News/Press Releases

• For #Decision2020, building momentum for older adults builds momentum for us all as we age. Here's what we need to know from our candidates: http://ow.ly/Hqsz30qFrbS #geriatrics #aging More at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jgs.16515

New York (May 14, 2020)—With primary and general elections on the horizon across the U.S., the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today released a series of high-priority questions for candidates. The AGS candidate question guide is aimed at helping Americans keep all political leaders—including and perhaps especially those running for president—committed to a clear, articulated vision how they will support us all as Americans age.

“How candidates answer a question gives us a sense of what policies they would put forward to support us all as we age,” explains AGS Chief Executive Officer Nancy Lundebjerg, MPA. “The current COVID-19 pandemic highlights how important federal and state leadership are  to having policies in place that support the health of us all through a comprehensive approach informed by how geriatrics approaches our care: Team-based, person-centered, and focused on the whole person, with the goal of each of us remaining active and engaged in our communities.”

• .@AmerGeriatrics honors expert & emerging geriatrics leaders of 2020 http://ow.ly/m1IP30qE4LU

New York (May 8, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) annually honors researchers, clinicians, educators, and emerging health professionals who have made outstanding contributions to high-quality, person-centered care for older people. This year’s award recipients include more than 20 leaders representing the breadth of disciplines championing care for us all as we age. 

Following the cancellation of the AGS 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AGS announced that awardees would be honored at the AGS 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting, May 13-15 (pre-conference program on May 12), in Chicago, Ill.

Arti Hurria Memorial Award for Emerging Investigators in Internal Medicine Who are Focused on the Care of Older Adults

• Rasheeda Hall, MD (Duke University)
• Kah Poh (Melissa) Loh, MBBCh, BAO (University of Rochester Medical Center)

Choosing Wisely® Champion Award

• At #AGS21, UCSF Expert Will Offer “Confessions of Unfocused Researcher” on Road to Better Care as We Age #geriatrics #aging #AGS20 http://ow.ly/uWKC30qE4td

New York (May 8, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and AGS Health in Aging Foundation today announced that Alexander K. Smith, MD, MPH, an associate professor of medicine at UCSF and one of geriatrics’ most influential rising researchers and advocates, will be honored with the 2020/2021 Thomas and Catherine Yoshikawa Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement in Clinical Investigation. Following the cancellation of the AGS 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting due to COVID-19, the AGS shared that Dr. Smith would deliver his marquee presentation, “Confessions of an unfocused researcher,” at the AGS 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS21) in Chicago, Ill. (May 13-15; pre-conference day: May 12).

“Research is the power pushing geriatrics expertise forward, and we need to chart as broad a course as possible, since age affects all aspects of life”, said Sunny Linnebur, PharmD, FCCP, FASCP, BCPS, BCGP, AGS board chair. “Dr. Smith’s career is a prime example of casting as wide a net as possible to yield promising approaches to the challenges we know, the opportunities we don’t, and the work that can yield solutions for both.”

• For second time in @AmerGeriatrics history, #geriatrics experts award high honor typically reserved for individuals to visionary organization: @WestHealth #aging #AGS20 #AGS21 http://ow.ly/3NSG30qE4tT

New York (May 8, 2020)—For only the second time in its near 80-year history, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) will award one of its highest honors typically reserved for individuals to West Health, a family of nonprofit organizations dedicated to lowering healthcare costs to enable older adults to successfully age in place.

West Health will receive the David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award for its visionary and trailblazing work to improve healthcare and increase its affordability for America’s aging population. The ceremony will be held during the AGS 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS21), May 13-15, 2021, in Chicago, Ill. The award was to be presented at this year’s meeting but was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“For nearly 15 years, West Health has put power and potential behind core priorities in geriatrics: Lowering costs and enabling older people to age in place thanks to high-quality, affordable health care and support services,” notes Sunny Linnebur, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, BCGP, AGS board chair. “That’s community service at its best, which is what the Solomon Award is all about—and what our ongoing AGS collaborations with West Health aims to achieve.”

• New @AmerGeriatrics issue highlighting research originally slated for presentation at @AmerGeriatrics’ #AGS20 includes award-winning research at crossroads of #geriatrics, #urology, #palliative care, #oncology #aging http://ow.ly/NGoE30qE4zC

New York (May 8, 2020)—Advancing care for older people across health specialties, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and the AGS Health in Aging Foundation today announced that two expert researchers—Kavita Dharmarajan, MD, MSc, an assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in N.Y.; and Nazema Siddiqui, MD, MHSc, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.—will receive the 2020 Jeffrey H. Silverstein Memorial Award for Emerging Investigators in the Surgical and Related Medical Specialties. Originally slated for presentation at the AGS 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting—now cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic—the awards will be presented to Dr. Dharmarajan and Dr. Siddiqui at the AGS 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS21) in Chicago, Ill. (May 12-15, 2021).