2020 Press Releases

New York (June 3, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today honored 18 leading health professionals who joined the newest class of AGS Fellows—a select group of experts recognized for their deep commitment to the AGS and to advancing high-quality, person-centered care for us all as we age.

This year’s fellows hail from all four corners of the country and reflect the increasingly interprofessional nature of geriatrics as a field attracting doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers, and many others. They include:

New York (June 2, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS), which today issued an updated position statement on discrimination, joins advocates across the country calling for justice and changes to policies that have allowed racism to persist in our society.

"In the U.S., the coronavirus pandemic alone has only exacerbated devastating impacts on Black and African American communities and many other racial and ethnic groups," explained AGS CEO Nancy E. Lundebjerg, MPA. "Today's challenges not only expose racial inequities but also emphasize why action is critical, when many economic and social policies continue to jeopardize health and well-being for people of color."

As noted in its statement, the AGS believes in a just society—one where all people are treated equally regardless of their age, ancestry, cultural background, disability, ethnic origin, gender, gender identity, immigration status, nationality, marital and/or familial status, primary language, race, religion, socioeconomic status, and/or sexual orientation.

• 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

• Researching impact of potentially inappropriate medications, lifespan estimates on caregiver satisfaction, Drs. Rasheeda Hall & Kah Poh (Melissa) Loh honored with AGS’s Arti Hurria Memorial Award#AGS20 #AGS21 #geriatrics http://ow.ly/L1WO30qE4wi

New York (May 8, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and the AGS Health in Aging Foundation today conferred one of their newest honors, the Arti Hurria Memorial Award for Emerging Investigators in Internal Medicine Focused on the Care of Older Adults, on two experts:

• Rasheeda Hall, MD, a board-certified nephrologist and assistant professor of medicine at Duke University; and
• Kah Poh (Melissa) Loh, MBBCh, BAO, a board-certified internist, hematologist, and oncologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Following the cancellation of the AGS 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting due to COVID-19, Dr. Hall and Dr. Loh both will be presented with the Arti Hurria Memorial Award for their innovative research at the AGS 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS21; May 13-15 in Chicago, Ill.).

• .@AmerGeriatrics honors Dr. John B. Murphy of @BrownMedicine for pioneering work to build a better health workforce for us all as we age #AGS20 #AGS21 #geriatrics #aging http://ow.ly/oKUs30qE4xs

New York (May 8, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today announced that John B. Murphy, MD, a clinician, educator, and administrator working to embed geriatrics education in the fabric of medical curricula and clinical operations will be honored with the 2020 Dennis W. Jahnigen Award celebrating work to train health professionals in the care we all need as we age. President of Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children’s Hospital, executive vice president of physician affairs at Lifespan and a professor of medicine and family medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, both in Rhode Island, Dr. Murphy has dedicated nearly four decades to advancing geriatrics and gerontology, helping lead innovation vital to New England and beyond. Following the cancellation of the AGS 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Murphy will receive his award at the AGS 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS21) in Chicago, Ill. (May 12-15).

• .@EllenFlaherty5, prestigious Henderson State-of-the-Art Lecturer at @AmerGeriatrics’ #AGS21, sets sight on key priority for us all as we age: Collaboration in care #geriatrics http://ow.ly/vDL130qE4uG

New York (May 8, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today announced that Ellen Flaherty, PhD, APRN, AGSF, an assistant professor at the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine and director of the Dartmouth Centers for Health & Aging, will deliver the society’s prestigious Henderson State-of-the-Art Lecture. Following the cancellation of the AGS 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AGS announced that Dr. Flaherty would deliver her talk, Leveraging the Potential of Interprofessional Teams in Primary Care Practice, at the AGS 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS21) in Chicago, Ill. (May 12-15, 2021).

“Across her career, Dr. Flaherty has established herself not only as a champion for geriatrics but also for the diverse roles that all health professionals play in coordinated care,” said Sunny Linnebur, PharmD, FCCP, FASCP, BCPS, BCGP, AGS board chair. “Ellen is a model AGS leader— passionate, thoughtful, and funny—and her lecture is sure to help us model the way toward a bright future for geriatrics.”

• .@1LECOM Institute for Successful #Aging’s Dr. James Lin Named AGS #Geriatrics Clinician of the Year#AGS20 #AGS21 http://ow.ly/qfP430qE4vq

New York (May 8, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today named James Lin, DO, MS, MHSA, president of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Institute for Successful Aging in Erie, Pa., its 2020 Clinician of the Year. Lin will be honored at the AGS 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS21), May 13-15, 2021, in Chicago, Ill., following the cancellation of the AGS 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting due to COVID-19.

“Dr. Lin’s drive to enhance geriatrics stems from something deeply personal: Witnessing the marginalization of older adults while caring for his own father,” noted Sunny Linnebur, PharmD, FCCP, FASCP, BCPS, BCGP, AGS board chair.  “Wanting better—and knowing it was possible—launched more than just a career as an expert clinician; it launched a commitment to modeling the way for others, which is well worth this high recognition.”

Lin’s current role at LECOM’s Institute for Successful Aging traces its roots to his own influence on the institution. Noting Lin’s vision for education and improved geriatric care, LECOM leadership empowered Lin to develop a program that could not only accelerate better care but also serve as a guide for others in the field.

• 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).

• 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.”