The American Geriatrics Society - News - American Geriatrics Society Names John B. Murphy, MD Society President, Appoints New Officers and Elects New Board Members

For Immediate Release
May 1, 2008

For Further Information
Erin Weller
202-745-2113
eweller@americangeriatrics.org

American Geriatrics Society Names John B. Murphy, MD Society President,
Appoints New Officers and Elects New Board Members

Washington, DC -- The American Geriatrics Society named John B. Murphy, MD, President of the Society here at its Annual Scientific Meeting -- the premier scientific meeting for clinical aging research -- today.

Dr. Murphy is professor of medicine and family medicine at Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School and Chief Physician Officer at Rhode Island Hospital.

"I am pleased to pass the torch of leadership to John," said outgoing AGS President Todd P. Semla, PharmD, who takes over as Chair of the AGS' Board of Directors today. "I am confident that John's knowledge, dedication, and leadership skills will guide the American Geriatrics Society through another successful year."

An AGS member since 1984, Dr. Murphy has had a seat on the Society's Board of Directors since 2003, serving as Treasurer just prior to becoming President. He is also a member of the Society's Professional Education Executive Committee, and has served on AGS' Education Committee. He has collaborated with the American Academy of Family Physicians to enhance family practice training in the US, has helped create and implement curricula in geriatrics for primary care residencies nationwide, and has worked to develop postgraduate primary care training programs abroad. He has served as the chair of the Group on Geriatric Education of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, a member of the American Academy of Family Medicine Foundation Residency Assistance Program panel, and as a geriatrics specialty site visitor for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Dr. Murphy is also the author of more than 70 publications. He has been an editor or a member of the editorial board for all but the first of the six editions of AGS' Geriatrics Review Syllabus. He has served as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the American Parkinson's Disease Association and the Reynolds Foundation.

"This is a time of great opportunity to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care for older Americans," said Dr. Murphy, noting voters' calls for healthcare reform in the run-up to the November Presidential election, and a recent Institute of Medicine report recommending sweeping changes in the nation's healthcare system to prepare its healthcare workforce to meet the needs of an aging society. AGS has long advocated many of these changes. "I look forward to working with our dedicated members, leadership, and staff, and other organizations that share our goals," Dr. Murphy added, "to further advance healthcare of older adults."

The American Geriatrics Society also named several other officers and Board members today.

Cheryl L. Phillips, M.D., AGSF, CMD, Chief Medical Officer of On Lok, Inc., a not-for-profit organization providing medical care, housing, and community services for older adults throughout California, was named President-Elect.

Barbara M. Resnick PhD, CRNP, professor of nursing at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and adjunct professor in its department of epidemiology and preventive medicine, was appointed Secretary.

Sharon A. Brangman, MD, professor of medicine, chief of the division of geriatrics, and fellowship director of geriatric medicine at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, was named Treasurer for a second one-year term.

Stephanie A. Studenski, MD, MPH, professor in the division of geriatric medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and director of the university's Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, was elected to the Board of Directors.

ABOUT AGS
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. The Society supports this mission through activities in clinical practice, professional and public education, research and public policy. With an active membership of over 6,700 health care professionals, the Society has become a pivotal force in shaping attitudes, policies and practices in geriatric medicine.