The Gerontological Society of America Congratulates 2021 Awardees

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the country’s largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging — is proud to acknowledge the work of 26 outstanding individuals through its prestigious awards program.

GSA salutes outstanding research, recognizes distinguished leadership in teaching and service, and fosters new ideas through a host of awards. Nominated by their peers, the recipients’ achievements serve as milestones in the history and development of gerontology.

The award presentations will take place at GSA’s 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held from November 10 to 14 in Phoenix, Arizona. This conference is organized to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, educators, and practitioners who specialize in the study of the aging process. Visit www.gsa2021.org for further details.

Society-Wide

Donald P. Kent Award
Recipient: Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD, FGSA, of the National Institute on Aging
This award is given annually to a GSA member who best exemplifies the highest standards for professional leadership in gerontology through teaching, service, and interpretation of gerontology to the larger society.

Robert W. Kleemeier Award
Recipient: Kenneth F. Ferraro, PhD, FGSA, of Purdue University
This award is given annually to a GSA member in recognition for outstanding research in the field of gerontology.

James Jackson Outstanding Mentorship Award
Recipient: Robert J. Taylor, MSW, PhD, FGSA, of the University of Michigan
This award recognizes outstanding commitment and dedication to mentoring minority researchers in the field of aging.

Margret M. and Paul B. Baltes Foundation Award
Recipient: Laura B. Zahodne, PhD, of the University of Michigan
This award acknowledges outstanding early career contributions in behavioral and social gerontology. This award is given by GSA in conjunction with the Margaret M. and Paul B. Baltes Foundation.

M. Powell Lawton Award
Recipient: David L. Roth, PhD, FGSA, of Johns Hopkins University
This award honors contributions from applied gerontological research that have benefited older people and their care. This award is sponsored by the Polisher Research Institute of Abramson Senior Care.

Maxwell A. Pollack Award for Contributions to Healthy Aging
Recipient: Namkee G. Choi, PhD, FGSA, of the University of Texas at Austin
This award recognizes instances of practice informed by research and analysis, research that directly improved policy or practice, and distinction in bridging the worlds of research and practice. This award is funded by the New York Community Trust through a generous gift from the Maxwell A. Pollack Fund.

Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award
Recipients: Kathy H. Bowles, PhD, FAAN, FACMI, of the University of Pennsylvania; Nancy A. Hodgson, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA, of the University of Pennsylvania
This award is presented to a GSA member who has a record of outstanding and sustained contribution to geriatric nursing research.

Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education

Hiram J. Friedsam Mentorship Award
Recipient: Pamela Elfenbein, MSW, PhD, FAGHE, HS-BCP, of the University of North Georgia
This award recognizes individuals who have contributed to gerontological and/or geriatrics education through excellence in mentorship to students, faculty, and administrators.

Student Leadership Award
Recipient: Lauren M. Bouchard, MS, of Concordia University Chicago
This award recognizes students whose leadership has advanced the goals and mission of AGHE as well as the respective goals of their AGHE-affiliated institutions.

David A. Peterson Award
Recipients: Julie B. Miller, MSW, PhD, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Carley Ward, MA, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Chaiwoo Lee, PhD, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Lisa D’Ambrosio, PhD, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Joseph F. Coughlin, PhD, FGSA, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology
For the article “Sharing is Caring: The Potential of the Sharing Economy to Support Aging in Place”
This award honors excellence in scholarship in academic gerontology and/or geriatrics for an article in a volume of Gerontology & Geriatrics Education.

Behavioral and Social Sciences Section

Distinguished Career Contribution to Gerontology Award
Recipient: Richard Schulz, PhD, FGSA, of the University of Pittsburgh
This award recognizes career contributions that have articulated a novel theoretical or methodological perspective or synthesis that addresses a significant problem in the literature.

Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology Award
Recipient: Margie E. Lachman, PhD, FGSA, of Brandeis University
This award is given to an individual who has fostered excellence in, and had a major impact on, the field by virtue of their mentoring, and whose inspiration is sought by students and colleagues.

Richard Kalish Innovative Publication Award
Recipient: Sandra Torres, PhD, FGSA, of Uppsala University
For the book “Ethnicity and Old Age: Expanding our Imagination”
Recipients: Hans-Werner Wahl, PhD, FGSA, of Heidelberg University; Manfred Diehl, PhD, FGSA, of Colorado State University
For the book “The Psychology of Later Life: A Contextual Perspective”
Recipient: Stephanie J. Wilson, PhD, of Southern Methodist University
For the article “Spousal Bereavement After Dementia Caregiving: A Turning Point for Immune Health”
This award recognizes insightful and innovative publications on aging and life course development in the behavioral and social sciences in two categories: (1) Book Category and (2) Article Category.

Biological Sciences Section

Nathan Shock New Investigator Award
Recipient: Bérénice A. Benayoun, PhD, of the University of Southern California
This award recognizes outstanding contributions to new knowledge about aging through basic biological research.

Health Sciences Section

Excellence in Rehabilitation of Aging Persons Award
Recipient: Gregory E. Hicks, MPT, PhD, of the University of Delaware
This award acknowledges outstanding contributions in the field of rehabilitation of aging persons.

Joseph T. Freeman Award
Recipient: Pamela Z. Cacchione, PhD, CRNP, BC, FGSA, FAAN, of the University of Pennsylvania
This award acknowledges a prominent clinician in the field of aging, both in research and practice.

Social Research, Policy, and Practice Section

Barbara J. Berkman Award for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research, Practice, or Policy in Aging and Health Care
Recipient: Susan Lane Hughes, MS, PhD, FGSA, of the University of Illinois at Chicago
This award acknowledges many years of significant and substantive career contributions to research, practice and policy in aging and health care services.

Elaine M. Brody SRPP Thought Leader Award
Recipient: Larry Polivka, PhD, FGSA, FAGHE, of Florida State University
This award acknowledges outstanding career contributions in social research, policy, and practice.

Carroll L. Estes SRPP Rising Star Award
Recipient: Kyeongmo Kim, MSW, PhD, of Virginia Commonwealth University
This award acknowledges outstanding early career contributions in social research, policy, and practice.

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The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) is the nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging. The principal mission of the Society — and its 5,500+ members — is to advance the study of aging and disseminate information among scientists, decision makers, and the general public. GSA’s structure also includes a policy institute, the National Academy on an Aging Society.