- At #AGS24, Dr. C. Barrett Bowling (@barrett_bowling) to deliver Thomas and Catherine Yoshikawa Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation Award Lecture on “Geriatricizing” Chronic Disease Research https://ow.ly/bvRg50R8mXe
New York (April 4, 2024) — Today, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and the AGS Health in Aging Foundation (HiAF) announced that the 2024 Thomas and Catherine Yoshikawa Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement in Clinical Investigation will be awarded to C. Barrett Bowling, MD, MSPH, Associate Professor in the Division of Geriatrics at Duke University School of Medicine.
The award will be presented at the AGS 2024 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting (#AGS24), May 9-11 (pre-conference days May 7 & 8). At the conference, Dr. Bowling will deliver a lecture on “Geriatricizing” Chronic Disease Research: A Geriatrician’s Journey in Collaborative Research.
Dr. Bowling is a geriatrician, chronic disease researcher, and research educator who focuses on incorporating geriatrics into chronic disease research and clinical care. He is a past recipient of the NIA GEMSSTAR, a T. Franklin Williams Scholar, and VA Career Development awardee and principal investigator of two R01s and one VA IIR (R01 equivalent). His collaborative research has resulted in over 95 peer reviewed publications related to chronic kidney disease, hypertension, multimorbidity, lupus, and other chronic conditions among older adults.
To address the underrepresentation of older adults in research, he developed the 5Ts Framework to help anticipate and overcome challenges to enrolling older adults in research studies. The 5Ts framework describes maximizing study generalizability by enrolling participants from the Target population, building research Teams that include geriatrics and gerontology expertise, incorporating appropriate Tools to measure function and patient-reported outcomes, anticipating Time for longer study visits, and accommodating older participants with comorbidities and age-related impairments by following practical Tips. The 5Ts has gained national attention as an approach to improve research inclusion. Using this framework has allowed Dr. Bowling to advocate for the needs of older adults and support inclusion across the lifespan.
“Dr. Bowling’s work is based on the selfless goal of working to ensure older adults’ priorities are seen and met,” said AGS President Donna Fick, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC, AGSF, FGSA, FAAN. “By focusing on the unique needs of older adults with chronic disease and chronic disease care, he is helping older adults retain their independence which is often a priority for this population. His research has helped to support inclusion and care of older adults in clinical practice and research with tools such as the CKD Discordance Index which can be used to identify older adults at high risk of hospitalizations and the 5Ts Framework. This work epitomizes the Yoshikawas’ commitment to diffusing new knowledge into practice.”
Dr. Bowling has demonstrated unwavering dedication as an active member of the Society. His involvement with the AGS dates back to his residency, where he initiated the establishment of an AGS Resident Chapter at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Notably, in 2009, he secured the AGS 1st place prize for Resident Poster, followed by the prestigious AGS/Merck New Investigator Award in 2013. He has actively served on various AGS Committees and Task Forces and is a frequent faculty member for the Annual Meeting Program. Dr. Bowling's exceptional involvement extended to the Jr. Faculty Research SIG which he chaired from 2017-2018. More recently, he served as Domain Co-chair for the Inclusion Across the Lifespan, Health Equity, and Vulnerable Populations Module for the AGS/AGING Learning, Educating, And Researching National Initiative in Geriatrics ("LEARNING") Collaborative Curriculum on multiple chronic conditions (MCC) which was developed with funding from the National Institute on Aging to support investigators seeking to include older adults with MCC in their research.
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About the American Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Our 6,000+ members include geriatricians, geriatrics nurse practitioners, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists who are pioneers in advanced illness care for older individuals, with a focus on championing interprofessional teams, eliciting personal care goals, and treating older people as whole persons. AGS believes in a just society, one where we all are supported by and able to contribute to communities where ageism, ableism, classism, homophobia, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other forms of bias and discrimination no longer impact healthcare access, quality, and outcomes for older adults and their caregivers. AGS advocates for policies and programs that support the health, independence, and quality of life of all of us as we age. AGS works across patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of all older people. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org.
About the Health in Aging Foundation
The Health in Aging Foundation is a national non-profit established in 1999 by the American Geriatrics Society to bring the knowledge and expertise of geriatrics healthcare professionals to the public. We are committed to ensuring that people are empowered to advocate for high-quality care by providing them with trustworthy information and reliable resources. Last year, we reached nearly one million people with our resources through HealthinAging.org. We also help nurture current and future geriatrics leaders by supporting opportunities to attend educational events and increase exposure to principles of excellence on caring for older adults. For more information or to support the Foundation's work, visit HealthinAgingFoundation.org.
About the Yoshikawa Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement in Clinical Investigation
Named in honor of Dr. Thomas T. Yoshikawa and his wife, Catherine—who together served the AGS and the geriatrics community for more than two decades—the Yoshikawa Award offers recognition and financial support to emerging geriatrics scholars who represent the early promise of the Yoshikawas’ own illustrious careers. The award has been supported thanks to generous contributions to the AGS Health in Aging Foundation from AGS members, as well as friends and colleagues of the Yoshikawas.
About the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting
The AGS Annual Scientific Meeting is the premier educational event in geriatrics, providing the latest information on clinical care, research on aging, and innovative models of care delivery. More than 2,600 nurses, pharmacists, physicians, physician assistants, social workers, long-term care and managed care providers, healthcare administrators, and others will convene virtually, May 9 – 11 (pre-conference days: Tuesday & Wednesday, May 7-8) to advance geriatrics knowledge and skills through state-of-the-art educational sessions and research presentations. For more information, visit https://meeting.americangeriatrics.org/.