AGS - News - AGS Press Release - American Geriatrics Society Names Dr. David B. Reuben Society President, Appoints New Officers to Board

For Immediate Release
May 11, 2005

For Further Information:
Mary Anne Shannon
(212) 308-1414 x301

American Geriatrics Society Names
Dr. David B. Reuben Society President,
Appoints New Officers to Board

Orlando, FL-The American Geriatrics Society will name David B. Reuben, MD, Society President today, at its Annual Meeting-the premier scientific meeting for aging research.

Archstone Foundation Professor of Medicine, Chief of the Division of Geriatrics, and Director of the Multi-campus Program in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dr. Reuben has played a leading role in the AGS for nearly two decades.

"I am so pleased to pass the baton to David," said outgoing AGS president Meghan Gerety, MD, Associate Chief of Staff at South Texas Veterans Health Care System, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Gerety will take over as Chairperson of the AGS's Board of Directors today. "A true leader in geriatrics, Dr. Reuben has been crucial to the success of so many Society ventures," she added. "And we look forward to many more successes during his tenure."

High on the list of the Society's priorities for the coming years is promoting an interest in geriatrics training and geriatrics research among health care professionals. The AGS will also release a watershed report, "Caring for Older Americans: The Future of Geriatric Medicine," today. According to the report, the shortage of geriatricians and health care professionals trained to care for older Americans could reach crisis proportions in the next 25 years. The number of medical school students choosing to specialize in geriatrics is declining, but the number of Americans 65 and older will double, topping 71.5 million, by 2030, when the youngest Baby Boomers hit retirement age.

A member and former secretary of the AGS Board of Directors, Dr. Reuben has been particularly instrumental in Society initiatives related to education and policy. He was a member of the Education Committee for nine years (and its chair for four), and was a member of the Enhancing Geriatrics Care Through Practicing Physicians Education Steering Committee. He was also the 2000 winner of the Society's Dennis H. Jahnigen Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to education in geriatrics.

Dr. Reuben has contributed to many seminal AGS documents and publications. He conceived of and provided invaluable help in bringing the AGS's Geriatrics At Your Fingertips to fruition. He has been the lead author of the book for each of its 7 editions. He was a driving force behind publication of the first, second, and third editions of Geriatrics Review Syllabus: A Core Curriculum in Geriatric Medicine, the premier resource on geriatrics for clinicians and educators.

In addition, Dr. Reuben was among those instrumental in establishing closer ties between the Association of Directors of Geriatric Academic Programs (ADGAP) and AGS. He was President of ADGAP from 200-2002 and Chair of its Board of Directors from 2002-2004.

Dr. Reuben has won numerous teaching and research awards and authored more than 120 research papers in the field of geriatrics. He maintains a clinical practice, and teaches on the inpatient and geriatric psychiatry units at UCLA.

The American Geriatrics Society also named several other officers today. Jane F. Potter, MD, was named President-Elect; James T. Pacala, MD, was named a member of the Board of Directors; and both Sharon A. Brangman, MD, and Linda Fried, MD, were reappointed to the Board. In addition, Todd P. Semla, MS, PharmD, was named board Secretary, and Paul R. Katz, MD, its Treasurer. Don Jurivich, DO, was elected Co-Chair of the AGS's Council of State Affiliate Representatives and became a member of the AGS Board as result of this election.

Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (http://www.americangeriatrics.org) 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.