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ABOUT US
Who We Are
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a not-for-profit organization of roughly 6,500 health professionals devoted to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. The Society, founded in 1942, provides leadership for healthcare professionals, policy makers and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy.
Our Mission
To improve the health, independence and quality of life of all older people.
Our Vision for the Future
Every older American will receive high quality, patient-centered care.
To Achieve Our Vision We Are:
- Expanding the geriatrics knowledge base through initiatives that promote basic, clinical and health services research concerning the health of older adults.
- Increasing the number of healthcare professionals employing the principles of geriatric medicine when caring for older persons by supporting the expansion of geriatric education in all applicable health professions, and promoting the development of systems of care and practice redesign that facilitate the provision of quality geriatric care.
- Recruiting physicians and other healthcare professionals into careers in geriatrics through efforts to ensure that geriatrics is a viable, attractive, and rewarding career choice.
- Guiding public policy through advocacy so policy supports improved health and healthcare for seniors.
- Raising public awareness of the need for high-quality, culturally sensitive geriatric healthcare so an informed, empowered, proactive public can help drive improvements in the quality of care that older persons receive.
The AGS' 2008 Board of Directors
The FHA's 2008 Board of Directors
2008 AGS Membership
| TOTAL MEMBERSHIP | 6,418 |
| Physicians | 3,852 |
| Other geriatrics healthcare professionals (including nurses, researchers, medical educators, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers, physical therapists, and healthcare administrators) |
841 |
| Interim members | 49 |
| Fellowship program enrollees |
531 |
| Residents | 161 |
| Students | 859 |
| Emeritus/retired | 125 |
AGS' 2008 Standing and Fixed Function Committees
AGS members served on 10 standing and 5 fixed function committees in 2008, making vital contributions to AGS' efforts on behalf of quality elder healthcare.
AGS' Standing Committees: Clinical Practice and Models of Care; Education; Ethics; Ethnogeriatrics; Health Systems Innovation - Economics and Technology; Public Education; Public Policy; Quality and Performance Measurement; Research; Steering.
AGS' Fixed Function Committees: Annual Meeting Program; Executive Committee; Finance; Nominations; Professional Education.
AGS' 2008 State Affiliates
AGS' affiliates continued to play key roles in improving the quality of geriatrics education and shaping healthcare legislation at the state and national levels throughout 2008. Two new affiliates -- Arizona and Utah -- applied for and were granted provisional status during the year. At the end of 2008, AGS counted 27 affiliates nationwide.