The American Geriatrics Society Names James T. Pacala, MD, MS, as its Next President
April 25th, 2012
James Pacala, MD, will become the next President of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) during the Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting, from May 3-5 in Seattle, Washington.
Dr. Pacala is the Distinguished Teaching Professor and Associate Head in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Since joining the AGS in 1995, Dr. Pacala has been an active member of the society, serving in volunteer leadership roles on various committees and projects. He has helped author AGS’ Geriatrics At Your Fingertips since 1998, and has contributed to several editions of the Geriatrics Review Syllabus (GRS) as a chapter author, question writer, special advisor, and most recently as the co-Editor in Chief of the seventh edition.
Dr. Pacala has received several awards for his research, teaching, and clinical care, including the Gerontological Society of America’s Clinical Medicine Research Award (1989), the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award (1999), the University of Minnesota’s All-University Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education Teaching Award (2002), the American Geriatrics Society’s Outstanding Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award (2002), and the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center Award for Excellence in the Scholarship of Teaching (2009).
“I am greatly honored to be serving as the new AGS President. I look forward to bringing my experiences as a researcher, educator, and clinician to the AGS goal of ensuring the health and quality of life for older adults, in promoting the education of health care professionals and the public in issues related to aging, and in fostering fulfilling careers for geriatricians and other health professionals dedicated to the care of older adults,” said Dr. Pacala.
Dr. Pacala received his undergraduate degree from Carleton College and his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. After completing a residency at the University of Wisconsin/Madison, Dr. Pacala obtained a Masters degree in chronic disease epidemiology from Brown University, and completed two fellowships, one in Health Services Research in Gerontology, at Brown, and the other in clinical geriatrics, at the University of Connecticut.
About the American Geriatrics Society
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a not-for-profit organization of nearly 6,000 health professionals devoted to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policy makers and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy.
