Dr. Thomas Yoshikawa, outgoing @AGSJournal editor, to be honored w/ @AmerGeriatrics Public Service Award at #AGS16
New York (April 5, 2016)—Thomas T. Yoshikawa, MD, AGSF, outgoing Editor in Chief of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society who helmed the publication for more than 15 years, will be honored by members of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) this May with one of their highest awards: the David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award.
“Dr. Yoshikawa’s leadership of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society is but one example of his influence, and it speaks to the core of the AGS mission,” noted AGS President Steven R. Counsell, MD, AGSF. “Dr. Yoshikawa’s commitment to public service has made our journal a comprehensive resource for geriatrics healthcare professionals, but also for the many other specialists who care for older adults and aim to deliver high-quality, person-centered care.”
As Deputy Chief of Staff for Geriatrics and Long-term Care at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles, Professor of Medicine at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and an AGS member since 1981, Dr. Yoshikawa has published more than 200 scientific articles, 75 book chapters, and 17 books across his career. He was a delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Aging as a representative for VA, and he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Secretary of the VA and the Gold Medal Award from the Board of Trustees of Charles R. Drew University, where he also has served as Provost-Chief Operating Officer and Acting President, among many other roles.
Yet Dr. Yoshikawa is perhaps best known as a trusted colleague, mentor, and leader who has translated personal expertise into public service leadership for geriatrics as a discipline. A member of the AGS Board of Directors since 2000, Dr. Yoshikawa also has served on the Secretary of the VA and Under Secretary of Health Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee and on the Board of Directors for the National Alzheimer’s Association, ensuring that the scholarship he supported as Editor in Chief for the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society was as much a part of practice as it was academic research.
“I am honored and humbled in being recognized for this most prestigious award, particularly because Dr. David Solomon trained me as a resident physician and he served as a role model for me, both as a physician and human being,” Dr. Yoshikawa observed.
Established by the AGS in 2002, the David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award celebrates the legacy of David H. Solomon, MD, AGSF, a renowned geriatrician committed to community service and advancing knowledge about the care of older individuals. It is one of several honors conferred by the AGS at its Annual Scientific Meeting—held this year in Long Beach, Calif., May 19-21. The 2016 award recipients include more than 15 healthcare leaders representing the depth and breadth of disciplines championing elder care in the U.S.
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. Its nearly 6,000 members include geriatricians, geriatric nurses, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy. For more information, visit americangeriatrics.org.
About the David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award
The AGS created the David H. Solomon Memorial Public Service Award in 2002 to honor David H. Solomon, MD, AGSF, for his commitment to community service and the advancement of knowledge in caring for older adults. Dr. Solomon was the founding Director of the Center on Aging at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. He will forever be remembered for his excellence in research, teaching, patient care, and administration.
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 2,000 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers, long-term care and managed care providers, healthcare administrators, and others will convene May 19-21, 2016 (pre-conference program on May 18), at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, Calif., to advance geriatrics knowledge and skills through state-of-the-art educational sessions and research presentations.