leaders in the field to discuss the Foundation’s important efforts, which have often supported many of these individuals.
As it does every year, the GSA awards program features many of these Foundation-supported leaders among those being honored. We congratulate the following awardees and look forward to continuing to work with them and others to advance better care for our aging population:
Sharon InouyeThe M. Powell Lawton Award—which recognizes a significant contribution in gerontology that has led to an innovation in treatment, practice or service—this year goes to Sharon Inouye of Harvard Medical School. Sharon, a geriatrician, has conducted groundbreaking research in the area of delirium, a dangerous condition that affects far too many hospitalized older adults. Our collegial paths go back decades, and we at the Foundation are working with her now to help spread the Hospital Elder Life Program, which is a proven model to prevent delirium in the acute setting.
Katie MaslowKatie Maslow, a scholar-in-residence at the Institute of Medicine who worked at the Alzheimer’s Association for 15 years, is receiving the 2015 Maxwell A. Pollack Award for Productive Aging. Katie is a member of our Change AGEnts Dementia Caregiving Network and has been a stalwart champion of better dementia care in this country, serving on numerous national committees. She is a perfect choice to receive this award, which in part recognizes those who bridge the worlds of research and practice.
Mary NaylorThe Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award goes to our colleague and former grantee, Mary Naylor, of the University of Pennsylvania. A pioneer in improving care of older adults, Mary developed a transitional care model that the Foundation helped support and which has been shown in numerous trials to reduce avoidable hospital readmissions for older adults. She has also been a strong national leader, including serving as the founding chair of the Long-Term Quality Alliance Board of Directors.
XinQi DongFinally, XinQi Dong, of the Rush University Medical Center and a Foundation-supported Paul B. Beeson Scholar, is the 2015 recipient of the Joseph T. Freeman Award. XinQi and I share a passion for ending the scourge of elder abuse. It is wonderful that he and his important work in epidemiological studies of elder abuse and neglect in the U.S. and China are being recognized by this award that goes to a prominent physician in the field of aging—both in research and practice.
We are grateful for the passion and hard work exhibited by all of the GSA award winners to advance the field of aging and health, and hope that they serve as an inspiration for others. I look forward to intersecting with these awardees and the many outstanding researchers and practitioners that attend the GSA annual meeting.